Uncle John's Band
Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
Well the first days are the hardest
days, don't you worry any more
'Cause when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door
Think this through with me, let me know your mind
Whoa-oh, what I want to know is, are you kind?
It's a buck dancer's choice my friend, better take my advice
You know all the rules by now, and the fire from the ice
Will you come with me, won't you come with me?
Whoa-oh, what I want to know, will you come with me?
God damn, well I declare, have you seen the like?
Their walls are built of cannon balls
Their motto is "don't" tread on me"
Come hear Uncle John's Band, playing to the tide
Come with me or go alone
He's come to take his children home
It's the same story the crow told me, it's the only one he knows
Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go
Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait
Whoa-oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?
I live in a silver mine and I call it beggar's tomb
I got me a violin and I beg you call the tune
Anybody's choice, I can hear your voice
Whoa-oh, what I want to know, how does the song go?
Come hear Uncle John's Band, by the river side
Got some things to talk about
Here beside the rising tide
Come hear Uncle John's Band, playing to the tide
Come with me or go alone
He's come to take his children home
Whoa-oh what I want to know, how does the song go?
Come hear Uncle John's Band, by the river side
Got some things to talk about
Here beside the rising tide
Come hear Uncle John's Band, playing to
the tide
Come with me or go alone
He's come to take his children home
+/-
Variations (1)
+/-
Live Performances (160)
5/5/81 Glens
Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York
5/16/81 Barton Hall,
Ithaca, New York
7/10/81 St. Paul
Civic Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
4/8/82 Onondaga
County War Memorial, Syracuse, New York
4/12/82
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
4/17/82
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
5/21/82 Greek
Theatre, Berkeley, California
7/31/82
Manor Downs, Manor, Texas
9/9/82 Saenger
Theatre, New Orleans, Louisiana
9/18/82 Boston
Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
4/10/83 West
Virginia University Coliseum, Morgantown, West Virginia
4/16/83
Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
6/25/83 St. Paul
Civic Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
8/27/83 Seattle
Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington
9/6/83 Red
Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
9/24/83
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville, California
10/21/83 The
Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts
4/7/84 Irvine
Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, California
4/23/84 New Haven
Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut
5/6/84 Hult
Center For The Performing Arts, Eugene, Oregon
7/15/84 Greek
Theatre, Berkeley, California
10/12/84 Augusta Civic
Center, Augusta, Maine
10/18/84
Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
11/3/84 Berkeley
Community Theatre, Berkeley, California
12/31/84 San Francisco
Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
3/27/85 Nassau
Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
4/6/85 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7/1/85
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland
9/7/85 Red
Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
11/2/85
Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia
11/10/85 Meadowlands
Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
3/21/86 Hampton
Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia
4/3/86 Hartford
Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
5/4/86 Cal Expo
Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
6/20/86 Greek
Theatre, Berkeley, California
6/28/86 Alpine
Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin
7/4/86 Rich
Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
3/27/87 Hartford
Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
3/31/87 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4/9/87 UIC
Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois
6/27/87 Alpine
Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin
7/4/87 Sullivan
Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
7/24/87
Oakland Coliseum Stadium, Oakland, California
8/13/87 Red Rocks
Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
9/7/87
Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island
9/19/87
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
9/23/87 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11/7/87 Henry J.
Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
12/27/87 Oakland Coliseum
Arena, Oakland, California
12/31/87 Oakland Coliseum
Arena, Oakland, California
3/18/88 Henry J.
Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
3/26/88 Hampton
Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia
3/30/88 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
4/8/88 The
Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts
4/13/88 Rosemont
Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois
4/23/88 Irvine
Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, California
6/19/88 Alpine
Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin
6/26/88 Pittsburgh
Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7/2/88 Oxford
Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine
7/17/88 Greek
Theatre, Berkeley, California
8/26/88
Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington
9/5/88 Capital
Centre, Landover, Maryland
9/15/88 Madison
Square Garden, New York, New York
10/1/88 Shoreline
Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California
10/15/88 Bayfront Center
Arena, St. Petersburg, Florida
12/28/88
Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
2/7/89
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, California
4/3/89
Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
4/9/89 Freedom
Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
4/28/89 Irvine
Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, California
7/10/89 Giants
Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
7/17/89 Alpine
Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin
8/19/89 Greek
Theatre, Berkeley, California
10/9/89 Hampton
Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia
10/16/89 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
10/25/89 Miami Arena,
Miami, Florida
12/9/89 Great
Western Forum, Inglewood, California
12/27/89 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
3/14/90 Capital
Centre, Landover, Maryland
3/24/90
Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York
3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
5/5/90
Cal State Dominguez Hills Soccer Field, Carson, California
6/8/90 Cal Expo
Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
6/23/90 Autzen
Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
7/10/90
Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina
7/14/90 Foxboro
Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
7/19/90 Deer Creek
Music Center, Noblesville, Indiana
9/12/90 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9/15/90 Madison
Square Garden, New York, New York
9/19/90 Madison
Square Garden, New York, New York
10/22/90 Festhalle,
Frankfurt, Germany
10/28/90 Zenith, Paris,
France
12/8/90 Compton
Terrace, Chandler, Arizona
2/21/91
Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
3/18/91 Capital
Centre, Landover, Maryland
3/27/91 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
4/7/91 Orlando
Arena, Orlando, Florida
4/27/91
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl, Las Vegas, Nevada
5/4/91 Cal Expo
Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
5/11/91 Shoreline
Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California
6/1/91 Los
Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
6/6/91 Deer
Creek Music Center, Noblesville, Indiana
6/17/91 Giants
Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
6/24/91 Sandstone
Amphitheatre, Bonner Springs, Kansas
8/14/91
Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
9/9/91 Madison
Square Garden, New York, New York
9/16/91 Madison
Square Garden, New York, New York
9/21/91 Boston
Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
12/28/91 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
3/3/92 The
Omni, Atlanta, Georgia
3/18/92 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3/23/92 The Palace Of Auburn Hills,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
5/23/92 Shoreline
Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California
6/11/92
Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York
6/20/92 RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
6/26/92 Soldier
Field, Chicago, Illinois
12/6/92 Compton
Terrace, Chandler, Arizona
12/17/92 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
1/25/93
Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
3/16/93 Capital
Centre, Landover, Maryland
3/22/93 The Omni,
Atlanta, Georgia
3/31/93 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
5/14/93 Sam Boyd
Silver Bowl, Las Vegas, Nevada
5/27/93 Cal Expo
Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
6/6/93 Giants
Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
6/11/93 Buckeye Lake
Music Center, Hebron, Ohio
6/18/93 Soldier
Field, Chicago, Illinois
6/25/93 RFK Stadium,
Washington, D.C.
8/27/93 Shoreline
Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California
9/10/93 Richfield
Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
9/18/93 Madison
Square Garden, New York, New York
9/28/93 Boston
Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
12/8/93 Los Angeles
Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
12/18/93 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
2/27/94
Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
3/17/94 Rosemont
Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois
3/27/94 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
6/8/94 Cal Expo
Amphitheatre, Sacramento, California
6/19/94 Autzen
Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
6/25/94 Sam Boyd
Silver Bowl, Las Vegas, Nevada
7/13/94 Franklin
County Airport, Highgate, Vermont
7/20/94 Deer Creek
Music Center, Noblesville, Indiana
7/29/94 Buckeye Lake
Music Center, Hebron, Ohio
8/4/94 Giants
Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
9/17/94 Shoreline
Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California
9/27/94 Boston
Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
10/5/94 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10/13/94 Madison Square
Garden, New York, New York
11/29/94 McNichols Arena,
Denver, Colorado
12/12/94 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California
12/15/94 Los Angeles
Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
2/20/95 Delta
Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
3/18/95 The
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3/27/95 The Omni,
Atlanta, Georgia
4/5/95
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum, Birmingham, Alabama
5/19/95 Sam Boyd
Silver Bowl, Las Vegas, Nevada
5/26/95 Memorial
Stadium, Seattle, Washington
6/3/95
Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California
6/28/95 The Palace Of Auburn Hills,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
+/-
Official Recordings (75)
(studio)
Skeletons From The Closet
(studio) Workingman's Dead
(studio)
Workingman's Dead (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
(studio)
Workingman's Dead: The Angel's Share
11/8/69
Dick's Picks Volume Sixteen
12/12/69 Dave's Picks Volume Ten
12/26/69
Dave's Picks
Volume Forty-Three
1/2/70
Dave's Picks Volume
Thirty
1/3/70
Dave's Picks 2019
Bonus Disc
2/2/70
Dave's Picks Volume Six
5/2/70
Dick's Picks Volume Eight
5/15/70
Road Trips Volume Three, Number Three: Fillmore
East 5-15-70
12/23/70 Workingman's Dead
2/18/71
American Beauty (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
2/21/71
Workingman's Dead (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
3/18/71
30 Trips Around The Sun
4/27/71
Ladies And Gentlemen... The Grateful Dead
5/30/71
Winterland May 30th 1971
7/31/71
Road Trips Volume One, Number Three: Summer '71
8/24/71
Dick's Picks Volume Thirty-Five
12/6/71
Dave's Picks Volume
Twenty-Two
3/22/72
Rockin' The Rhein
With The Grateful Dead
4/29/72
Europe '72: The Complete Recordings
5/4/72
Europe '72: The Complete Recordings
5/11/72
Europe '72: The Complete Recordings
5/23/72
Europe '72: The Complete Recordings
5/23/72
Steppin' Out With The Grateful Dead: England '72
5/25/72
Europe '72: The Complete Recordings
7/22/72
Grateful Dead Download Series Volume Ten
9/17/72
Dick's Picks Volume Twenty-Three
9/27/72
Dick's Picks Volume Eleven
10/17/72
Listen To The River: St. Louis '71 '72 '73
11/17/72
Dave's Picks Volume Eleven
11/10/73 Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings
11/11/73 Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings
11/17/73
Dave's Picks Volume Five
11/21/73
Road Trips Volume Four, Number Three: Denver '73
2/22/74
Dave's Picks 2022
Bonus Disc
3/23/74
Dick's Picks Volume Twenty-Four
6/23/74
Dave's Picks
Volume Thirty-Four
7/31/74
Dave's Picks Volume Two
8/6/74
Dick's Picks Volume Thirty-One
9/18/74
30 Trips Around The Sun
10/19/74
The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack
12/31/76
Live At The Cow Palace: New Year's Eve 1976
5/9/77
May 1977: Get
Shown The Light
5/11/77 May 1977
5/15/77 May 1977
5/19/77
Dick's Picks Volume Twenty-Nine
5/26/77
Dave's Picks Volume
Forty-One
6/7/77
Winterland June 1977: The Complete
Recordings
12/26/79
Dick's Picks Volume Five
12/28/79
Road Trips Volume Three, Number One: Oakland 12-28-79
5/15/80 Go To Nassau
11/30/80
Dave's Picks Volume Eight
3/9/81
In And Out Of The Garden: Madison Square Garden '81, '82, '83
5/16/81
30 Trips Around The Sun
7/31/82
30 Trips Around The Sun
10/21/83
30 Trips Around The Sun
10/12/84
30 Trips Around The Sun
3/27/87
Dave's Picks Volume
Thirty-Six
7/24/87
View From The Vault IV
Soundtrack
4/3/89
Grateful Dead Download Series Volume Nine
7/10/89
Giants Stadium
1987, 1989, 1991
10/9/89
Formerly The Warlocks
10/16/89 Nightfall Of Diamonds
3/14/90
Spring 1990 (The Other One)
3/24/90
Dozin' At The Knick
3/30/90 Spring 1990
6/23/90
Dave's Picks Volume
Forty-Four
7/19/90
Dave's Picks Volume
Forty
9/19/90
Road Trips Volume Two, Number One: MSG September
'90
6/17/91
Giants Stadium
1987, 1989, 1991
5/27/93
Road Trips Volume Two, Number Four: Cal Expo '93