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.
My Long Journey Home
David Grisman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life was so bright and gay everything complete
But I fell for another who led my life astray
So I'll live in sorrow till my dying day
Down the highway of sorrow I'm traveling alone
I've lost all my true friends I've lost a happy home
I'm heading for destruction I'm on the wrong track
I went back to my darling I got down on my knees
I begged her with tear rimmed eyes to give my poor heart ease
But she was hurt so deeply she could not forgive
So I'll live in sorrow as I long as I live
The lyrics of David Grisman's "Highway of Sorrow" tell a story of regret, heartbreak, and loneliness. It begins with the singer reminiscing about a time when his life was happy and fulfilled with a kind, true, and sweet wife. However, the singer made the mistake of falling for someone else, and that decision led his life astray. Now he is filled with sorrow and will be until the end of his days.
The chorus explores the theme of being alone and lost on the highway of sorrow. The singer has lost all his true friends and a happy home, and he is heading for destruction on the wrong track. The highway symbolizes the path of life and the choices we make along the way. While we all have the freedom to choose our own path, sometimes those choices lead us down a road of sadness and despair, and there is no turning back.
The third verse is a plea for forgiveness from the singer's former wife. He confesses that he made a mistake and begs her to give his poor heart ease, but she is hurt too deeply to forgive him. The verse speaks to the consequences of our actions and the fact that sometimes we cannot undo the damage we have done.
Overall, "Highway of Sorrow" is a poignant and moving song that explores the consequences of the choices we make in life. It reminds us that sometimes the path we choose can lead us down a road of sorrow, and once we are on that path, there is no turning back.
Line by Line Meaning
I once had a darling wife kind, true and sweet
I used to have a wonderful and loving wife, who was affectionate, honest, and pleasant
Life was so bright and gay everything complete
My life seemed filled with joy and satisfaction because of her presence and love
But I fell for another who led my life astray
However, I began to have romantic feelings for someone else, who influenced me to make poor choices
So I'll live in sorrow till my dying day
As a result, I'll always feel a sense of sadness and regret for my actions, even until I pass away
Down the highway of sorrow I'm traveling alone
Metaphorically, I'm on a lonely journey of heartbreak and disappointment
I've lost all my true friends I've lost a happy home
I've not only lost the love of my life but also my loyal companions and once-content dwelling
I'm heading for destruction I'm on the wrong track
I'm inevitably moving towards ruin because I've made poor choices and failed to prioritize the right things in my life
Down the highway of sorrow there's no turning back
Once my course is set on this path of despair, it's impossible to change my trajectory
I went back to my darling I got down on my knees
I made an attempt to reconcile and apologize to the wife I once loved and wronged, humbling myself to express remorse
I begged her with tear rimmed eyes to give my poor heart ease
With tears in my eyes and a broken heart, I pleaded with her to forgive me, hoping to lessen my emotional pain
But she was hurt so deeply she could not forgive
Unfortunately, my actions hurt her too much, and she was unable to find it in her heart to grant me forgiveness
So I'll live in sorrow as I long as I live
Therefore, I'll always be consumed by a sense of sadness and disappointment while alive
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL MONROE, PETER PYLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind