The WELL: deadsongs.vue.209: Uncle John's Band

#46: David Dodd (ddodd) Thu 4 Apr 13 08:53

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:53:00 PDT

Posted on behalf of Jonathan Siegel:

I was reading a lovely biography of US Grant last evening (by Jean Edward Smith), and came across references to a minor General named John Sedgwick, affectionately known as "Uncle John". I have long thought the lyrics for the song made repeated references to the Civil War - the "don't tread on me" bit - though originating in the Revolution - was an important motto for the Confederate troops. ... with "walls are built of cannonballs" and other allusions. I believe it was written at about the time of the Dead's early associations with The Band - who were on and off writing pieces related to the Civil War. (Garcia's riffs including Main Ten predate the lyrics by what, 6 months?). Sedgwick died at Spotsylvania in 1864, as Union troops were finally advancing on Lee. As he stood safely at a great distance from the Confederate line, Sedgwick turned to his troops and said that the sharpshooters 'couldn't hit an elephant from this distance'. Just as he uttered those words, he was taken down by a bullet to the head. ("when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door"). He was apparently a real friend to both Grant and Meade. Really even "the rising tide" part could easily enough be an allusion to the Confederacy as a whole. The song began as almost a dirge - a ballad the first few performances, before becoming more up-tempo and perhaps being autobiographical about the Dead, and the metaphorical dangers they faced... [Read entire topic]

#45: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Thu 12 Jul 12 15:23

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:23:00 PDT

Yes, knew that (hence "adopted"). Probably, as a furriner, I am able to more easily see negative aspects of a phrase like that. [Read entire topic]

#44: David Gans (tnf) Wed 11 Jul 12 15:33

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:33:00 PDT

Being a furriner, RObin, you may not be aware that the Tea Party recycled that phrase from the American Revolution. [Read entire topic]

#43: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Wed 11 Jul 12 14:47

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:47:00 PDT

That is what I have been hearing too. I had that impression long before "Don't tread on me" was adopted by the tea partiers. [Read entire topic]

#42: % (jewel) Wed 11 Jul 12 10:32

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:32:00 PDT

Oooh - opposite interpretation but makes sense and I like it. [Read entire topic]

#41: David Gans (tnf) Wed 11 Jul 12 09:45

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:45:00 PDT

I think "Come hear Uncle John's Band" is an exhortation to avoid the sort of people who buid walls of cannonballs and yell "Don't tread on me!" [Read entire topic]

#40: % (jewel) Wed 11 Jul 12 08:18

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:18:00 PDT

It is the last line before the first "Come hear uncle John's band" line which is what I meant by it introduces the band. [Read entire topic]

#39: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Tue 10 Jul 12 20:59

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:59:00 PDT

Interesting, I will give that one a bit of a run in the aging biocomputer. I don't quite get how the line introduces the band, though I guess it is linked through the chorus structure. [Read entire topic]

#38: % (jewel) Tue 10 Jul 12 09:12

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:12:00 PDT

I have always heard that line as a lemonade-from-lemons approach to taking the challenges life gives you and building from that an internal structure of strength and self-empowerment and protection. The line introduces the band so I took it as a reflection of the ethos of the band and its followers. That is the "they" in the song, to me. You and me should go see them by the riverside. [Read entire topic]

#37: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Sat 7 Jul 12 20:30

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:30:00 PDT

I think the key is that the song is full of "you" and "me" but in those lines it is "their". [Read entire topic]