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