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Showing posts with label Phil Lesh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phil Lesh. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Song: Unbroken Chain by The Grateful Dead with lyrics
Unbroken Chain [1] is one of my favorite Dead songs. It was written by their bass player and occasional singer Phil Lesh (check out his autobiography Searching For The Sound, whose title comes from this tune) and his friend Bobby Peterson. They never performed the song live until their last few months on the road--21 years after recording it. [2]
[1] The concept of an "unbroken chain" usually applies to the theory of transmission of authority down across the generations, often used in the sense of religious authority, which fits in well with the song. Religious scholars speak of the "unbroken chain of Moses, Jesus, Paul, Augustine, etc..." (Tenywa, Francis: The Hebraic Tradition.... [dissertation]). An essay on the concept of authority in Dictionary of the History of Ideas: studies of Selected Pivotal Ideas states "The idea of church authority...juxtaposed ideas of authorized power, ... of unbroken binding tradition..." (v. 1, p. 147)
[2]
From chill@omni.voicenet.com
Date: Mon, 20 MAR 1995 07:22:18 -0500
From: Craig Hillwig World Wide Web: http://www.voicenet.com/voicenet/homepages/chill/index.html Subject: Unbroken Chain - How it went down
I thought I'd try to fill you in on how the UC went down. NOT trying to rub it in or anything. I don't usually review shows because I find it's subjective. But for those who missed it:
[Some stuff deleted...]
Don't Ease was also a surprise -- 5th song into the set at about 0:35 into it. I thought, "Man!! Short set. I'll be pissed if they walk off the stage after this."
The band stayed on the stage with the lights down after the Don't Ease, and then we knew that SOMETHING was going to happen. All of the band members were looking at each other somewhat anxiously.
Then the opening chords started wafting through quietly, a nervousness and heightened sense of urgency started rushing through the crowd. Isolated shouts of "Unbroken Chain!" could be heard, and then everyone looked at each other as if, "Can it be?" The cheers became louder, swelling as more and more heads realized what was happening, and by the time the first verse rolled around, the place was going absolutely nuts -- bolts of energy flying through the Spectrum.
Band pulls out of the intro, and all four (non-drummers) step up to the mikes, "Blue light rain" Phil with the spotlight, "whoa unbroken chain . . . ." Devastating -- people just screaming their heads off for about 6 seconds, until, almost simultaneously, everyone decided to quiet down and listen.
The jamming part of the song was the highlight, with Jerry all over the fretboard.
Put it this way. It certainly could have been played better, and it will get better with some playing. But you always remember your first.
Of course, the band left the stage to an extended standing ovation. When the house lights went up, everyone sorta looked at each other and then, in a moment of mutual recognition, the whole placed erupted again, lotsa cheering, hugging.
When the band came out for the second set, Phil did a sweeping bow, and of course, the place erupted once again.
Well, that kinda captures it, I think.
_________________________________
Unbroken Chain
Lyrics: Bobby Petersen
Music: Phil Lesh
Copyright 1974 by Ice Nine Publishing.
Blue light rain, whoa unbroken chain,
Looking for familiar faces in an empty window pane.
Listening for the secret, searching for the sound
But I could only hear the preacher and the baying of his hounds.
Willow sky, whoa, I walk and wonder why,
They say love your brother, but you will catch it when you try.
Roll you down the line boy, drop you for a loss,
Ride you out on a cold railroad and nail you to a cross.
November and more, as I wait for the score,
They're telling me forgiveness is the key to every door.
A slow winter day a night like forever,
Sink like a stone, float like a feather.
(guitar break)
Lilac rain, unbroken chain, song of the sawhet owl.
Out on the mountain, it'll drive you insane, listening to the winds howl
Unbroken chain of sorrow and pearls, unbroken chain of sky and sea.
---o0o---
[1] The concept of an "unbroken chain" usually applies to the theory of transmission of authority down across the generations, often used in the sense of religious authority, which fits in well with the song. Religious scholars speak of the "unbroken chain of Moses, Jesus, Paul, Augustine, etc..." (Tenywa, Francis: The Hebraic Tradition.... [dissertation]). An essay on the concept of authority in Dictionary of the History of Ideas: studies of Selected Pivotal Ideas states "The idea of church authority...juxtaposed ideas of authorized power, ... of unbroken binding tradition..." (v. 1, p. 147)
[2]
From chill@omni.voicenet.com
Date: Mon, 20 MAR 1995 07:22:18 -0500
From: Craig Hillwig World Wide Web: http://www.voicenet.com/voicenet/homepages/chill/index.html Subject: Unbroken Chain - How it went down
I thought I'd try to fill you in on how the UC went down. NOT trying to rub it in or anything. I don't usually review shows because I find it's subjective. But for those who missed it:
[Some stuff deleted...]
Don't Ease was also a surprise -- 5th song into the set at about 0:35 into it. I thought, "Man!! Short set. I'll be pissed if they walk off the stage after this."
The band stayed on the stage with the lights down after the Don't Ease, and then we knew that SOMETHING was going to happen. All of the band members were looking at each other somewhat anxiously.
Then the opening chords started wafting through quietly, a nervousness and heightened sense of urgency started rushing through the crowd. Isolated shouts of "Unbroken Chain!" could be heard, and then everyone looked at each other as if, "Can it be?" The cheers became louder, swelling as more and more heads realized what was happening, and by the time the first verse rolled around, the place was going absolutely nuts -- bolts of energy flying through the Spectrum.
Band pulls out of the intro, and all four (non-drummers) step up to the mikes, "Blue light rain" Phil with the spotlight, "whoa unbroken chain . . . ." Devastating -- people just screaming their heads off for about 6 seconds, until, almost simultaneously, everyone decided to quiet down and listen.
The jamming part of the song was the highlight, with Jerry all over the fretboard.
Put it this way. It certainly could have been played better, and it will get better with some playing. But you always remember your first.
Of course, the band left the stage to an extended standing ovation. When the house lights went up, everyone sorta looked at each other and then, in a moment of mutual recognition, the whole placed erupted again, lotsa cheering, hugging.
When the band came out for the second set, Phil did a sweeping bow, and of course, the place erupted once again.
Well, that kinda captures it, I think.
_________________________________
Unbroken Chain
Lyrics: Bobby Petersen
Music: Phil Lesh
Copyright 1974 by Ice Nine Publishing.
Blue light rain, whoa unbroken chain,
Looking for familiar faces in an empty window pane.
Listening for the secret, searching for the sound
But I could only hear the preacher and the baying of his hounds.
Willow sky, whoa, I walk and wonder why,
They say love your brother, but you will catch it when you try.
Roll you down the line boy, drop you for a loss,
Ride you out on a cold railroad and nail you to a cross.
November and more, as I wait for the score,
They're telling me forgiveness is the key to every door.
A slow winter day a night like forever,
Sink like a stone, float like a feather.
(guitar break)
Lilac rain, unbroken chain, song of the sawhet owl.
Out on the mountain, it'll drive you insane, listening to the winds howl
Unbroken chain of sorrow and pearls, unbroken chain of sky and sea.
---o0o---
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Phil Lesh and Friends video: Help On The Way with the always awesome Joan Osborne
Here is a truncated YouTube video of Phil Lesh and Friends performing at the Warfield in San Francisco in 2006. This incarnation of Phil and Friends includes Phil on bass and vocals, John Scofield (!) and Larry Campbell on guitars, Rob Barraco on keyboards, John Molo on drums and Greg Osby on reeds. Oh yeah, and Joan Osborne, one of my favorite singers and a total Deadhead and awesome Dead interpreter.
One of the best Dead shows I've seen featured her on many vocals...this was a post-Jerry incarnations of the band known as The Dead. I saw them at The Gorge with my perennial show buddies Dave Hokit and Dean Ericksen, and Mary Curran, who I believe was pregnant with twins at the moment. Joan Osborne's joy of performing is always palpable and wonderful. I love this woman! And Phil too.
---o0o---
One of the best Dead shows I've seen featured her on many vocals...this was a post-Jerry incarnations of the band known as The Dead. I saw them at The Gorge with my perennial show buddies Dave Hokit and Dean Ericksen, and Mary Curran, who I believe was pregnant with twins at the moment. Joan Osborne's joy of performing is always palpable and wonderful. I love this woman! And Phil too.
---o0o---
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