Musical career
In the 1970s, Saunders began collaborating with Jerry Garcia, with the Grateful Dead and with Garcia's bands The Legion of Mary and Reconstruction.
He's led his own bands, as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn and Sheila E.
In 1990 he released the world music and New Age classic album Blues From the Rainforest, a collaboration with Jerry Garcia and Muruga Booker. This led to the release of a video which chronicled Saunders' journey to the Amazon, and the subsequent album Fiesta Amazonica.
He worked with musicians Paul Pena, Bonnie Raitt, Phish, Miles Davis, and B.B. King. Merl also recorded with The Dinosaurs, a "supergroup" of first-generation Bay Area rock musicians.
Released material own Sumertone (his own record label) and also recorded on Fantasy Records, Galaxy Records and Relix as well as the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia labels. He worked with the Grateful Dead on the theme music for the 1985 TV show The New Twilight Zone, and with Mickey Hart on the score for the show. He was a director of The Recording Academy, and did the sound design for several of the Grammy Awards.
Discography
Main studio, live and compilation releases
1968 - Soul Grooving - Merl Saunders Trio and Big Band
1972 - Heavy Turbulence - with Tom Fogerty
1973 - Fire Up - with Tom Fogerty and Jerry Garcia
1973 - Live at the Keystone - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
1974 - Merl Saunders
1976 - You Can Leave Your Hat On - with Aunt Monk
1979 - Do I Move You
1982 - San Francisco After Dark
1988 - Meridien Dreams
1988 - Keystone Encores Vol. 1 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
1988 - Keystone Encores Vol. 2 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
1988 - Live at the Keystone Vol. 1 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
1988 - Live at the Keystone Vol. 2 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
Feelings
1990 - Blues From The Rainforest - with the Rainforest Band
1991 - Save The Planet So We'll Have Someplace To Boogie
1992 - Fire Up Plus - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Tom Fogerty and Ron Tutt
1993 - It's In The Air
1995 - Still Having Fun
1997 - Keepers - Merl Saunders and Friends
1998 - Fiesta Amazonica
1998 - The Twilight Zone (Vol. 1): Original Soundtrack from the TV series - Grateful Dead & Merl Saunders
1998 - Merl Saunders Live With His Funky Friends
2000 - Struggling Man - Merl Saunders & His Funky Friends
2004 - Still Groovin'
2004: Keystone Berkeley: September 1, 1974 with Jerry Garcia
2006: Well-Matched: The Best of Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia (Fantasy)
After Midnight
Merl Saunders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
Give an exhibition
Find out what it is all about (what it is all about)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna shake your tambourine
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
Give an exhibition
Find out what it is all about (what it is all about)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
Give an exhibition
Find out what it is all about (what it is all about)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
Give an exhibition
Find out what it is all about (what it is all about)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
The lyrics of Merl Saunders's song "After Midnight" suggest that something exciting and possibly taboo is going to happen after midnight. The repetition of the phrase "we're gonna let it all hang down" reinforces this idea of an unbridled release of energy or inhibition. The imagery of "shaking your tambourine" and the metaphor of "peaches and cream" further suggest an indulgent, sensual experience. Additionally, the lyrics reference "causing talk and suspicion" and "giving an exhibition," hinting at the potential for this experience to be criticized or misunderstood by others. Overall, the lyrics create a sense of anticipation and excitement for whatever is going to happen after midnight.
Line by Line Meaning
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
We will release our inhibitions and enjoy ourselves freely after midnight.
After midnight, we're gonna shake your tambourine
We will dance and make music together.
After midnight, it's gonna be peaches and cream
Things will be sweet and pleasing after midnight.
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
Our behavior may be seen as scandalous or questionable.
Give an exhibition
We will put on a show of our wild and carefree nature.
Find out what it is all about (what it is all about)
We will explore and discover the essence of living life freely.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
Again, we will release our inhibitions and enjoy ourselves freely after midnight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EVAN BOGART, TRAVIS MCCOY, JOSH ABRAHAM, OLLIE GEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind