The WELL: deadsongs.vue.158: Passenger

#8: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Mon 21 Jun 04 08:36

Mon, 21 Jun 2004 08:36:00 PDT

After listening to three different versions on the hi-fi I am still hearing "parable". [Read entire topic]

#7: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Sat 19 Jun 04 18:50

Sat, 19 Jun 2004 18:50:00 PDT

I checked out the Dead Set Passenger the other day and got "parables" but admittedly that was on my portable player. Guess I should listen to a few versions on the hi-fi. [Read entire topic]

#6: Lightning in a Box (unkljohn) Fri 18 Jun 04 16:55

Fri, 18 Jun 2004 16:55:00 PDT

For years I thought it was terrible.

I mean I thought the word was "terrible" until I suddenly heard parable one day. [Read entire topic]

#5: David Dodd (ddodd) Wed 16 Jun 04 09:30

Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:30:00 PDT

I always wished it was "Terrapin, the only game in town." But no. [Read entire topic]

#4: AZanimal (zepezauer) Tue 15 Jun 04 21:20

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 21:20:00 PDT

I always heard "Parables, the only game in town," not "Terrible . . ." [Read entire topic]

#3: Alex Allan (alexallan) Tue 15 Jun 04 20:40

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 20:40:00 PDT

Interesting.

I had a listen to Dead Set and several other recordings. I agree that on Dead Set, it sounds as if they sing "Seasons had frozen ice into our soul" which is a nicer line. But on other versions it sounds like "Seasons had frozen us"

On Dead Set, I don't hear "You and I, the only game in town" etc. It sounds to be like they sing "No man's land ..." but I'd be interested to know if others hear Ted's alternative.

While I was at it, I noticed a couple of other points common to several of the recordings.

It sounds as if they sing "Could you measure" not "Could you imagine" - though that may just be slurring words. "Measure" would make sense - in the sense of how long a firefly's life could last.

It also sounds as if the line "Ashes were scattered/Too hard to turn" is wrong. Something like "Too far in to turn[ing]." Not sure I understand wither version.

The only published source I know of is the sheet music in Anthology 1 (which is where the lyrics above come from). But that's got quite a lot of mistakes in others songs and are certainly not definitive. [Read entire topic]

#2: from TED SYRETT (tnf) Tue 15 Jun 04 09:15

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 09:15:00 PDT

Ted Syrett writes:

The lyrics to "Passenger" shown on your site, which match those on the "Grateful Dead Lyric And Song Finder" at http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/intro.htm , aren't exactly what is sung in the live performance on the "Dead Set" CD. On that CD, the chorus is clearly

Upside out Or inside down False alarm, the only game in town You and I, the only game in town Now we're, the only game in town

The official lyrics give the chorus as

Upside out Or inside down False alarm, the only game in town No man's land, the only game in town Terrible, the only game in town

Not to give the Dead too much credit for prophetic foresight, but the variant chorus on "Dead Set" seems to apply very tightly to the mess we've got ourselves into in Iraq.

Another quibble: in the verse

Do you remember? Hearts were too cold Seasons had frozen us Into our souls

I hear the last word of the third line as "ice":

Do you remember? Hearts were too cold Seasons had frozen ice Into our souls

in the "Dead Set" performance.

Quibbles aside, the instrumental break on that track is one of the most powerful guitar solos I've ever heard any rock band deliver. Sure, Jerry was often great, but on this cut, the rhythm section just surges. Just listen to what Bob, Phil, Bill and Mickey are laying down behind Jerry, and enjoy.

// Ted Syrett syrett1@earthlink.net [Read entire topic]

#1: Alex Allan (alexallan) Mon 8 Sep 03 20:58

Mon, 08 Sep 2003 20:58:00 PDT

Passenger Lyrics: Peter Monk Music: Phil Lesh

Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission.

Firefly Can you see me? Shine on, glowing Brief and brightly

Could you imagine One summer day That same night Be on your way

Do you remember? Hearts were too cold Seasons had frozen us Into our souls

People were saying The whole world is burning Ashes were scattered Too hard to turn

Chorus: Upside out Or inside down False alarm, the only game in town No man's land, the only game in town Terrible, the only game in town

Passenger Don't you hear me? Destination Seen unclearly

What is a man Deep down inside But a raging beast With nothing to hide

[chorus] [Read entire topic]

#0: David Dodd (ddodd) Mon 8 Sep 03 09:27

Mon, 08 Sep 2003 09:27:00 PDT

Passenger w: Monk m: Lesh AGDL: http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/pass.html LASF: http://www.whitegum.com/songfile/PASSENGE.HTM [Read entire topic]