The Countertop Chronicles

For years, in response to Juan Non Volokh’s (now Jonathan Alder) Sunday Song Lyric, I’ve presented an on and off Monday Song Lyric.

Well, I really enjoy that. But I also enjoy guns. And the Grateful Dead. A lot. So I figured, what better way than to combine all of them and present you Grateful Dead lyrics that involve guns and there are a ton - which isn’t surprising considering they are more than just mere hippies, but rather astute chroniclers of the American experience.

I sort of like this description

I have several friends who refer to the Grateful Dead as the best “American band of all time.” Not necessarily the best band that happened to come from America, but the best band to take America’s roots music: bluegrass, the blues, jazz, appalachian folk-songs and distill it into a wild and beautiful psychedelic mess. I happen to agree with them.

Today’s first installment -

Loser
Lyrics by Robert Hunter

If I had a gun for every ace I’ve drawn
I could arm a town the size of Abilene
Don’t you push me baby cause I’m moaning low
You know I’m only in it for the gold

All that I am asking for is ten gold dollars
I could pay you back with one good hand
You can look around about the wide world over
You’ll never find another honest man

Last fair deal in the country, sweet Suzy
Last fair deal in the town
Put your gold money where your love is, baby
Before you let my deal go down

Don’t you push me baby
because I’m moaning low
I know a little something
you won’t ever know
Don’t you touch hard liquor just
a cup of cold coffee
Gonna get up
in the morning and go

Everybody’s bragging and drinking that wine
I can tell the Queen of Diamonds by the way she shine
Come to Daddy on an inside straight
I got no chance of losing this time
No, I got no chance of losing this time

Dosed or not, that’s there is just gorgeous.