![]() But the reference has interesting implications for the song's meaning-which, of course, I leave up to you.Īugust WestThere is an interesting discussion on the Deadlit conference at the WELL (Topic #251) which points up apossible link to the line in the song "Days Between": "Summer flies and August dies In the song, of course, Pearly Baker, with the different spelling, becomes a woman. Purley Baker did indeed head up the Anti-Saloon league from 1903 to the early 1920's. This group lead the fight for prohibition in America. Purley Baker was the head of the Anti-Saloon League of America. I wanted to point out the line:īack in the era of prohibition, the Rev. Pearly BakerThis note from a reader: Date: Tue, 19:56:50 -0700 At least the similarity in this one line is interesting.Īugust WestGarcia's only known artwork titled after a Grateful Dead song lyric was "August West (Wharf Rat)" measuring 8.5 x 5.75", offered on eBay at $55,000 in November, 2001. It seems like Hunter might have had this movie in mind (or part of it anyways) when writing Wharf Rat. It's the scene where Terry Malloy is walking from the church with Edie (after the union has come to break up a meeting of potential 'rats.' An old bum in the park stops the couple and asks them "can you spare a dime? Just a dime for a cup of coffee?" The line from the first verse of Wharf Rat (asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffee) is very similar to lines from a particular scene in the movie. I just watched On the Waterfront (Marlon Brando, dir. Asked me for a dime, a dime for a cup of coffeeThis note from a reader: From: scott matter Saturday, Janu8:27 PM P.S.: Here are the final stanzas of Rime:Īnd ever and anon through out his future life an agony constraineth him to travel from land to land Īnd to teach, by his own example, love and reverence to all things that God made and loveth. In some ways, you might say that Wharf Rat is an updated telling of a similar story in a different idiom in a different century. I probably heard Garcia sing this song 25-30 times at various concerts over the years, and I never failed to be impressed by the similarities between the two stories. There are certain eerie similarities: the passerby stopped by a down-and-out character, the wild yet true story of how the unfortunate came to be there, and especially the way in which the passerby is moved by the tale to examine his own life in light of what the down-and-out tells him. ![]() Hunter is a highly literate person (witness the Dame Edith Sitwell references in China Cat), and the story in this song always struck me as being remarkably similar in context to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the text of which can be found at: Your annotations are excellent, but I am wondering if this thought ever occurred to anyone else. It is a testimonial to the lasting effect of the Dead on the world that their music continues to inspire such animated discussion seven years after Garcia's unfortunate demise. Your site is absolutely awesome - keep up the good work, brother. Was reading something today and remembered a link I've always thought of - Wharf Rat and "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" - mostly in the narrative device of storytelling. Have been through many times over the years. These notes on a possible overall similarity/influence on the piece from two readers: From: David Callaway Friday, Aug1:33 PM Their motto is"One show at a time." They put out a newsletter, and may be reached at: P.O. 1836 Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA) 4 Oct 1/3 "I've an idea, my man, that you are one of the wharf rats and, if so, the less lip yougive me the better."Īdditionally, the Wharf Rats are the name of a group of loosely-organized sober Deadheads,patterning themselves roughly on the Alcoholics Anonymous model of a twelve-step program tomaintain sobriety in the often slippery atmosphere of a Grateful Dead concert. a vagrant or petty criminal who haunts wharves. Wharf rat.(b)one who is frequently found on or near wharves, esp. Goode," "Loser," and "Playing in the Band." It remained in the repertoire thereafter.įrom the Dictionary of Americanisms: 2. "Wharf Rat" appeared in the first set, sandiwched between two segments of "Dark Star." Other firsts in the show included "Bertha," "Greatest Story Ever Told," "Johnny B. "Wharf Rat"Hunter has posted a page from the mansucript for "Wharf Rat."įirst performance: February 18, 1971, at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY. Words by Robert Hunter Music by Jerry GarciaĬopyright Ice Nine Publishing used by permission. Research Associate, Music Dept., University of California Santa Cruz The Annotated "Wharf Rat" "I'll get up and fly away.fly away." The Annotated "Wharf Rat"An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |