The WELL: deadsongs.vue.156: The Only Time Is Now

#7: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Tue 17 Jan 12 16:00

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 PST

Great research!!! [Read entire topic]

#6: David Gans (tnf) Wed 11 Jan 12 13:22

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:22:00 PST

Yes. I interviewed Nelson yesterday for a book project. David says Parker wrote two lyrics; I'm going to try to find Parker and learn what the other one was. [Read entire topic]

#5: David Dodd (ddodd) Wed 11 Jan 12 11:33

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:33:00 PST

DAVE PARKER wrote the lyrics for "The Only Time Is Now." New info via <tnf>, according to David Nelson. Wow! [Read entire topic]

#4: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Wed 21 Dec 11 14:42

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:42:00 PST

Keep digging Steve! [Read entire topic]

#3: David Dodd (ddodd) Thu 15 Dec 11 11:41

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:41:00 PST

And a follow-up from Steve:

I think there may be one more small correction for that song: "I'll dance and we will sing" -> "All dance and we will sing". It make more sense (you (the audience) dance while we (the band) sing), but I need to listen more closely to hear whether or not there's the diphthong that would occur in "I'll". Fortunately, the recording has all the vocals on the left (or maybe it's the right, but it's totally separate from the instruments). [Read entire topic]

#2: David Dodd (ddodd) Wed 14 Dec 11 16:22

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:22:00 PST

Posted on behalf of Steve Finney:

Hi David; thanks for the wonderful resource which is the annotated GD lyrics. I know it's not being updated, but I'm pretty sure there's two words which are subtly off in the posted transcription of the 1965 song "The only time is now". "Angel of the night" in the 3rd lyric seems as if it should be "angel of thine eye"...if you listen closely around 1:26, there's no trailing 't' for "night", and the vowel following "th" is a long i (as in "thy"). The vowel in "the" would be reduced to "uh", or in formal speech pronounced like "thee", but never as "aye".

I've listened to it slowed down, and isolating the left vocal track, and I don't see any alternative. I assume it's a play on "angel of my eye."

If you were to listen and agree, is there any place for me to post a correction?

It is *such* a lovely song (both musically and lyrically). I had it on a bootleg LP in the early 80's, and have been listening to it constantly the last few days.

(BTW, I actually show up in the Annotated GD lyrics already; I'm the Steve Finney in the exchange about "Hell in a Bucket"). [Read entire topic]

#1: Alex Allan (alexallan) Mon 8 Sep 03 21:00

Mon, 08 Sep 2003 21:00:00 PDT

The Only Time Is Now Lyrics: Jerry Garcia Music: Grateful Dead

Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission.

Oh I know there is no place you can go to And I know you don't know anyone at all So come walking in the sun with me my little one And remember that the only time is now

Well strange is the story your eyes tell me And quiet all the few words that you say So come and hold my hand for you see I'd understand And remember that the only time is now

Oh I come to you a ragged laughing stranger And you come to me an angel of the night So I'll dance and we will sing, for it doesn't mean a thing To remember that the only time is now

So forget about your yesterdays of sorrow And forget about the darkness you have seen For there's only you and me at the edge of an endless sea And remember that the only time is now [Read entire topic]

#0: David Dodd (ddodd) Mon 8 Sep 03 09:26

Mon, 08 Sep 2003 09:26:00 PDT

The Only Time Is Now w&m: Grateful Dead LASF: http://www.whitegum.com/songfile/ONLYTIME.HTM [Read entire topic]