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.
Might As Well
Jerry Garcia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't find a ride like that no more,
The night the chariot swung down low
Ninety-nine children had a chance to go.
One long party from front to end
Tune to the whistle going round the bend,
No great hurry, what do you say?
Might as well, might as well, might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well, might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well, might as well.
Ragtime slowly for twenty-five miles
Then switch over to the cajun style
Bar car blowing rhythm and blues,
Rock 'n' roll wailing in the old caboose.
Long train running from coast to coast
Bringing home a party when you need it the most
Work on the box car, beat on the bell
Nothing else shaking so you might just as well.
Might as well, might as well, might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well, might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well, might as well.
Never had such a good time in my life before
I'd like to have it one time more
Whoa! One good ride from start to end,
I'd like to take that ride again, again!
Ran out of track and I caught the plane
Back in the county with the blues again
Great North Special been on my mind
Might as well, might as well, might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well, might as well, might as well,
Might as well, might as well, might as well.
The song "Might as Well" is a joyful and light-hearted celebration of a train journey, a time-honored theme in American music. The song begins with an invitation to board the Great North Special, a train that promises an unforgettable ride. The "night the chariot swung down low," the train picked up ninety-nine children who were given the opportunity to embark on an adventure.
The lyrics capture the energy and excitement of the journey, as the train party makes its way from coast to coast, switching between different musical styles as they go. The mood and tempo change several times throughout the song, echoing the changing landscapes that the train passes through. The singer reflects on the joy he experienced during the journey, proclaiming that he has never had such a good time before.
Overall, "Might as Well" is a song about the joy of the journey, the thrill of adventure and the celebration of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Great North Special, would you all board
Board the train named Great North Special.
You can't find a ride like that no more,
It is not easy to find such a ride nowadays.
The night the chariot swung down low
The time when they boarded the train.
Ninety-nine children had a chance to go.
A large number of children got on the train.
One long party from front to end
A celebration from start to finish.
Tune to the whistle going round the bend,
Listen to the sound of the train whistle as it goes around the curve.
No great hurry, what do you say?
There is no rush, let's enjoy the ride.
Might as well to be every way.
Since we are on the train, might as well enjoy every aspect of it.
Ragtime slowly for twenty-five miles
The type of music played for the first 25 miles of the journey.
Then switch over to the cajun style
The music style changed to cajun after the first 25 miles.
Bar car blowing rhythm and blues,
The rhythm and blues music played in the bar car of the train.
Rock 'n' roll wailing in the old caboose.
The rock and roll music playing in the last car of the train.
Long train running from coast to coast
The train traveled across the country.
Bringing home a party when you need it the most
The train brought joy and excitement to those who needed it the most.
Work on the box car, beat on the bell
People worked and made music on the train.
Nothing else shaking so you might just as well.
Since there is nothing else going on, might as well enjoy the train ride.
Never had such a good time in my life before
They had never experienced so much fun before.
I'd like to have it one time more
They wanted to experience the train ride one more time.
Whoa! One good ride from start to end,
The train ride was amazing from beginning to end.
I'd like to take that ride again, again!
They really wanted to experience the train ride again.
Ran out of track and I caught the plane
The train ride ended and they flew back home.
Back in the county with the blues again
They felt sad and disappointed after the amazing train ride.
Great North Special been on my mind
They could not forget the Great North Special train ride.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerome J. Garcia, Robert C. Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Crazy Otto
Might be my favorite song ever. Might as well be.
Steve Flinn
Might as well travel the elegant way
AFVET74
Listening to this song brings me back to the good days, great days!. Still miss Jerry two decades later.
tippimail1
Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!All aboard for the Festival Express.
DR SSS
Man this one really swings 🌴🌴🌴 thank goodness it's #anotherSATURDAYnite
charles meyer
I'd only heard this song at shows, and couldn't really understand the words, so I didn't learn 'til recently that it was about the festival express. Knowing the time he had on that train, you can appreciate the joy and energy in Garcia's vocal.
Done
Same for me - this is the first time I've really looked at the lyrics and I heard this song live for the first time at a GD show in 1987, LOL. I'm dense.
Burt Paulson
Check out this site, if you ever want to know the words to any other songs:
http://artsites.ucsc.edu/GDead/agdl/#songs
Diana Austin
I agree Marc S - this might be the best song ever
Mick Wagner
Jew