Jerry Garcia Band employs many of the same elements and similar style to the Grateful Dead, such as rock influenced by blues, folk, country, and jazz.
Over the years, the lineup of the Jerry Garcia Band changed a number of times. The one constant member besides Garcia himself was bassist John Kahn. Melvin Seals had the next longest tenure, serving as keyboardist from 1980 onward. Seals became band leader following Garcia's death and changed the band's name to JGB.
Deal
Jerry Garcia Band Lyrics
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You and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose.
Goes to show, you don't ever know,
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.
I been gamblin' hereabouts for ten good solid years,
Goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.
Since you poured the wine for me and tightened up my shoes,
I hate to leave you sittin' there, composin' lonesome blues.
Goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round, don't you let that deal go down.
Wait until that deal come round, don't you let that deal go down,
Wait until that deal come round, don't you let that deal go down,
Don't you let that deal go down, don't you let that deal go down.
The song "Deal" by Jerry Garcia Band is an insightful reflection on the nature of gambling, the cost of winning and losing, and the need to play each hand carefully. The lyrics suggest that the act of gambling is not simply a game of chance, but a complex and unpredictable process that requires careful attention to detail and a willingness to wait for the right moment. The opening lines - "Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose, you and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose" - set the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing that gambling is not just about money, but about making choices and taking risks.
The singer of the song has been gambling "hereabouts" for ten years, and has seen it all - the highs, the lows, and everything in between. He suggests that gambling is not a game for the faint-hearted, and that only those who are willing to take risks and stick it out through the long haul can hope to come out on top. The chorus - "Wait until that deal come round, don't you let that deal go down" - is a reminder to stay focused and patient, and to not let the excitement of the moment cloud one's judgment.
The final verse of the song takes on a more personal tone, as the singer reflects on the value of human connection in a world where so much is left up to chance. He acknowledges the role that luck plays in our lives - "Goes to show you don't ever know" - but also suggests that there are some things that we can control, such as the way we treat others and the way we approach the game of life. Ultimately, the song is a message of hope and resilience, urging us to stay strong and to never give up, even in the face of uncertainty and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose,
It takes a lot to succeed in life and losing can be even more expensive.
You and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose.
We will always face choices that will cause us to wonder and contemplate, which path to choose.
Goes to show, you don't ever know,
This line talks about the unpredictability of life; you can never be sure of what will happen next.
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
This line urges the listener to be careful and think through their decisions, making sure to take their time.
Wait until that deal come round,
Patience is key, waiting until the right opportunity comes to seize it.
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.
When the right opportunity presents itself, don't let it slip away.
I been gamblin' hereabouts for ten good solid years,
The singer reveals their history of gambling for a decade, implying that they understand the game well.
If I told you all that went down it would burn off both of your ears.
The artist is warning the listener that their gambling experience contains so much that it would be overwhelming to hear all at once.
Since you poured the wine for me and tightened up my shoes,
The artist acknowledges the efforts of the people around them in supporting them.
I hate to leave you sittin' there, composin' lonesome blues.
Despite feeling the pull of the game and the thrill of gambling, the artist is aware that they will be leaving someone behind, who may feel lonely without them.
Wait until that deal come round,
This line is repeated, emphasizing the importance of waiting for the right opportunity before acting.
Don't you let that deal go down.
Once again, the importance of seizing the right opportunity is repeated.
Don't you let that deal go down, don't you let that deal go down.
The repetition in these lines stresses the importance of taking action when the right opportunity arises, and not letting it pass by.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY GARCIA, ROBERT HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shawn Caudill
How in the world can this video have been up for 6 freaking years and there only be 14 comments at the time of writing this? This is such an awesome song and jam that I thought for sure there would be a hell of a lot more discussion and praise going down than this! Ha, well anyway, just to put my two cents in, this is absolutely incredible and amazing and I'm so happy that this song popped up on my Pandora radio and introduced me to one of my new favorite songs of all time!
craigslist Dave
I hear you. God Bless the JGB & all who cherish them. This performance is killer, as is the whole show.
Adam Watson
To be fair there literally hundreds of live performances of this song on you tube with great audio and killer performances. And you can find lots of great discussion about Any number of Versions you also many people who just want to listen and not post comments or discuss. Discussions in the comment sections are mostly hard core fans and musicians .. also a Jerry Garcia Band performance as amazing as they are are not going to the attention of Dead shows. With hundreds of live versions to choose from you are not going to get in depth discussions about every version.
Fritösen Fritzgerald
it leaves them all speechless
lance akins
this has been on yt at least 12 yrs for sure. it dissapeared for a while then came back. the entire show is just amazing.
Andrew Sparks
Holy shi!!! That synth solo caught me off guard!! So awesome!
thought I slipped into another dimension or something cuz I’ve never heard this era/version
Bruce Grieve
Absolutely love this song when I bought his album of solo stuff it caught me big time. I now play this on my weekly R & R Oldies Show quite often !!
MusicMoviesMediaMore
Best version imo. Love the keyboards.
David Haeffner
They really get it together on this one
Steve Allen
Great stuff !!! Awesome Jerry and Band !!!