One of its founders, Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career (1965–1995). Garcia also founded and participated in a variety of side projects, including the Saunders–Garcia Band (with longtime friend Merl Saunders), the Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, Legion of Mary, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage (which Garcia co-founded with John Dawson and David Nelson). He also released several solo albums, and contributed to a number of albums by other artists over the years as a session musician. He was well known for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 46th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story.
Later in life, Garcia was sometimes ill because of his diabetes, and in 1986 went into a diabetic coma that nearly cost him his life. Although his overall health improved somewhat after that, he also struggled with heroin and cocaine addictions, and was staying in a California drug rehabilitation facility when he died of a heart attack in August 1995.
After Midnight
Jerry Garcia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're down in San Antone
Beg, steal or borrow two nickels or a dime
To call me on the phone
And I'll meet you at Alamo Mission
We can say our prayers
The Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mother
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
If you ever feel sorrow
For things you might have done
With no hope for tomorrow
In the setting of the sun
And the ocean is howling
Of things that might have been
That last good morning sunrise
Will be the brightest you've ever seen
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
If you ever feel lonesome
And you're down in San Antone
Beg, steal or borrow two nickels or a dime
To call me on the phone
And I'll meet you at Alamo Mission
We can say our prayers
The Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mother
Will heal us as we kneel there
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
If you ever feel sorrow
For things you might have done
With no hope for tomorrow
In the setting of the sun
And the ocean is howling
Of things that might have been
That last good morning sunrise
Will be the brightest you've ever seen
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
Jerry Garcia's song "After Midnight" depicts a lonely person seeking comfort and solace in the form of religion and spiritual practices. The opening lines suggest that the person might be feeling low and lonesome and urges them to make a call to the singer if they are ever in San Antone, suggesting that the singer is a comforting figure for them. The lyrics go on to suggest that if the person is feeling sorrowful or regretful for things they might have done in life, they should seek redemption by saying their prayers at Alamo Mission, where the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mother will heal them as they kneel.
The repeating verses evoke a sense of mystical spirituality and create a mood of emotional connect. It brings out the idea of a soul-searching journey where one's inner turmoil can be resolved through the power of prayer and spiritual healing. The use of vivid imagery of the moonlight and the ocean adds a surreal element, making it seem like an otherworldly journey of the soul.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever feel lonesome
In case you ever experience loneliness and isolation
And you're down in San Antone
And you find yourself in San Antonio, feeling low and disheartened
Beg, steal or borrow two nickels or a dime
Acquire two small coins by any means necessary, even if you have to beg, steal or borrow
To call me on the phone
So that you can call me
And I'll meet you at Alamo Mission
And I will come to meet you at the Alamo Mission
We can say our prayers
We can take a moment to pray
The Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mother
These divinities are invoked here, for they are believed to have healing powers
Will heal us as we kneel there
I hope that as we kneel and pray, we will be healed by divine powers
In the moonlight, in the midnight
This scene takes place under a bright moon and in the middle of the night
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
The moonlight is so bright, it might as well be midnight
If you ever feel sorrow
If you happen to be feeling great sadness
For things you might have done
Because of the mistakes you might have made
With no hope for tomorrow
When you feel like there is nothing to look forward to in the future
In the setting of the sun
As the sun sets and the day comes to an end
And the ocean is howling
The ocean is producing great noise and agitation
Of things that might have been
Reflecting on the different paths that one's life could have taken, if different choices were made
That last good morning sunrise
The last dawn, at the end of one's life
Will be the brightest you've ever seen
That final sunrise will be the most vibrant that a person has ever witnessed
In the moonlight, in the midnight
This scene takes place under a bright moon and in the middle of the night
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
The moonlight is so bright, it might as well be midnight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
This scene takes place under a bright moon and in the middle of the night
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
The moonlight is so bright, it might as well be midnight
If you ever feel lonesome
In case you ever experience loneliness and isolation
And you're down in San Antone
And you find yourself in San Antonio, feeling low and disheartened
Beg, steal or borrow two nickels or a dime
Acquire two small coins by any means necessary, even if you have to beg, steal or borrow
To call me on the phone
So that you can call me
And I'll meet you at Alamo Mission
And I will come to meet you at the Alamo Mission
We can say our prayers
We can take a moment to pray
The Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mother
These divinities are invoked here, for they are believed to have healing powers
Will heal us as we kneel there
I hope that as we kneel and pray, we will be healed by divine powers
In the moonlight, in the midnight
This scene takes place under a bright moon and in the middle of the night
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
The moonlight is so bright, it might as well be midnight
In the moonlight, in the midnight
This scene takes place under a bright moon and in the middle of the night
In the moonlight, midnight moonlight
The moonlight is so bright, it might as well be midnight
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB NEUWIRTH, JOHN CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeremiah Jams Band
Incredible version!! Jerry and company are locked in the groove❤️🔥
Robert Duggan
The tone of Jerry’s guitar is pure heaven
Stagger Lee
Tiger!
Trent Sebastian
Stagger Lee it’s actually a Travis Bean TB500, that was his main JGB guitar
Stagger Lee
@Trent Sebastian
I know he was using Tiger by 82 because that's when I got my first car and started driving to the Bay area to see him alot. Not sure about 80. I just assumed it was Tiger. Thanks for the info, man. ✌
First Last
@Stagger Lee Who can tell, really? :) Look up the video of JGB at the Capitol theater 1980, he's playing Tiger there!
Rice Flatpicking
Perfection!
Stagger Lee
This is the most INCREDIBLE After Midnight I've ever heard!
Jerry's all over the place with Slipknot riffs mixed in to boot!
The drums, keys and bass are nuts! What a tight band!!! They were SMOKIN this night! 💥🔥
Patrick McNeil
Stagger Lee
Yes the drums,bass and keys were nuts!!!
Great show!!!!!
Yes best after midnight.....bar none
Tickets were $5.00 advance and how much at the door?????
How much would we pay now!!!!?????
As long as we could afford it😂😂🤣🤣
Sean Hennessey
yeah, the song gets better when they drop the song structure...to me, it does anyway