Phil continues to tour the country, and often releases digital soundboards of shows for free to keep the community spirit that the Dead created alive and allow the fans access to the music, because as Jerry Garcia once said, once it's out there, it's yours.
Phil received a liver transplant in 1998, and usually includes in his shows a "Donor Rap" encouraging others to become organ donors.
His current lineup as of September 2007 includes:
Larry Campbell (guitar, mandolin, fiddle)
Jackie Greene (vocals and guitar)
Steve Molitz (keyboards)
John Molo (drums)
Liberty
Phil Lesh & Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking to New Orleans---my, my, my
Hey, now, Bird, wouldn't you rather die
than walk this world when you're born to fly?
If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If you call me you know I will
Ooo, Freedom
Ooo, Liberty
O... Leave me alone
to find my own way home
to find my own way home
Say what I mean and I don't give a damn
I do believe and I am who I am
Hey now Mama come take my hand
Whole lotta shakin' all over this land
If I was an eagle I'd dress like a duck
Crawl like a lizard and honk like a truck
If I get a notion I'll climb this tree
or chop it down and you can't stop me
Chop it down and you can't stop me
Ooo, Freedom
Ooo, Liberty
O ... leave me alone
to find my own way home
to find my own way home
Went to the well but the water was dry
Dipped my bucket in the clear blue sky
Looked in the bottom and what did I see?
The whole damned world looking back at me
If I was a bottle I'd spill for love
Sake of mercy I'd kill for love
If I was a liar I'd lie for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Ooo Freedom
Ooo Liberty
O... Leave me alone
to find my own way home
to find my own way home
I'm gonna find my own way home
The lyrics to "Liberty" by Phil Lesh & Friends talk about the desire for freedom and individuality. The first stanza talks about a bird that is walking to New Orleans with a tear in his eye. The singer questions the bird's decision to walk when he was born to fly. The second stanza uses a series of metaphors to express the idea of being true to oneself. The singer talks about how, even if he were the sun, he would look for shade because he would do what feels natural and right to him. The chorus talks about freedom and liberty, and expresses the idea that the singer wants to find his own way home.
The third stanza talks about taking a stand and believing in oneself. The singer says that he says what he means and doesn't care what others think. He invites his mother to join him in his quest for individual freedom. The final stanza talks about the search for identity and one's place in the world. The singer dips his bucket into the clear blue sky and sees the whole world looking back at him.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw a bird with a tear in his eye
I saw a bird that seemed sad
Walking to New Orleans---my, my, my
It was walking to New Orleans
Hey, now, Bird, wouldn't you rather die
I asked the bird if it would rather die
than walk this world when you're born to fly?
Than walk when it is born to fly?
If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I were the sun, I would seek shelter
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I were a bed, I would not make myself
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If I were a river, I would flow uphill
If you call me you know I will
If you call me, I will come
Ooo, Freedom
Freedom
Ooo, Liberty
Liberty
O... Leave me alone
Leave me alone
to find my own way home
To find my own path to where I belong
Say what I mean and I don't give a damn
I speak my truth without caring for others' opinions
I do believe and I am who I am
I have faith in myself and I am true to who I am
Hey now Mama come take my hand
I'm inviting my mother to come with me
Whole lotta shakin' all over this land
There is a lot of unrest in the world
If I was an eagle I'd dress like a duck
If I were an eagle, I would choose to look like a duck
Crawl like a lizard and honk like a truck
I would move like a lizard and make a loud noise like a truck
If I get a notion I'll climb this tree
If I have a desire, I will climb this tree
or chop it down and you can't stop me
If I want to chop the tree down, no one can stop me
Went to the well but the water was dry
I went to the well, but it was dry
Dipped my bucket in the clear blue sky
I dipped my bucket in the sky
Looked in the bottom and what did I see?
I looked at the bottom and saw
The whole damned world looking back at me
The entire world was staring back at me
If I was a bottle I'd spill for love
If I were a bottle, I would pour myself out for love
Sake of mercy I'd kill for love
For the sake of love, I would do anything
If I was a liar I'd lie for love
If I were a liar, I would still deceive for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
For my child's sake, I would die for love
Ooo Freedom
Freedom
Ooo Liberty
Liberty
O... Leave me alone
Leave me alone
to find my own way home
To find my own path to where I belong
I'm gonna find my own way home
I will find my own way home
Contributed by Joseph L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.