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.
Dear Prudence
Jerry Garcia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
that you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes?
Look around round
Look around round round
Look around
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile?
The song "Dear Prudence" by Jerry Garcia Band is a tribute to Prudence Farrow, who was the sister of American actress Mia Farrow. Prudence Farrow was present during the Beatles' stay at an ashram in India and became withdrawn and secluded, spending most of her time meditating in her room. John Lennon, who wrote the original version of the song, wrote it as an invitation to her to join in the ashram's activities.
In Jerry Garcia's version, the song is a gentle and warm invitation to Prudence Farrow to come out of her seclusion and enjoy the beautiful world around her. The lyrics evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world and the joys of human connections. The lines "The wind is low the birds will sing, that you are part of everything" emphasizes not only the interconnectedness of all things but also Prudence's place within it.
The repeated "look around" lines encourage Prudence to take a closer look at the beauty and wonder of the world. The song ends with the simple request to see her smile, to break out of her seclusion and embrace the joys of life once again.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Calling out to Prudence, asking her to come out and have fun.
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
Asking Prudence to welcome the new day.
The sun is up, the sky is blue
Describing the weather as sunny and beautiful.
It's beautiful and so are you
Complimenting Prudence's beauty.
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Repeating the request to have fun together.
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Asking Prudence to observe her surroundings.
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
Urging Prudence to take notice of the clear blue skies.
The wind is low the birds will sing
Pointing out the calmness of the environment with bird chirping.
that you are part of everything
Reminding Prudence that she is a part of nature and the world.
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes?
Asking again for Prudence's attention.
Look around round
Encouraging Prudence to take a good look at her surroundings.
Look around round round
Adding emphasis to the request to look around.
Look around
Repeating the request once more.
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Asking Prudence to smile.
Dear Prudence like a little child
Asking Prudence to smile like a carefree child.
The clouds will be a daisy chain
Visualizing the formation of clouds in a daisy chain like pattern.
So let me see you smile again
Requesting to see Prudence's smile once more.
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile?
Final plea to see Prudence's smile.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind