Uncle John's Band

Words & Music:

Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia

 

        G                                          C        G

Oh, the first days are the hardest days, don't you worry anymore.

            G                                    C              G

'Cause when life looks like Easy Street there is danger at your door.

Am                      Em  C                D

Think this through with me; let me know your mind.

C    D          G       D    C   G    D       G

Whoa-oh, what I want to know-oh, 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-oh:  will you come with me?

 

G                C G       Am       G        D

God damn! well I declare!  Have you seen the like?

D     C                                     G     D         C        D

Their walls are built of cannonballs, their motto is "Don't tread on me".

 

CHORUS:

G                      C    Am      G      D

Come hear Uncle John's band playing by the riverside,

C                              G      D        C      D

Got some things to talk about, here beside the rising tide.

 

G   Bm   C   D  [4x]

 

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 know-oh, where does the time go?

 

I live in a silver mine and I call it Beggar's Tomb;

I've got me a violin and I beg you, call a tune.

Anybody's choice, I can hear your voice.

Whoa-oh, what I want to know-oh, how does the song go?

 

CHORUS:  [plus, following lines sung to chorus chords]

Come hear Uncle John's band playing to the tide.

Come on along or go alone, he's come to take his children home.

 

Dm   G   C  [4x]

 

Whoa-oh, what I want to know-oh, how does the song go?

 

[a capella]

Come hear Uncle John's band by the riverside

Got some things to talk about, here beside the rising tide.

Come hear Uncle John's band playing to the tide,

Come on along or go alone, he's come to take his children home.

Dm  G       C       Dm  G       C       Dm  G       C

    La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la...

 

Am   C   D   Dm   Em   G

 

 





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