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.
Run For The Roses
Jerry Garcia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
All good things in all good time
Reach for the sun, catch hold of the moon
They're both too heavy but what can you do?
Reach for the stars, smack into the sky
Oh, you're chicken to die
Run, run, run for the roses
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
All good things in all good time
Run for the money, caught short on the rent
Big ideas but the cash's all spent
The trouble with love is its other face
You just want the club but you don't want the race
No, you don't want the race
Run, run, run for the roses
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
All good things in all good time
Run for the rose, get caught on the briar
You're warming to love, next thing, there's a fire
You got the do re, I got the mi
And I got the notion, we're all at sea
Yes, we're all at sea
Run, run, run for the roses
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
All good things in all good time
Run, run, run for the roses
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
All good things in all good time
Run, run, run for the roses
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
All good things in all good time
All good things in all good time
The song "Run for the Roses" explores the pursuit of happiness and the inevitability of loss. The opening lines, "Run, run, run for the roses, quicker it opens, the sooner it closes," imply that life is fleeting, and if we want to achieve our goals, we must act quickly. The metaphor of the roses, which symbolize both achievement and impermanence, suggests that success is both desirable and ultimately unattainable.
The lyrics continue with the lines, "Reach for the sun, catch hold of the moon / They're both too heavy but what can you do? / Reach for the stars, smack into the sky / You don't want to live but you're chicken to die." These lines suggest that even if we chase after grandiose dreams, we may never achieve them. However, the alternative of giving up completely is not desirable either. The message here is to strike a balance between ambition and realism.
In the next verse, Jerry Garcia sings, "Run for the money, caught short on the rent / Big ideas but the cash's all spent / The trouble with love is its other face / You just want the club but you don't want the race." The lyrics illustrate the uphill battle many people face when striving for success. The trouble with investing in anything, whether it is a career, a relationship, or an experience, is the cost. To invest in something that may well fail requires taking a risk, and to fail in that risk-worthy investment causes a fear of trying again. In the end, the song suggests, it is necessary to run toward the things we want, even if they may not work out.
Line by Line Meaning
Run, run, run for the roses
The pursuit of success is like a race, and one must strive to win it.
Quicker it opens, the sooner it closes
Opportunities come and go quickly, so one must seize them before they disappear.
Man, oh, man, oh, friend of mine
The singer is addressing a close friend, acknowledging the shared experience of pursuing success.
All good things in all good time
Success and happiness will come with patience and perseverance.
Reach for the sun, catch hold of the moon
It is important to aim high and strive for one's aspirations, even if they seem unattainable.
They're both too heavy but what can you do?
The challenges and obstacles on the path to success can be overwhelming, but one must still persevere.
Reach for the stars, smack into the sky
Despite the challenges, it is important to keep striving for success.
You don't want to live but you're chicken to die
The fear of failure can prevent one from even trying to pursue success.
Run for the money, caught short on the rent
One may have lofty goals, but practical needs like paying rent and bills can bring them down to earth.
Big ideas but the cash's all spent
Having great ideas alone is not enough to succeed; one must also have the resources to bring them to fruition.
The trouble with love is its other face
Love can bring both joy and pain, and one must be willing to accept both in order to experience it fully.
You just want the club but you don't want the race
The end goal may seem appealing, but the hard work and obstacles required to get there can be daunting.
Run for the rose, get caught on the briar
The pursuit of success may come with its own set of challenges and obstacles, like getting caught in the thorns of a rose bush.
You're warming to love, next thing, there's a fire
Things can escalate quickly when pursuing a goal, like a small flame growing into a raging fire.
You got the do re, I got the mi
The singer and their friend have different strengths and weaknesses, which complement each other.
And I got the notion, we're all at sea
Despite the support of a friend, the path to success can still feel uncertain and overwhelming.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEROME J. GARCIA, ROBERT C. HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pine.siskin
My seven-year-old loves this song so much. Every time it comes on he starts dancing. Thanks, Jerry.
@eroldcroft78
That is so beautiful. M6 ex gf granddaughter loved when i played gd or jgb. She is 3 and a half now.
@johnnysmokes3304
and thank you for keeping the music alive by passing it on to the next generation
@isaaczafuto9949
Thats great. 2ND Gen dead head ,Listening this time because my 4 year old requested the tiger dinosaur song
@johnr8820
Blows my mind how many great compositions Jerry and Hunter created...this included. Incredible.
@jeremiahjamsband
We love this song🌹From Jerry’s wah soaked guitar, to that sweet B3. This song just soothes the soul🎶✌️
@pevsfreedom
This is the happiest sounding song I've ever heard.
@petermolenaar6555
Yes it is!☺
@roryfitzpatric
Jerry Garcia's most underrated work and Robert Hunter's most underrated lyrics.
@jimmyjam6764
the happiest a guitar can sound