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 Walking Shoes
David Grisman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
Stay on your side of town, honey, I won't be around
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
It's long way from here to over yonder
I ain't coming back you've made your mind to wander
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
The lyrics to David Grisman's song My Walking Shoes signify the end of a journey, not just a physical one but an emotional one too. The walking shoes that have carried the singer so far no longer fit, which could represent the fact that he has outgrown his old life, his old love, and his old self. The line, 'Stay on your side of town, honey, I won't be around' suggests that he has to distance himself from his past and the person he loved before. He is moving on and chooses to leave his walking shoes behind.
The second stanza talks about the journey being a long way and how his feet are getting sore. This may represent the emotional struggle he has gone through to come to this point. He is not coming back because he has made up his mind to wander. Perhaps, the experience of the journey has taught him something he didn't know before, and now he is willing to explore new horizons. The line 'My walking shoes don't fit me anymore' could mean both the physical discomfort and the emotional discomfort of living a life that no longer suits him.
Line by Line Meaning
My walking shoes don't fit me anymore
I have outgrown my old ways and am no longer content with what used to bring me comfort
Stay on your side of town, honey, I won't be around
I am moving on and leaving you behind as you are not willing to change your ways or take the journey with me
It's a long way from here to over yonder
The journey ahead is uncertain and full of challenges but I am determined to stay the course
My feet they're getting mighty sore
The path I have chosen is not easy and I am experiencing physical and emotional pain, but I will persevere
I ain't coming back you've made your mind to wander
I have recognized your inability to commit to our journey and have decided to leave you behind for good
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY H. MARTIN, PAUL WILLIAMS KEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind