David Grisman started his musical career in 1963 as a member of The Even Dozen Jug Band. His nickname, "Dawg" was affectionately assigned by his close friend Jerry Garcia (the two met at a Van Hoy Campground (NC) back when they used to host the old time fiddlers convention). "Dawg Music" is what he calls his mixture of bluegrass and Django Reinhardt-Stéphane Grappelli-influenced jazz, as highlighted on his 1977 album "Hot Dawg". Stephane Grappelli played on a couple of tracks on the Hot Dawg album and then the 1981 recording "Stephane Grappelli and David Grisman Live". It was his early fusions with Reinhardt-era Jazz that led to the formation of the genre known as newgrass. Grisman, along with New Grass Revival are generally considered the modern day Bill Monroes to this new bluegrass-influenced sound.
Denny Zeitlin, Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Béla Fleck, Bob Brozman, Mike Auldridge, Mike Seeger, David Bromberg, Martin Taylor, Del McCoury, Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, Darol Anger (Turtle Island String Quartet), Sam Bush, and the Kronos Quartet are just some of the musicians that have played with David Grisman or been part of the DGQ (David Grisman Quintet).
The documentary "Grateful Dawg" chronicles the deep friendship between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. David Grisman appeared on the Grateful Dead's American Beauty album. To this day, Grisman complains of how Jerry Garcia vetoed the length of the mandolin solo featured on the studio version of Ripple. The two recorded a number of duet albums, including the children's album "Not for Kids Only". They also played together as the band "Old and in the Way" with Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, and John Kahn, which recorded three different albums.
Caravan
David Grisman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
The first stanza of David Grisman's song Caravan describes travelling through the desert at night, with only the stars shining above. The second line speaks of the fading light of the stars, which seems to add to the mystery of the journey. The caravan is described as something that is being shone upon by these stars, almost as if the stars are keeping the caravan safe and guiding it through the night. In the second stanza, the singer talks about his fellow traveller, who is sleeping on his shoulder as they cross the sands. The singer is trying to hold onto the memory of this journey, as it seems to have some sort of significance to him. He describes the experience as thrilling and describes feeling magic charms being emanated from the person beside him. The final line speaks of this dream of love that is finally coming true in the midst of their desert caravan.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The beauty of the night sky and the stars that twinkle brightly above.
The myst'ry of their fading light
The enigmatic nature of the twinkling of the stars that gradually fade away.
That shines upon our caravan
The radiance of the starry night that illuminates their journey in the caravan.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
The intimacy of their journey as they move slowly forward while she rests her head on his shoulder.
Across the sand so I may keep
Traveling across the desert and keeping her memory alive.
The mem'ry of our caravan
Keeping the recollection of this endeavor alive for future reminisce.
This is so exciting
Expressing the excitement of their journey through the desert.
You are so inviting
Expressing the seductive and alluring nature of his companion.
Resting in my arms
Comforting his companion by keeping her in his arms.
As I thrill to the magic charms
The attractive nature of their journey, and the captivating moments they share along the way.
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
The blue sky symbolizes hope, and her presence signifies their journey's possibility and hopefulness.
My dream of love is coming true
The realization of his deep-seated love, the wandering in the desert signifies his journey and self-discovery of affection.
Within our desert caravan
The journey, relationship, and adventure they are experiencing together in their caravan through the desert.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Victor Agustin Tobon Moncada
Maravilloso