lifeblood: songs: uncle john's band

well the first days are the hardest days
don't you worry anymore
cause when life looks like easy street
there is danger at your door
now think this through with me
let me know your mind
oh what i want to know
is are you kind

now it's a buck dancers choice my friends
better take my advice
you know all the rules by now
and the fire from the ice
now will you come with me
won't you come with me
oh what i want to know
will you come with me

sister well i declare
have you seen the like
their walls are built of cannon balls
their motto is don't tread on me
come hear uncle john's band
playing to the tide
come with me or go alone
he's come to take his children home

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
oh what i want to know
where does the time go

i live in a silver mine
and i call it beggers tomb
i've got me a violin
and i beg you call the tune
anybody's choice
i can hear your voice
oh what i want to know
how does the song go

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 come on or go alone
he's come to take his children home

whoa what i want to know
how does the song go

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

come hear uncle john's band
(brother)
by the riverside
(ain't no time to hate)
got some things to talk about
(sister)
here beside the rising tide
(ain't no time to wait)

come hear uncle john's band
playing to the tide
come on along or go alone
he's come to take his children home

words and music robert hunter and jerry garcia
as performed with show of hands on deadicated