Renowned for his three-decade stint as the bassist with the Grateful Dead, … Read Full Bio ↴Renowned for his three-decade stint as the bassist with the Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh proved a fan favorite as much for his distinctive jazz playing as for his single-minded devotion to the band, overseeing the quality of every legitimate release. He has issued two solo albums under Phil Lesh & Friends, a quintet that channels the Dead but utilizes only one drummer. His distinctive, wordy writing style, full of allusions, aphorisms, and wordplay, overlays an endearingly low-key jam sound.

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)

Tomorrow Never Knows
Phil Lesh & Friends Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Music and Lyrics: Lennon/McCartney

Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
It is not dying, it is not dying
Lay down all thought, surrender to the void
It is shining, it is shining
Then you may see the meaning of within
It is speaking, it is speaking

That love is all and love is everyone
It is knowing, it is knowing
When ignorance and haste may mourn the dead
It is believing, it is believing
But listen to the colour of your dreams
It is not living, it is not living
Or play the game, existence to the end
Of the beginning, of the beginning

Of the beginning, of the beginning
Of the beginning, of the beginning

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Phil Lesh & Friends' song Tomorrow Never Knows, originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for The Beatles, are symbolic of the psychedelic era of the 1960s. The opening line, "Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream" reflects the concept of surrendering oneself to the experience of the moment, letting go of all thoughts and physical sensations. The phrase "It is not dying, it is not dying" suggests that this experience is not death, but rather the beginning of a journey beyond the boundaries of reality.

The lyrics continue with the invitation to "lay down all thought, surrender to the void". The void is a concept often associated with Buddhism and refers to an empty space or nothingness where all things arise and disappear. In this context, surrendering to the void means letting go of all attachments and embracing the unknown. The line "then you may see the meaning of within, it is speaking" suggests that through this process of surrendering, one may find a deeper sense of purpose and understanding within themselves.

The chorus of the song, "That love is all and love is everyone, it is knowing", is a message of unity and love. The line "when ignorance and haste may mourn the dead, it is believing" suggests that the act of believing in love and unity can help us overcome the fear and ignorance that leads to violence and conflict. The final lines of the song, "Or play the game, existence to the end, of the beginning" suggest that one can choose to live life as a game, embracing the ups and downs and recognizing that each new experience is a beginning.

Line by Line Meaning

Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
Free your mind from all thoughts, unwind and go with the flow.

It is not dying, it is not dying
This state of mind is not the end of life, but rather a new beginning.

Lay down all thought, surrender to the void
Release all your thoughts and let yourself surrender to the unknown.

It is shining, it is shining
This void is not a dark, empty space, but rather a bright and illuminating force.

Then you may see the meaning of within
Only then will you truly understand the meaning of your inner self.

It is speaking, it is speaking
Your inner self is communicating with you and trying to guide you.

That love is all and love is everyone
Love is the greatest force in the universe and it exists in every living being.

It is knowing, it is knowing
It is a fact that love is the ultimate truth and source of everything.

When ignorance and haste may mourn the dead
Only in moments of ignorance and haste do we focus on temporary loss instead of eternal love.

It is believing, it is believing
Faith in the power of love can help us overcome grief and loss.

But listen to the colour of your dreams
Pay attention to your subconscious mind's messages, which may appear in the form of colorful dreams.

It is not living, it is not living
Life is not just about external, material things, but also about our inner world and dreams.

Or play the game, existence to the end
Alternatively, you can choose to remain attached to external things and play the game of existence until the very end.

Of the beginning, of the beginning
But remember, everything in life is cyclical and every end is also the beginning of something new.

Of the beginning, of the beginning
Life is a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Of the beginning, of the beginning
Every new beginning holds the promise of new opportunities and experiences.

Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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