Weir played mostly rhythm guitar during his career with the Grateful Dead. He is known for his unique style of complex voiceleading, bringing unusual depth and a new approach to the role of rhythm guitar expression.
Weir was born in San Francisco, California and raised by his adoptive parents in the suburb of Atherton. He began playing guitar at age thirteen after less successful experimentation with the piano and the trumpet. He had trouble in school because of undiagnosed dyslexia and he was expelled from nearly every school he attended. One of these was the Fountain Valley School in Colorado, where he befriended John Perry Barlow, who, along with Robert Hunter, would in time become the two main lyricists for the Grateful Dead.
Weir played rhythm guitar and sang a portion of the lead vocals through all of the Dead's 30-year career. (In the fall of 1968, the Dead played some concerts without Weir and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. These shows, with the band billed as "Mickey and the Hartbeats", were intermixed with full-lineup Grateful Dead concerts. Late in the year, the band relented and took Weir and Pigpen back in full time.) In the late 1970s, he began to experiment with slide guitar techniques and perform certain songs during Dead shows using the slide. His unique guitar style is strongly influenced by the hard bop pianist McCoy Tyner and he has cited artists as diverse as John Coltrane, the Rev. Gary Davis, and Igor Stravinsky as influences
Shortly before Garcia's death in 1995, Weir formed another band, Ratdog Revue, later shortened to Ratdog. As of April 9, 2008, Weir has performed approximately 800 shows with Ratdog. Known for his raspy, deep tone, in Ratdog Weir sings covers by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, and Willie Dixon while also performing many Grateful Dead classics. In addition, Ratdog performs many of their own originals, most of which were released on the album Evening Moods.
Weir has also participated in the various reformations of the Grateful Dead's members, including 1998, 2000 and 2002 stints as The Other Ones and in 2003 and 2004 as The Dead.
Despite breaking his ribs in a tour bus accident in early October 2008, described in media outlets that "It only hurts when I breathe, laugh, or hold a guitar," Weir is expected to perform with the remaining members of the Grateful Dead (Lesh, Kreutzmann, and Hart) with Jeff Chimenti (Ratdog) on Keyboards and Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule, Allman Brothers) on Lead Guitar and Vocals, on October 13, 2008, in a get out the vote Concert for Change at Penn State University.
Bombs Away
Bob Weir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I guess I'm back in love again
Well, hey now, and around we go
This will bring me ruin
Though I suppose it's pleasing
I've changed the eyes I gaze in
Still, she's just another girl
Guess I'll have to change the world
Strike up the band
Well, I believe I have this dance
Hey, raise that glass again, my friend
Yes, of course, I'm charming
But she's so easy
Well, I've changed the tune I dance to
In this gay old social whirl
But if I get a chance to
I might just change the world
It's just the same old movie
Been playing here for years
(Playing here for years)
I could use a change of scenery
But when I get there I'm still here
Coming soon
We'll have another day in paradise
At a theatre near you
And they'll be showing it forever
So let them keep parading
Give 'em all batons to twirl
For me, the splendor's fading
Yeah, I'll have to change the world
And it's still the same old movie
And I've seen it all before
Guess one more run through won't undo me
Hell, I'll just watch the show some more
Hey, some more, yeah, some more
Sit back and watch it some more
Guess I'll just watch the show some more
Hey, some more, yeah, some more
But I'd like to know what for
Hey, don't you worry what for
Yeah, I'd like to know what for
Guess you must know what I'm talking about
Bombs away (bombs away)
I guess I'm back in love again
(Love again)
Yeah, around and around we go
(Bombs away) bombs away
Guess I'm back in love again
(Love again) you got me
Round and round we go
Bombs away
Guess I'm back in love again
Round and around and around and around
It's love again (love again)
Yes, I guess I'm back in love again
Love again (love again)
Look out, I'm back in love again
The song "Bombs Away" by Bob Weir describes someone who is on a perpetual quest for love and excitement but is increasingly disappointed with the lack of novelty in their experience. The title is a metaphor that is used to describe the destructive nature of constantly falling in love but never feeling truly fulfilled. The lyrics describe the singer's feeling of stuckness in a cycle of constantly falling in love and being let down, and feeling like a passive audience member of their own life. The line "I suppose it's pleasing" highlights the fact that while the singer knows the cycle is destructive, they cannot help but be drawn to it. The lyrics express the singer's hope of finding something truly meaningful by taking control of their life and "changing the world".
The line "But when I get there I'm still here" emphasizes the sense of stuckness and lack of progress that the singer is feeling. The lyrics are expressed in a somewhat resigned, passive tone, indicating that the singer is uncertain of how to break out of the cycle. However, the song ends with the singer declaring that they are "back in love again", indicating that at least for this moment they are still holding on to the hope of finding something meaningful.
Overall, "Bombs Away" is a poignant description of the frustration and longing for fulfilment that can come with constant pursuit of love and adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Bombs away
Starting something new with force and intensity
Well, I guess I'm back in love again
Starting a new relationship despite past heartbreaks
Well, hey now, and around we go
The cycle of falling in love and getting hurt continues
This will bring me ruin
Being in love can be destructive
Though I suppose it's pleasing
Despite the risks, the feeling of being in love is desirable
I've changed the eyes I gaze in
Being with a new person
Still, she's just another girl
Even though the person is new, it's still fundamentally the same thing as before
And I need more than a trade in
The artist desires something more substantial than just another fling
Guess I'll have to change the world
The artist is willing to change their world or surroundings in order to find true love
Strike up the band
Embracing the new relationship with enthusiasm
Well, I believe I have this dance
Feeling confident in the new relationship
Hey, raise that glass again, my friend
Celebrating the new relationship with friends
Yes, of course, I'm charming
Feeling good about oneself and their ability to attract love
But she's so easy
The new person is not a challenge to attract, which may be a concern
Well, I've changed the tune I dance to
Trying different things with the new relationship
In this gay old social whirl
Exploring new social environments and situations
But if I get a chance to
If opportunity arises
I might just change the world
The singer is still willing to change their world to find true love
It's just the same old movie
Feeling stuck in a rut
Been playing here for years
Feeling like nothing ever changes
(Playing here for years)
I could use a change of scenery
Desiring a change in surroundings or situation
But when I get there I'm still here
The same old problems follow no matter where the singer goes
Coming soon
Future events and possibilities
We'll have another day in paradise
The hope for an idyllic future
At a theatre near you
The future is unwritten and unpredictable
And they'll be showing it forever
The future will always be a mystery
So let them keep parading
Let others live however they want
Give 'em all batons to twirl
The artist is indifferent to other people's priorities
For me, the splendor's fading
The singer is growing disillusioned with the current situation
Yeah, I'll have to change the world
The singer is driven to find something better in their life
And it's still the same old movie
Feeling stuck in the same old problems and patterns
And I've seen it all before
Nothing is new or exciting anymore
Guess one more run through won't undo me
The artist is resigned to the status quo
Hell, I'll just watch the show some more
The singer feels helpless to change their situation
Hey, some more, yeah, some more
Staying in the same patterns of behavior
Sit back and watch it some more
Feeling powerless to change anything
Guess I'll just watch the show some more
Feeling trapped in the cycle of life
Hey, some more, yeah, some more
Acceptance of the status quo
But I'd like to know what for
Desiring a greater sense of purpose or meaning
Hey, don't you worry what for
Others may be content with the status quo
Yeah, I'd like to know what for
The singer desires clarity and purpose in their life
Guess you must know what I'm talking about
Assuming others share the same feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction
(Bombs away) bombs away
Guess I'm back in love again
The cycle of falling in love starts anew
(Love again)
Round and round we go
The cycle of life repeats itself
Bombs away
Guess I'm back in love again
Starting anew
(Love again)
You got me
The new person brings excitement and anticipation
Round and round we go
The cycle of life repeats itself once again
Bombs away
Guess I'm back in love again
Starting anew
Round and around and around and around
The endless cycle of love and loss
It's love again (love again)
The artist is back in the cycle of love and loss
Yes, I guess I'm back in love again
The artist is feeling the excitement of a new relationship
Love again (love again)
The cycle of love and loss continues indefinitely
Look out, I'm back in love again
The singer is ready to face the risks of falling in love again
Contributed by Hudson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sambac2053
Yeah right.
"Well, I guess I'm back in love again...
I've changed the eyes I gaze in
Still, she's just another girl
And I need more than a trade in" ...
"Yes, of course, I'm charming
But she's so easy"...
"It's just the same old movie
Been playing here for years
I could use a change of scenery
But when I get there I'm still here"
"For me, the splendor's fading' .... And it's still the same old movie
And I've seen it all before
Guess one more run through won't undo me" ....
@igorfroesmoreira5335
I'm from Brazil....Bob weir is very underrated artist
@seanegan3296
I'm from the US and living in Brazil and you're the first Brazilian I've ever seen that knows who Bob Weir is. Kkkk
@grayson2847
One of the records I’m most proud to own as a young head
@duckdaver
I know a lot of
deadheads who roll their eyes to this song because of it's pop/contemporary jazz sound. F-em. I love this song.
@5150-for-music
My favorite Bob Weir song of all time! Thank you KSHE 95 in St. Louis for introducing me to it.
@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854
I'm proud to say that I've seen this YOUNG KID perform LIVE than ANYONE else! 🍺😎👍
@robertperkins9384
This gets better every time I listen.
@DaKid1026
I bought this album in '78, "Bombs Away" was da bomb!
@sjthom6989
The Production of this song is amazing also. I love the dark, driving, phased rhythm guitar, keyboard with great drum interplay. Geesh this is catchy.
@bobweir5833
Have you been to any of my concert?