David Grisman (born 1945 in Hackensack, New Jersey) is a noted bluegrass/ne… Read Full Bio ↴David Grisman (born 1945 in Hackensack, New Jersey) is a noted bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. He started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.

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.

You'll Find Her Name Written There
David Grisman Lyrics

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On and on she'll walk this earth
Her face like a beautiful flower
But all alone is a marble stone
You'll find her name written there

Her new voice rings where the angels sing
Her voice so pure and so fair
And if you'll look in the Heavenly book

You'll find her name written there

I'm all alone since the call of fate
Left me in deepest despair
And if you'll wait at the pearly gate
You'll find her name written there

I'll breathe her name into the air
It goes and I know not where

But if you look in the heart of a friend
You'll find her name written there

Overall Meaning

David Grisman's song "You'll Find Her Name Written There" tells the story of a woman who has passed away but whose memory lives on. The song paints a picture of a woman with a beautiful face and voice, who has left the world alone and lonely. Despite her physical absence, her name lives on in people's hearts and minds, and even in the heavenly book. The singer of the song, who seems to have been close to the woman, is also struggling with her loss and finds solace in the thought that she is now singing with the angels and watching over him.

The song tackles the universal themes of love, loss, and mortality. It highlights the idea that even though people may leave this world physically, they can live on through their memories and impact on other people's lives. It also alludes to the idea of an afterlife, where people can reunite with their loved ones and find comfort in the thought that they are at peace.

Line by Line Meaning

On and on she'll walk this earth
She will continue to exist and live her life.

Her face like a beautiful flower
She has a pretty face.

But all alone is a marble stone
Despite her beauty, she died alone.

You'll find her name written there
Her name is carved on her tombstone.

Her new voice rings where the angels sing
Her voice can be heard in heaven.

Her voice so pure and so fair
Her voice is gentle and lovely.

And if you'll look in the Heavenly book
You can find her name in the Book of Life in heaven.

You'll find her name written there
Her name is recorded in the Book of Life.

I'm all alone since the call of fate
The artist is lonely after experiencing a predetermined event.

Left me in deepest despair
The artist is feeling hopeless and sad.

And if you'll wait at the pearly gate
If you wait to enter heaven at the gates, you may see her.