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.
Like A Road
Jerry Garcia Band Lyrics
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And you run all out of song
And the pain gets too much
For you to bear
Turn around, turn around
Turn around, and I'll be there
Like a road, like a road
When the gray clouds start to blow
And you need some place to go
When you want some company
That really cares
Turn around, turn around
Turn around, and I'll be there
Like a road, like a road
Leading home
When the [rain] is past and gone
And the road you're travelling on
Doesn't seem to be going
Anywhere
Turn around, turn around
Turn around, and I'll be there
Like a road, like a road
Leading home
Like a road, like a road
Leading home
When the road gets too long
And you run all out of song
And your pain gets too much
For you to bear
Turn around, turn around
Turn around, and I'll be there
Like a road, like a road
Leading home
Like a road, like a road
Leading home
The lyrics of the Jerry Garcia Band's song "Like A Road" describe a sense of weariness, pain, and the longing for a sense of belonging. The opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song, with imagery that depicts a journey that's become too difficult to continue moving forward alone. The chorus offers a solution to this struggle, suggesting that in times of need, we should turn around and know that help and comfort will be there. The "road" alluded to in the lyrics carries a symbolic meaning of a pathway leading towards home, safety, and belongingness. The following stanzas of the song use different scenarios, such as gray clouds, loneliness, and an unclear path to emphasize the need for the road and the comfort that home provides.
The overall message of the song is that no matter how hard life may get, we can always find comfort and a sense of belonging when we turn around and move towards our roots. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, which is emphasized by the repetitive nature of the chorus, accentuating the importance of the message.
Line by Line Meaning
When the road gets too long
When life becomes overwhelmingly difficult and unbearable
And you run all out of song
And no matter how hard you try, you can't find the motivation to continue
And the pain gets too much
And the emotional or physical anguish becomes too hard to manage
For you to bear
To the point where it's impossible to endure on your own
Turn around, turn around
Look back on your past and focus on finding a way out
Turn around, and I'll be there
And I'll be there to offer support and guidance
Like a road, like a road
Like a path that leads you to where you need to be
Leading home
Guiding you to a place of comfort and familiarity
When the gray clouds start to blow
When bad circumstances start to arise
And you need some place to go
And you're searching for a way to escape
When you want some company
And you're seeking someone who knows and understands you well
That really cares
Someone who genuinely loves and supports you
When the [rain] is past and gone
When everything goes back to normal after a difficult time
And the road you're travelling on
And the journey you're on doesn't seem to be leading anywhere
Doesn't seem to be going
Doesn't appear to be making progress or leading somewhere better
Anywhere
To a destination that brings satisfaction
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAN PENN, DON NIX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind