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)
The Harder They Come
Merl Saunders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for me when I die
But between the day you're born and when you die
They never seem to hear even your cry
[Chorus]
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine
The harder they'll fall, one and all
Ooh the harder they come
The harder they'll fall, one and all
Well the oppressors are trying to keep me down
Trying to drive me underground
And they think that they have got the battle won
I say forgive them Lord
They know not what they've done
[Chorus]
Ooh yeah oh yeah woah yeah ooooh
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
Though I know that when you're dead you can't
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
Than living as a puppet or a slave
[Chorus]
Yeah, the harder they come,
The harder they'll fall one and all
In Merl Saunders's song The Harder They Come, the lyrics speak of the struggles of life and fighting against oppression. The opening lines "Well they tell me of a pie up in the sky, waiting for me when I die" refer to the idea of the afterlife and the promise of paradise to those who suffer during their time on earth. However, the following line "But between the day you're born and when you die, they never seem to hear even your cry" suggests that the present is what matters, and people's struggles often go unheard and unnoticed during their lifetimes.
The chorus of the song "So as sure as the sun will shine, I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine, and then the harder they come, the harder they'll fall, one and all, ooh the harder they come, the harder they'll fall, one and all" shows the determination of the singer to get what they deserve and fight against any obstacle in their way. The sentiment is that those who rise to power will eventually fall, and justice will prevail for all.
The second verse "Well the oppressors are trying to keep me down, trying to drive me underground, and they think that they have got the battle won, I say forgive them Lord, they know not what they've done" reflects the theme of resilience and forgiveness in the face of oppression. The singer acknowledges that their oppressors are unaware of the harm they're causing and calls upon a higher power to forgive them for their actions. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the central message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they tell me of a pie up in the sky
People talk about a reward waiting for us after we die
Waiting for me when I die
The reward is waiting for me only after I die
But between the day you're born and when you die
In life, there is no guarantee of rewards
They never seem to hear even your cry
They never seem to care even when you are in distress
So as sure as the sun will shine
I am certain to get my share of what I deserve
I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine
I will claim what rightfully belongs to me
And then the harder they come
The stronger the opposition, the more determined I am
The harder they'll fall, one and all
They will be defeated regardless of their strength
Ooh the harder they come
I embrace the challenge of facing tough opposition
The harder they'll fall, one and all
They will sustain a significant defeat
Well the oppressors are trying to keep me down
The powerful people are trying to suppress me
Trying to drive me underground
They are trying to push me to obscurity
And they think that they have got the battle won
They believe they have already defeated me
I say forgive them Lord
I seek God's mercy for the people suppressing me
They know not what they've done
They don't realize the gravity of their actions
And I keep on fighting for the things I want
I keep striving for my goals and aspirations
Though I know that when you're dead you can't
I know that death ends all struggles and aspirations
But I'd rather be a free man in my grave
I would choose death over being enslaved or oppressed all my life
Than living as a puppet or a slave
I'd rather be dead than live a life where my choices and freedom are restricted
Yeah, the harder they come,
The stronger the opposition, the more resolved I become
The harder they'll fall one and all
I will defeat them all regardless of their strength or position of power
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy Cliff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind