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.
Señor
Jerry Garcia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?
Seems like I been down this way before
Is there any truth in that, senor?
Senor, senor, do you know where she is hiding?
How long are we gonna be riding?
How long must I keep my eyes glued to the door?
Will there be any comfort there, senor?
There's a wicked wind still blowin' on that upper deck
There's an iron cross still hanging down from around her neck
There's a marching band still playing in that vacant lot
Where she held me in her arms one time and said, "Forget me not"
Senor, senor, I can see that painted wagon,
I can smell the tail of the dragon
Can't stand the suspense anymore
Can you tell me who to contact here, senor?
Well, the last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeled
Was that trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic field
A gypsy with a broken flag and a flashing ring
Said, "Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing"
Senor, senor, you know their hearts is as hard as leather
Well, give me a minute, let me get it together
I just gotta pick myself up off the floor
I'm ready when you are, senor
Senor, senor, let's disconnect these cables
Overturn these tables
This place don't make sense to me no more
Can you tell me what we're waiting for, senor?
Jerry Garcia's Señor speaks to the anxiety created by the uncertainty of life. The song is a narrative about a man walking some uncertain path in search of a woman. He's not sure of the destination, and he's not sure of where she is hiding. The lyrics suggest that he's seen similar situations before, and he's not hopeful that things will turn out better this time around. He asks questions of somebody named "senor," who could be an actual person or simply a vehicle for the man's self-reflection. The lyrics suggest that the landscape around him is desolate, and even the memories he has of the woman he seeks are haunted by a "wicked wind" and a "marching band" that play in a vacant lot.
The song's repeated refrain, "Senor, senor," highlights the man's plea for guidance and understanding. He's overwhelmed by the uncertainty of his situation and seeks someone to help him make sense of it all. The song also touches on the feeling of helplessness and the need to persevere and keep going, even when things seem hopeless. Ultimately, it's a song about the human condition and how we all must face the unknown, sometimes with a heavy heart and sometimes with an unshakable spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Senor, senor, do you know where we're heading?
Are we headed towards a path of destruction or will we find peace on this journey, senor?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?
Will we find a normal path to follow or are we headed towards the end of the world, senor?
Seems like I been down this way before
Have I been here before? Is history repeating itself, senor?
Is there any truth in that, senor?
Is this familiar path something to be worried about or can we trust our instincts, senor?
Senor, senor, do you know where she is hiding?
Where has she gone? How much longer will we search for her, senor?
How long are we gonna be riding?
Will we keep searching for her forever or is she lost forever, senor?
How long must I keep my eyes glued to the door?
How much longer must I wait for her to return, senor?
Will there be any comfort there, senor?
Will I find solace in her return or has she left me forever, senor?
There's a wicked wind still blowin' on that upper deck
The air is still filled with malice on that floor above, senor.
There's an iron cross still hanging down from around her neck
She still holds onto her faith or past despite everything, senor.
There's a marching band still playing in that vacant lot
Despite the emptiness, music still fills the air, senor.
Where she held me in her arms one time and said, "Forget me not"
She once held me close and promised not to leave, senor.
Senor, senor, I can see that painted wagon,
I can see that tempting and false hope in the distance, senor.
I can smell the tail of the dragon
I can sense the danger and risk in the air, senor.
Can't stand the suspense anymore
I can't handle the uncertainty and unpredictability, senor.
Can you tell me who to contact here, senor?
Can you give me guidance or directions, senor?
Well, the last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeled
The last thing I remember is losing it all and breaking down, senor.
Was that trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic field
I remember the group of people that were stuck in their foolish ways, senor.
A gypsy with a broken flag and a flashing ring
A wanderer with a sign of hope and a symbolic ring approaches me, senor.
Said, "Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing"
This is reality and not a fantasy or nightmare, senor.
Senor, senor, you know their hearts is as hard as leather
Their hearts are unbreakable and impassive, senor.
Well, give me a minute, let me get it together
Just give me some time to collect myself and prepare, senor.
I just gotta pick myself up off the floor
I need to recover from the fall and start again, senor.
I'm ready when you are, senor
I'm eager to move forward when you are, senor.
Senor, senor, let's disconnect these cables
Let's remove the obstacles and barriers in our way, senor.
Overturn these tables
Let's challenge the status quo and turn it around, senor.
This place don't make sense to me no more
The situation and environment is confusing and illogical, senor.
Can you tell me what we're waiting for, senor?
Can you tell me what the hold-up is, senor?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nastyoff
I think that this performance is one of those that shows why Dylan once said that if he wanted to look for a way to do his own tunes, he always checked out how the Grateful Dead or the Garcia Band played them. Pretty damn flawless. Miss ya, Jerry.
@erikmorse5089
Agreed. I mean, this was a movie starring Dylan, and this song was picked for the absolute climax of the whole thing. ;)
@jjm7940
And then interview with Dylan he gives credit to Jerry for bringing him back to performing a lot of his obscure songs of course Dylan's catalog is so huge and impressive he can't play them all but to this day he's always switching it up and changing he credits Jerry with that
@jjm7940
Yes I love this song since the first time I heard it I listen to it almost daily
@wesleythomason
Jerry always strikes that nerve that makes me shed a tear. So blessed to have the dead and Jerry in my life. Never realized how much impact they would have on my life. Some people don't get it but I couldn't be happier to be connected to the dead
@NateJamesAcoustic
it took me years to really realize how important the Dead have been in my life. as a musician, as a worker, as a man, as a creature. there's something about the way Jerry plays, the way he sings. To me, this is Church music. But it's Church music more honest than Churches are willing to get. Not just this Dylan tune. It's true in American Beauty just like it was true when Further took it further.
@NolalanD
I agree with both of you. His playing and singing had more soul and emotion than most. And his dedication to freedom was awe inspiring.
@lukehall8151
Only nonclassical guitarist I have ever heard express compassion with his instrument.
@robshepherd3782
The Grateful Dead and every member of them are amazing. I always wonder about anybody who doesn't get them. Every genre of music is there, what is not to love?
They were stunning.
@michellehorvath4479
Daylyt