Dead Heads, I need your advice.

I'm a UU minister, and I'm trying to put together a wedding for my best friend and her long-time guy. He's a huge Dead fan, so she asked if I could put some Dead lyrics into the ceremony.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking "I Need A Miracle Every Day" might be in poor taste, but it's the only song that comes to mind. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

I like the first part:

Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
Dizzy with eternity.
Paint it with a skin of sky, brush in some clouds and sea
Call it home for you and me.

Do you know what album that's on?

great song; i think the album is: in the dark

:hi:

I'm a "ma'am" kind of minister, not a "sir" LOL!

:rofl:

is the album 'Throwing Stones' is on.

maybe not the whole song but...

Sugar magnolia, blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don’t care,
Saw my baby down by the river, knew she’d have to come up soon for air.

Sweet blossom come on, under the willow, we can have high times if you’ll abide
We can discover the wonders of nature, rolling in the rushes down by the riverside.

She’s got everything delightful, she’s got everything I need,
Takes the wheel when I’m seeing double, pays my ticket when I speed

She comes skimmin’ through rays of violet, she can wade in a drop of dew,
She don’t come and I don’t follow, waits backstage while I sing to you.

Well, she can dance a cajun rhythm, jump like a willys in four wheel drive.
She’s a summer love for spring, fall and winter. she can make happy any man alive.

Sugar magnolia, ringing that bluebell, caught up in sunlight, come on out singing
I’ll walk you in the sunshine, come on honey, come along with me.

She’s got everything delightful, she’s got everything I need,
A breeze in the pines and the sun and bright moonlight, lazing in the sunshine yes
Indeed.

Sometimes when the cuckoo’s crying, when the moon is half way down,
Sometimes when the night is dying, I take me out and I wander around, I wander
’round.

Sunshine, daydream, walking in the tall trees, going where the wind goes
Blooming like a red rose, breathing more freely,
Ride our singin’, I’ll walk you in the morning sunshine
Sunshine, daydream. sunshine, daydream. walking in the sunshine.

nt

:thumbsup:

And a song she's likely to know, as well, so this might be good. Thank you! :hi:

would be my choice too:yourock:

In the attics of my life
Full of cloudy dreams unreal
Full of tastes no tongue can know
And lights no eye can see
When there was no ear to hear
You sang to me

I have spent my life
Seeking all that's still unsung
Bent my ear to hear the tune
And closed my eyes to see
When there were no strings to play
You played to me

In the book of love's own dream
Where all the print is blood
Where all the pages are my days
And all my lights grow old
When I had no wings to fly
You flew to me

You
flew
to me

In the secret space of dreams
Where I dreaming lay amazed
When the secrets all are told
And the petals all unfold
When there was no dream of mine
You dreamed of me

it's a good song but slow.

And I don't care if it's slow. I'll be reading it, probably, like a love sonnet. I'm thinking it's going to have to be hidden in the service so no one will think it's anything less than a pretty poem--unless you're in the know.

kidding. :P

A bunch of songs that are verboten. "Casey Jones," sure but "A Touch of Grey" would get me clobbered. The groom would probably laugh his ass off if I did "Touch of Grey," though, b/c she's 12 years older than him!

but I've always disliked Sugar Mag. Maybe it's a feminist thing--"pays my ticket when I speed." Bleh.

They Love Each Other--great song, but not a good reading.

OH! Parts of "Eyes of the World" would be perfect.

And, yes. "Attics of My Life" has some really good stuff.

Need lyrics? Go to
http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/#songs

I also get my back up when I hear "Up on Cripple Creek" by The Band.

I dont' have to speak/she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one...

Talk about enabling! Blech!

But parts of Sugar Magnolia are good. Maybe I'll just take a line from here and there and do somthing with it. Thanks for the lyrics link!

itf, Sistah Feminist :hi:

Would be perfect as the bride walks down the aisle.

Also, Ripple would be very appropriate.

Right outside this lazy summer home
You ain’t got time to call your soul a critic no.
Right outside the lazy gate of winter’s summer home,
Wond’rin’ where the nut-thatch winters,
Wings a mile long just carried the bird away.

Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,
The heart has it’s beaches, it’s homeland and thoughts of it’s own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin’ brings,
But the heart has it’s seasons, it’s evenin’s and songs of it’s own.

There comes a redeemer, and he slowly too fades away,
And there follows his wagon behind him that’s loaded with clay.
And the seeds that were silent all burst into bloom, and decay,
And night comes so quiet, it’s close on the heels of the day.

Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,
The heart has it’s beaches, it’s homeland and thoughts of it’s own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin’ brings,
But the heart has it’s seasons, it’s evenin’s and songs of it’s own.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own,
And sometimes we visit your country and live in your home,
Sometimes we ride on your horses, sometimes we walk alone,
Sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own.

Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,
The heart has it’s beaches, it’s homeland and thoughts of it’s own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin’ brings,
But the heart has it’s seasons, it’s evenin’s and songs of it’s own.



http://www.kliljedahl.net

"...Been so long I felt this way, ain't in no hurry, no
Rainbows end down that highway where ocean breezes blow
My time coming, voices saying, they tell me where to go..."

for the processional and One More Saturday Night for the recessional.

I'd suggest looking hard at the songs on American Beauty.

Sometimes the light's all shining on me
Other times I can barely see

(Although "Truckin'" in its entirety wouldn't be appropriate).

PS: Oh, and :hi: fellow UU'er! I've considered becoming a minister myself, but with three young kids and no money to spare, I don't know that I can afford seminary).

And the next would fit them too, because their whole relationship has been a long, strange trip! LOL!

About the cost of grad school... I was lucky my seminary gave me a lot of scholarship money, even though it was a Methodist seminary and I'm not even Christian. So that was cool. But I still had to take out $40K in loans. Still, I wish I had done it when it first occurred to me, 18 years ago. The cost of education was much cheaper then and I'd have already paid off the loans. But I, too, was afraid of the costs, and besides, I figured the call would go away as I found something else useful to do with my life.

I'm just graduated at 41 now, and figure I may have to work until 65 just to get out student loan debt. :eyes: So I guess my advice would be: if you've heard the call, you might as well go now because a) education isn't going to get any cheaper, and b) God can be a persistent nag about these things! LOL

We're about the same age, so what you say is particularly relevant.

If I do pursue this (like the Dead line I cited says, sometimes it all seems so clear that I should pursue, other times I see nothing but obscurities all around), I'll probably end up going to a Methodist seminary, too. I wish I could just pack up and go to Starr King in SF, but, alas, the time to do that has long since faded from sight in my rear-view mirror.

I've been wrestling with this call for a while and had been accepted to Harvard Div a few years ago...however, we got pregnant with our first child at the same time and I just couldn't see how we could afford to go. I'm leaning toward maybe just continuing to remain active in lay ministry at my fellowship, but there's always that divided sense of self I grapple with when taking that path.

Anyway, nice "talking" to you! :hi:

"The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion)"

What are they seeing, when they look in each other's eyes?
What are they feeling, when they see each other smile?
Is it love, I don't know - or an emotion that I've outgrown?

Did I take a wrong turn on life's winding road?
Won't somebody help me find the right way to go?
My life need some correction, alteration in direction.
Won't somebody stand by me - yes, I'm lost, yes, I'm lost,
Yes, I'm lost.

What is the secret of this tie that binds?
Two souls in communion, both body and mind.
Is it special magic, or just the nature of things?
Conceived of great spirit, not for beggars but for kings.

You who have found it please help me along.
I'm a man, I'm a man, - I'm not made out of stone.
My needs they are simple, I don't want anything,
but I surely want to fly on those wings, on the run, one more time.

All I wanna do, fly up, fly home.
Fly on those wings of love, fly up, fly home,
I'm a stranger in your town, fly up, fly home,
Help me somebody please! Fly up, fly home.

I wake up early in the morning, fly up, fly home,
you know I never saw you babe, fly up, fly home.

I just can't seem to understand,
can't seem to understand what's wrong, fly up, fly home.

What I wanna do is take a little ride with you, on the wings of love,
woh-oh one more time, one more time.

And I thought all the Dead songs were about drugs and alcohol! :) :thumbsup:

If I had the world to give, I'd give it to you
Long as you live, would you let it fall, or hold it all in your arms?

If I had a song to sing, I'd sing it to you
as long as you live, lullaby or maybe a plain serenade
wouldn't you laugh, dance, and cry or be afraid at the change you made

I may not have the world to give to you
But maybe I have a tune or two
Only if you let me be your world
Could I ever give this world to you

But I will give what love I have to give,
I will give what love I have to give,
I will give what love I have to give, long as I live.

If I had a star to give, I'd give it to you
long as you live, would you have the time
to watch it shine, watch it shine
or ask for the moon and heaven too? I'd give it to you.

Well maybe I've got no star to spare, or anything fine or even rare,
only if you let me be your world, could I ever give this world to you.
could I ever give this world to you.

This is beautiful. If it were up to me, right now, this song is in the lead. We'll see what the bride has to say. Thanks! :hi:

beautiful love songs with a grand scope.

Hell in a Bucket?

PS: Please ignore my suggestions.

Hey-I got your CD today. I already got some lyrics worked up...maybe half a verse. Are you okay with keeping the lyrics to the chorus the same?

I thought of Hell in a Bucket, but decided that would get me decked by both of them. :P

I love that song....

when Jerry died. Already specified it's to be played at ny funeral.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

it was at our wedding :)

They Love Each Other

Mary run around, sailin' up and down,
Looking for a shot in some direction.
Got it from the top, it's nothing you can stop,
Lord, you know they made a fire connection.

They love each other, Lord you can see that it's true,
Lord you can see that it's true, Lord you can see that it's true.

He could pass his time, around some other line
But you know he choose this place beside her.
Don't get in their way, there's nothing you can say,
Nothing thay you need to add or do.

They love each other, Lord you can see that it's true,
Lord you can see that it's true, Lord you can see that it's true.

Its' nothing, they explain, it's like a diesel train
you better not be there when it rolls, over,
And when that train rolls in, you wonder where it's been,
You gotta try and see a little further.

< ADDITIONAL LYRICS FROM THE 1973 VERSION >

Though you'll make a noise, just can't hear your voice.
All the dizzy ride on your cold shoulder.

Won't you believe what I say is true?
Everything I did I heard it first from you.

Everything I tell you, I heard it first from you.
Heard your news report, you know you're falling short.
Pretty soon, we'll trust you for the weather.
When that ship comes in, you won't know where it's been.
You got to try to see a little further.

using the Grateful Dead in a wedding. This sounds like a lovely song, as well. I can't wait to actually listen to these songs. Thanks for the suggestion! :hi:

Actually, I already seconded 'Attics Of My Life' but had to interject 'Women Are Smarter' for laughs:


Let us put man and woman together
And see which one is smarter
Some say men but I say no
The women got the men like a puppet show

Ain’t me, it’s the people they say
The men are leading the women astray
But I say, it’s the women today
Are smarter than the men in every way

That’s right! the women are smarter
That’s right! the women are smarter
A little boy sat down and cried
An old man passing asked him why
He said I can’t do what the big boys do
Old man sat down and he cried, too

Ain’t me, it’s the people that say
The men are leading the women astray
But I say, it’s the women today
Are smarter than the man in every way
That’s right, the women are smarter
That’s right, the women are smarter

It ain’t me, it’s the people that say
The men are leading the women astray
But I say, it’s the women today
Are smarter than the men in every way
That’s right, the women are smarter
That’s right, the women are smarter
That’s right, the women are smarter
Smarter than the men in every way
That’s right, the women are smarter
That’s right, the women are smarter
That’s right, the women are smarter
Smarter than the men in every way
That’s right it’s the people that say the men are leading the women astray
But I say, it’s the women today, are smarter than the men in every way
That’s right they’re smarter

I know this as a Zydeco tune, sung by C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Lousisiana Band. Great tune!

In the attics of my life, full of cloudy dreams unreal.
Full of tastes no tongue can know, and lights no eyes can see.
When there was no ear to hear, you sang to me.

I have spent my life seeking all that's still unsung.
Bent my ear to hear the tune, and closed my eyes to see.
When there was no strings to play, you played to me.

In the book of love's own dream, where all the print is blood.
Where all the pages are my days, and all the lights grow old.
When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me, you flew to me.

In the secret space of dreams, where I dreaming lay amazed.
When the secrets all are told, and the petals all unfold.
When there was no dream of mine, you dreamed of me.




Box of Rain

Look out of any window, any morning, any evening, any day.
Maybe the sun is shining, birds are singing,
No rain is falling from a heavy sky.
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago.

Walk out of any doorway, feel your way, feel your way like the day before.
Maybe you'll find direction,
Around some corner where it's been waiting to meet you.
What do you want me to do, to watch for you while you are sleeping?
The please don't be surprised when you find me dreaming too.

Look into any eyes you find by you, you can see clear to another day,
Maybe been seen before, through other eyes on other days while going home.
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago.

Walk into splintered sunlight,
Inch your way through dead dreams to another land.
Maybe you're tired and broken,
Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear

What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain, and love will see you through.

Just a box of rain, wind and water,
Sun and shower, wind and rain,
In and out the window like a moth before a flame.

And it's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there,
Believe it if you need it, or leave it if you dare.

And it's just a box of rain, or a ribbon for tour hair;
Such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.

Ripple in still water
Where there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

Nice allegory of making a change in someone's life IMO

Actually, there's a lot of the lyrics in Ripple that might be good:

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air

(Chorus)

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men

There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone

(Chorus)

You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home

My second choice though, after Eyes of the world for a wedding.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

when I went looking, I couldn't find it. Where does it live?