The Countertop Chronicles

Check out the 2nd Set

Dead, at their zenith in the magic of Red Rocks.

Starting with Bobby’s “I’m moving to Australia” at 8:29 of Ship of Fools and then BOOOM

Estimated Prophet -> The Other One -> Eyes of the World

An insane mind melting experience.

I’ve been really lax in the blogging.
No excuses. Well, yes. There is. Three or four.

As I’ve stated, life gets in the way sometimes. And to quote Uncle, I do this for me not you.
That said, I also got a face book page recently. Its under my real name, and I’ve been posting a bunch there. Its strange, most of the folks I am linked to are from high school and college. And a couple from DC. I started posting a bunch of political stuff there - cause thats what interests me, but then realized I didn’t want to do that. In my line of work, having folks know your political thoughts isn’t good for business. Sure there are Republicans and Democrats in DC, but I’m neither. I offended (and am offended by) both. But, I’ve got this handy little Facebook link on my Firefox toolbar, and it makes it easy.

Any one know if one exists for Wordpress??

The other things are really work. And at night (or in my little free time when I’m not at work or with the wire and kids), as I come to terms with the looming Obama I’m loading ammo. I’ve loaded about a 1000 rounds this week. 80 rounds of 280 Remington. 200 rounds of 7.62×39. 500 rounds of .45 ACP. And 100 rounds of .45 Colt

In the meantime, groove to this. It may be the single best Fire On The Mountain ever. Can’t help but put a smile on my face when I listen to it (and I’ve played it at least 20 times this week)

Jerry is grooving. And Carlos Santana just shreds.

Getting ready for shotgunning season around here. Doves and Resident Goose open up Labor Day weekend, Teal is September 15. Dogs back down to training this week for a month, while I’ll be stepping up the skeet shooting in preparation.

This was played once, in an acoustic set on 12 July 1970, and is also on Pigpen’s “home tapes” (which is where the lyrics below are taken from).

Bring Me My Shotgun
Words and Music by Lightnin’ Hopkins

Go, bring me my shotgun, bring me back some shells
Why don’t you just bring me my shotgun
Bring me back about a pocket full of shells
Well you know if I don’t get myself a little competition
You know there’s gonna be some trouble ’round here

Well you know my mama told me, when I left my door
She said, “you gonna have bad luck, son, don’t care where you go”
So why don’t you bring me my shotgun
Bring me back a pocket full of shells
Well you know if I don’t get myself a little competition
You know there’s gonna be some trouble ’round here

Early in the morning when the sun gonna rise
She’s laying there rolling them old bloodshot eyes
In the morning bring me my shotgun
Well, I can stand any mess for a while
But I can’t stand it for very long

Woke up this morning
Found out some [jack strap?] had gone took my room
Woke up this morning
Found out some [jack strap?] had gone took my room
Yeah you know he took along with it my woman
That [jack strap?] going to meet his doom

That’s why I say bring me my shotgun, boy
I want you to bring me back some shells
I said why don’t you bring me my shotgun
Bring me back a pocket full of shells
You know if I don’t get myself some good competition
There’s gonna be some trouble ’round her

Yeah, no Dead today.

We ended up going to the Greek Taverna in McLean for Dinner Saturday night. The Greek Taverna is in the same building as Ocean M, where VCDL held one of their Saslaw Open Carry dinners. It also has a great picture - which they recently placed in a more promonient position - of armed Greek freedom fighters. We pulled into the parking lot there and saw a Maserati.

Whats the connection between guns and Maseratis?

Ted Nugent - with a face like a Maserati.

Wango Tango
Words and Music by Ted Nugent

All right! It’s zee Wango, zee Tango
1-2-3-4
Come on boys
Time to Wango

My baby she like to rock
My baby she like to roll
My baby she can dance all night
My baby got no control
She do the Wango Tango

My baby she can scream and shout
My baby she can move it out
My baby she can take a chance
My baby got a brand new dance

Wango Tango
Wango Tango
It’s a Wango Tango
Ooooh yeah! (oooooh..)
Baby!

My baby like to rock
My baby like to roll
My baby like to dance all night
She got no control
She do…

Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Ooooh yeah! (oooooh..)

Yeahhhhhhhhhh!
Baby! Baby! Baby! Ooooh I like the way you look baby
You look like you’re made for me honey
If you wanna take a little chance
I’m gonna show you a new dance
Baby I gotta Wango down one time with you honey
I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
Well, it’s a brand new dance
Yeah been sweepin’ the nation
I said a brand new dance
A rock ‘n’ roll sensation
Yeah I like it baby, I do it every night
I got to do it ‘cos I like it so much
Oh honey believe it baby
You see it’s a crazed gyration of the rock generation
It’s my motivation to avoid the nauseation, frustration
When I need some lubrication - Baby!
Kinda like, goes kinda like this
You take her right ankle out
You take her left ankle out
You get her belly propped down
You get her butt propped up
Yeah lookin’ good now baby
I think you’re in the right position now baby
Yeah but if you ain’t quite ready I’ll make sure everything is a little bit nicer ‘cos
I’m gonna get a little talcum
I’m gonna borrow it from Malcolm
Yeah you look so good baby I’m startin to drool all over myself
I got the droolin’, droolin’, get all wet, salivate, salivate
I got salivate late, salivate late, salivate late
Got salivate, salivate, salivate, salivate, heh heh heh
Yeah you look so good baby, I like it, I like it, I like it
You know what I been talkin’ about honey
It’s a nice dance, we gotta a nice dance goin’ here
Now what you gotta do, I’ll tell you what you gotta do
You got to pretend your face is a Maserati
It’s a Maserati
It’s a Maserati
It’s a gettin’ hotty
It’s a Maserati, Maserati, Maserati
It’s a fast one too man, that thing’s turbocharged
You feel like a little fuel injection honey?
I’ll tell ya about it, I’ll tell you about it
I’ll check out the hood scoop
I gotta get that hood scoop off, shine and shine and buff
I gotta buff it up, buff it up, buff it up, buff it up, buff it up,
Yeah, shiny now baby, heh heh heh
You’ve been drivin’ all night long
It’s time to put the old Maserati away
So you look for a garage, you think you see a garage
Wait a minute, Hey!, there’s one up ahead
And the damn thing’s open
Hello! Get in there!

Is my baby alive? (Is my baby alive?)
Is my baby alive? (Is my baby alive?)
Is my baby alive?
She Wango’d to death

Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Wango
Tango Tango
Wango Wango Wango Wango
Tango Tango Tango Tango

Here’s a pic, from back when San Francisco was part of America

(yes, thats Pig Pen holding a rifle on the steps of the Dead’s House to 710 Haight, not sure who the guy in front of Jerry is . . . Mickey Hart maybe???)

And here’s a little bit of Cowboy Bob

El Paso
Lyrics by Marty Robbins

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Nighttime would find me in Rose’s Cantina,
Music would play and Felina would whirl.

Black as the night were the eyes of Felina,
Wicked and evil while casting a spell.
My love was strong for this Mexican maiden,
I was in love, but in vain I could tell.

One night a wild young cowboy came in, wild as the West Texas wind…
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing,
With wicked Felina, the girl that I love.

So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden;
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore.
My challenge was answered, in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor.

Just for a moment I stood there in silence,
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done.
Many thoughts ran through my mind as I stood there;
I had but one chance and that was to run.

Out through the back door of Rose’s I ran, out where the horses were tied…
I picked a good one; he looked like he could run,
Up on his back and away I did ride.

Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso,
Out through the badlands of New Mexico.
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless;
Everything’s gone in life nothing is left.

But it’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden,
My love is stronger that my fear of death.
I saddled up and away I did go, riding alone in the dark…
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me,
Tonight nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart.

And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso,
I can see Rose’s Cantina below.
My love is strong and it pushes me onward, down off the hill to Felina I go.

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys,
Off to my left ride a dozen or more.
shouting and shooting; I can’t let them catch me,
I’ve got to make it to Rose’s back door.

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel a deep burning pain in my side
It’s getting harder to stay in the saddle.
I’m getting weary, unable to ride.

But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I’ve fallen;
Though I am weary, I can’t stop to rest.
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle,
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

From out of nowhere, Felina has found me,
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for,
One little kiss and Felina good-bye.

From the late 80s . . . .

When Push Comes to Shove
Words by Robert Hunter

Shaking in the desert, wherefore do you cry?
Here there may be rattlesnakes to punch you in the eye
Shotguns full of silver, bullets made of glass,
String barbed wire at your feet and do not let you pass
When Push Comes To Shove, you’re afraid of love

When Push Comes To Shove
When Push Comes To Shove
You’re afraid of love
When Push Comes To Shove

Shaking in the bedroom, covers on your head
Cringing like a baby at the hand beneath the bed
Phantom in the closet, scratching at the door
The latest mystery killer that you saw on channel four
When Push Comes To Shove, you’re afraid of love

Shaking in the garden, the fear within you grows
Here there may be roses to punch you in the nose
Twist their arms around you, slap you till you cry,
Wrap you in their sweet perfume and love you till you die
When Push Comes To Shove, you’re afraid of love

When Push Comes To Shove
When Push Comes To Shove
You’re afraid of love
When Push Comes To Shove

New Potato Caboose
Lyrics by Robert Petersen, music by Phil Lesh

Last leaf fallen;
Bare earth where green was born.
Black Madonna, two eagles hang against a cloud.

Sun comes up blood red;
Wind yells among the stone.
All graceful instruments are known.

When the windows all are broken
and your love’s become a toothless crone,
when the voices of the storm sound like a crowd,
winter morning breaks;
you’re all alone.

The eyes are blind,
blue visions are all a seer can own
And touching makes the flesh to cry out loud.
This ground on which the seed of love is sown.
All graceful instruments are known.

Alligator
Words by Robert Hunter and Ron McKernan

Sleepy alligator in the noonday sun
Sleepin by the river just like he usually done
Call for his whisky
He can call for his tea
Call all he wanta but he
can’t call me

Oh no
I been there before
and I’m not comin back around
there no more

Creepy alligator comin all around the bend
Talkin bout the times when we was mutual friends
I check my mem’ry
I check it quick yes I will
I check it runnin
some old kind of trick

Oh no well I
been there before
and I ain’t a comin back around
there no more
no I’m not

hung up waitin’ for a windy day
Hung up waitin for a windy day
Tear down the Fillmore,
Gas the Avalon

Ridin down the river in an old canoe
a bunch of bugs and an old tennis shoe
out of the river all ugly and green
the biggest old alligator that I’ve ever seen
teeth big and pointed and his eyes were buggin out
contact the union, put the beggars to route
screamin and yellin and lickin his chops
he never runs he just stumbles and hops
just out of prison on six dollars bail
mumblin at bitches and waggin his tail

Alligator runnin round my door (4x)

Alligator creepin round the corner of my cabin door
He’s comin round to bother me some more

Another Weird Tune

Greatest Story Ever Told
Lyrics by Robert Hunter; Music by Bob Weir

Moses came riding up on a guitar
His spurs were a-jingling, the door was ajar
His buckle was silver, his manner was bold
I asked him to come on in out of the cold
His brain was boiling, his reason was spent
He said if nothing was borrowed then nothing was lent
I asked him for mercy, he gave me a gun
Said Now n’again these things just got to be done

Abraham and Isaac
sitting on a fence
You’d get right to work
if you had any sense
Y’know the one thing we need
is a left-hand monkey wrench

Gideon come in with his eyes on the floor
Says: Y’ain’t got a hinge, you can’t close the door
Moses stood up a full six foot ten
Says: You can’t close the door when the wall’s caved in
I asked him for water, he poured me some wine
We finished the bottle then broke into mine
You get what you come for, you’re ready to go
It’s one in ten thousand just come for the show

Abraham and Isaac
Digging on a well
Mama come quick
with the water witch spell
Cool clear water
where you can’t never tell

where we continue to explore the role of firearms within the music of the Dead

Stagger Lee
Lyrics by Robert Hunter

1940 Xmas evening with a full moon over town
Staggerlee met Billy DeLyon
and he blew that poor boy down
Do you know what he shot him for?
What do you make of that?
‘Cause Billy DeLyon threw lucky dice,
won Staggelee’s Stetson hat

Baio, Baio, tell me how can this be?
You arrest the girls for turning tricks
but you’re scared of Staggerlee
Staggerlee is a madman and he shot my Billy dead
Baio you go get him or give the job to me

Delia DeLyon, dear sweet Delia-D
How the hell can I arrest him when he’s twice as big as me?
Don’t ask me to go downtown - I wouldn’t come back alive
Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45

Baio Delia said just give me a gun
He shot my Billy dead now I’m gonna see him hung
She waded to DeLyon’s Club through Billy DeLyon’s blood
Stepped up to Staggerlee at the bar
Said Buy me a gin fizz, love

As Staggerlee lit a cigarette she shot him in the balls
Blew the smoke off her revolver, had him dragged to city hall
Baio, Baio, see you hang him high
He shot my Billy dead and now he’s got to die

Delia went a walking down on Singapore Street
A three-piece band on the corner played “Nearer, My God, to Thee”
but Delia whistled a different tune…what tune could it be?

The song that woman sung was Look out Staggerlee
The song that Delia sung was Look out Staggerlee
The song that woman sung was Look out Staggerlee
The song that Delia sung was Look out Staggerlee

Video is from the ‘93 spring tour, Chapel Hill. North Carolina was always home to great shows, and even though they were in the downward spiral at this point, they do not disappoint.

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.

RIP, Dr. Hoffman

Albert Hofmann, 102, a Swiss chemist and accidental father of LSD who came to view the much-vilified and abused hallucinogen he discovered in 1938 as his “problem child,” died April 29 at his home in Burg, a village near Basel, Switzerland, after a heart attack.

Dr. Hofmann came across LSD while working on medicinal uses of a fungus to act as a circulatory heart-lung stimulant. His first LSD “trip” occurred in 1943, a troubling experience that led him to write in his journal, “A demon had invaded me, had taken possession of my body, mind and soul.”

After its discovery, LSD was viewed as a wonder drug with the potential to treat problems including schizophrenia and alcoholism. For the latter, some held the theory that chronic drinkers quit only after experiencing the hallucinations of delirium tremens.

LSD attracted many prominent advocates. They included Aldous Huxley, the author of “Brave New World,” and psychologist Timothy Leary, who saw the drug as a potent way for people to live up to his 1960s counterculture motto: “Turn on, tune in, drop out.”

Indeed - body, mind and soul

In his honor - here’s a little of the Good ‘Ol Grateful Dead in a fitting tribute

He’s Gone Jam ->
The Other One->
Spanish Jam ->
Mind Left Body Jam - >
The Other One

Here’s the complete set list
10-17-74 Winterland Arena, San Francisco, Ca. (Thu)
1: Promised, Half Step, B. T. Wind, FOTD, Jack Straw, Loser, El Paso, China Cat> I Know You Rider, Me & My Uncle, Roses, WRS Prelude> WRS Part 1> Let It Grow
1.5: Phil & Ned
2: Scarlet, Big River, Ramble On, Mexicali, He’s Gone> Other One> Spanish Jam> Mind Left Body Jam> Other One> Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia
E: Casey Jones, U. S. Blues
“Casey Jones” appears on “Steal Your Face”

The New York Times weighs in

”I had to leave work for home because I was suddenly hit by a sudden feeling of unease and mild dizziness,” he subsequently wrote in a memo to company bosses.

”Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror,” he said, describing his bicycle ride home. ”I had the impression I was rooted to the spot. But my assistant told me we were actually going very fast.”

Upon reaching home, Hofmann began experiencing what he called ”wonderful visions.”

Here’s some more of the freak show

Space -> (Walk Me Out In) The Morning Dew

10-18-74 Winterland Arena, San Francisco, Ca. (Fri)
1: Around, Sugaree, Mexicali, Peggy-O, BIODTL, B. E. Women, Cumberland, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, WRS Prelude> WRS Part 1> Let It Grow
2: Phil & Ned> Jam> Dark Star> Morning Dew
3: Promised> Bertha> Greatest, Ship Of Fools, NFA> GDTRFB> Saturday Night
E: U. S. Blues
“Beer Barrel Polka” tuning before “Mexicali” - final “WRS Part 1″ - final “WRS Prelude” - “Sugaree”, “BIODTL” and “Ship Of Fools” appear on “Steal Your Face”

For what its worth - I’d LOVE to get my hands on this complete show.

Both of these really.

Wow. Just Wow!!!!!

Zooooombabababoombatrippaloomba, you listening????????

with the Grateful Dead

April 14, 1978
Cassell Coliseum
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia

1st Set:The Promised Land, Tennessee Jed, Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Peggy-O, Looks Like Rain, Dire Wolf, It’s All Over Now, Dupree’s Diamond Blues, The Music Never Stopped

2nd Set:Samson & Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Dancin’ In The Streets-> Drums-> Space-> The Other One-> Black Peter-> Sugar Magnolia

Encore:Johnny B. Goode

Halloween at Radio City Music Hall.
Here’s the INSANE setlist.

Will Zoombabooobablooombababooey post this stellar show???

Franklin’s Tower
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia

In another time’s forgotten space
your eyes looked through your mother’s face
Wildflower seed on the sand and stone
may the four winds blow you safely home

Roll away … the dew
Roll away… the dew
Roll away… the dew
Roll away… the dew

You ask me where the four winds dwell
In Franklin’s tower there hangs a bell
It can ring, turn night to day
Ring like fire when you lose your way

Roll away… the dew . . .

God help the child who rings that bell
It may have one good ring left, you can’t tell
One watch by night, one watch by day
If you get confused just listen to the music play

Roll away… the dew . . .

Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
if you plant ice you’re gonna harvest wind

Roll away… the dew . . .

In Franklin’s Tower the four winds sleep
Like four lean hounds the lighthouse keep
Wildflower seed in the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again

Roll away… the dew
Roll away… the dew
Roll away… the dew
Roll away… the dew
You better roll away the dew

This one’s hot hot hot

HT to Chris Byrne

never played it, indeed have never even seen a Wii, but apparently you can groove out to Dead songs on it.