30 Day Music Challenge: Day 13 - Terrapin Station - Grateful Dead
Day 13. One of my favourite 70's songs
One of my favourite 70's songs... Well, of course it's gonna be a Grateful Dead song, right? But which one? There are so many, and all of them are perfect! Just like a dead-head friend of mine used to say - GD have no "hits", but each song is a hit of it's own!
So I picked up Terrapin Station, on of the most beauriful songs ever written, musically and lyrically. Reading the song's lyrics got me one of those moments when I'm like "Oh fuck how I wish it was me to write it!".
The band, as far as I know, has never sang the last lines of the lyrics, but I'll add them anyway. It's just beautiful. 😏😇
Plus, the creation of this song is a story by itself, I will quote Robert Hunter, the poet.
So says Robert:
"I wrote Terrapin, Part One, at a single sitting in an unfirnished house with a picture window overlooking San Francisco Bay during a flamboyant lightning storm. I typed the first thing that came into my mind at the top of the page, the title Terrapin Station.
Not knowing what it was to be about, I began my writing with an invocation to the muse and kept typing as the story began to unfold.
On the same day, driving into the city, Garcia was struck by a singular inspiration. He turned his car around and hurried home to set down some music that popped into his head, demanding immediate attention.
When we met the next day, I showed him the words and he said "I've got the music." They dovetailed perfectly and Terrapin edged into this dimension."
Lyrics
Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme, suggesting rhythm,
That will not forsake me till my tale is told and done.
While the firelight's aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow,
Till things we've never seen will seem familiar.
Shadows of a sailor forming winds both foul and fair all swarm.
Down in Carlisle he loved a lady, many years ago.
Here beside him stands a man, a soldier from the looks of him,
Who came through many fights, but lost at love.
While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks,
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there.
Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair,
She takes her fan and throws it, in the lion's den.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise,
Strategy was his strength, and not disaster.
The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him.
That's how it stands today, you decide if he was wise.
The storyteller makes no choice. soon you will not hear his voice.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.
Since the end is never told, we pay the teller off in gold,
In hopes he will come back, but he cannot be bought or sold.
Inspiration, move me brightly. light the song with sense and color;
Hold away despair, more than this I will not ask.
Faced with mysteries dark and vast, statements just seem vain at last.
Some rise,
Some fall,
Some climb,
To get to Terrapin.
Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright;
The spiral light of Venus, rising first and shining best,
On, from the northwest corner, of a brand new crescent moon,
While crickets and cicadas sing, a rare and different tune,
Terrapin station.
In the shadow of the moon,
Terrapin station.
And I know we'll get there soon,
(Terrapin! )
I can't figure out,
(Terrapin! )
If it's the end or beginning,
(Terrapin! )
But the train's put it's brakes on,
(Terrapin! )
And the whistle is screaming,
Terrapin!
While you were gone, these spaces filled with darkness.
The obvious was here.
With nothing to believe in, the compass always points - to terrapin.
Sullen wings of fortune beat like rain.
You're back in terrapin for good or I'll again, for good or I'll again.
To take part, each day post one music video with the above 30 day challenge graphic. Use the hashtags #music-challenge and #music. This isn't a contest, just a bit of fun. Maybe we can learn a little about each others musical tastes. 😉
Beautiful Post well done
Thank you :)
The story of this song specifically, and stories about this miracle of a band in general, just keep me in a constant state of awe :)