Hi,
Considered by many to be The Grateful Dead's anthem, Uncle John's Band is more pro peace than anti war and is firmly rooted in literature.
Come hear Uncle John's Band
by the riverside
Come with me or go alone
He's come to take his children home
Come hear Uncle John's Band
playing to the tide
Come on along or go alone
he's come to take his children home
Here's a really well played live version.
Grateful Dead - Uncle Johns Band - Alpine Valley 1989
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Of course the song is about The Grateful Dead playing music for Peace. The song is also about The New Lost City Ramblers and Uncle John Cohen.
The founding members of the Ramblers, or NLCR, are Mike Seeger, John Cohen, and Tom Paley. Tom Paley later left the group and was replaced by Tracy Schwarz.
The New Lost City Ramblers not only directly participated in the old-time music revival, but has continued to directly influence countless musicians who have followed.
- wikipedia
As described here at The Annotated "Uncle John's Band" many of the lyrics from the song refer to songs popularized by the New Lost City Ramblers, a very influential folk group during the Folk Revival of the early sixties.
The Annotated "Uncle John's Band" by David Dodd
The song starts with words that should be taken to heart by all the Occupy protestors.
Well, the first days are the hardest days,
don't you worry anymore
When life looks like Easy Street
there is danger at your door
The chorus starts with this anti war refrain.
Goddamn, well I declare
Have you seen the like?
Their walls are built of cannonballs,
their motto is Don't Tread on Me
Here's the start of another verse that applies directly to the Occupy movement.
I live in a silver mine
and I call it Beggar's Tomb
The song ends with this strong pro peace message.
Come hear Uncle John's Band
by the riverside
Come with me or go alone
He's come to take his children home
Come hear Uncle John's Band
playing to the tide
Come on along or go alone
he's come to take his children home
"Uncle John's Band"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
You can find many more live versions of this song at the Live Music Archive.
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I've been a Dead fan since the sixties and I can't emphasize too much the influence they had. Sure they sang many protest songs but they also sang many songs from every genre of American music. They also extended American music with many great originals and "Uncle John's Band" is in the top echelon of these originals.
They also redefined the music industry for the new millenium with their emphasis on live shows and audience taping showing musicians how to survive in a world that's post top 40 and post hit records.
And there lyrics still speak to us today.
Come hear Uncle John's Band
by the riverside
Got some things to talk about
here beside the rising tide
Enjoy!
Hairy Larry