Morning Dew
The Greateful Dead Lyrics
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Walk me out in the morning dew today.
I can't walk you out in the morning dew my honey,
I can't walk you out in the morning dew today.
I thought I heard a baby cry this morning,
I thought I heard a baby cry this today.
You didn't hear no baby cry this morning,
Where have all the people gone my honey,
Where have all the people gone today.
There's no need for you to be worrying about all those people,
You never see those people anyway.
I thought I heard a young man morn this morning,
I thought I heard a young man morn today.
I thought I heard a young man morn this morning,
I can't walk you out in the morning dew today.
Walk me out in the morning dew my honey,
Walk me out in the morning dew today.
I'll walk you out in the morning dew my honey,
I guess it doesn't really matter anyway,
I guess it doesn't matter anyway,
I guess it doesn't matter anyway,
Guess it doesn't matter anyway...
The lyrics to the Grateful Dead's "Morning Dew" is about the aftermath of a nuclear war, and the singer is witnessing the destruction and isolation that follows. The first stanza describes the singer's desire to be walked out in the "morning dew," which symbolizes a new beginning free of the past's burdens. However, the singer is unable to walk their honey out in the morning dew since the world has been destroyed, and it's no longer possible.
The second stanza mentions the false hope of hearing a baby cry, which signifies new life and a new beginning, but the singer's honey claims the cry did not happen. It's followed by a suggestion that all the people are gone, indicating the loss of the world's population as a whole. The honey also insists on staying focused on themselves rather than the unknowns of a post-apocalyptic world.
In the final stanza, the singer can't walk their honey out in the morning dew since they heard a young man mourning. The singer's honey acquiesces, and they walk each other out knowing that it doesn't matter since the world has ended. The song's eerie tone and the metaphorical use of the "morning dew" to indicate a new beginning but ultimately portrays the realization that the world has come to its inevitable end.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk me out in the morning dew my honey,
Lead me out into the fresh morning dew, my love,
Walk me out in the morning dew today.
Take me out into the morning dew today,
I can't walk you out in the morning dew my honey,
I'm unable to guide you through the morning dew, my love,
I can't walk you out in the morning dew today.
I'm unable to guide you through the morning dew today,
I thought I heard a baby cry this morning,
I believed I heard the sound of an infant crying, earlier today,
I thought I heard a baby cry this today.
I believed I heard the sound of an infant crying, today,
You didn't hear no baby cry this morning,
You did not hear an infant crying, earlier today,
You didn't hear no baby cry today.
You did not hear an infant crying, today,
Where have all the people gone my honey,
Where have all the people disappeared to, my love?
Where have all the people gone today.
Where have all the people disappeared to, today?
There's no need for you to be worrying about all those people,
You do not need to worry about those individuals who are nowhere to be found,
You never see those people anyway.
After all, you never encounter those people, regardless,
I thought I heard a young man morn this morning,
I believed I heard a young man lamenting or grieving, earlier today,
I thought I heard a young man morn today.
I believed I heard a young man lamenting or grieving, today,
I can't walk you out in the morning dew today.
I still cannot guide you through the morning dew today,
Walk me out in the morning dew my honey,
Take me out into the morning dew, my beloved,
Walk me out in the morning dew today.
Lead me out into the fresh morning dew today,
I'll walk you out in the morning dew my honey,
I will guide you through the morning dew, my love,
I guess it doesn't really matter anyway,
Although, I suppose it does not make much of a difference,
I guess it doesn't matter anyway,
I suppose it does not matter much, after all,
Guess it doesn't matter anyway...
In any case, it probably does not matter all that much...
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stacyblue1980
Its hard because I think about the people who were so close to me.
Morning Dew is one of those tunes.
Jerry died on August 1st.
And I am NO one special by any means but Jerry died on my birthday- August 9th.
I have dreams.
I have wonderful feelings but death is death and may he be in peace- as WE ALL so need it right now.
ॐ
I was 15. But ya know- I still believe.
For each human being.
God knows.
@universalwebworks
Don't want to brag but I was at all 5 shows. It was farewell to the wall of sound. On the fifth night, Mikey Hart rejoined the band after leaving in the wake of his father ripping off the band a few years earlier. I think I sat in the front row of the balcony most nights taping these shows on a Nakamichi tape recorder. This was before taping was allowed and we had to smuggle our gear past Winterland security. Still friends with the guys I went to these shows with. What a long strange trip indeed...
@jerryrozz9153
Mark Salditch is it freaky to see this in such high quality footage
@marshgray9998
Do you have any of these recordings on YouTube or somewhere else? I would love to see some of this footage!
@marshgray9998
My mistake, you taped it! Haha. Guess it's my 19 year old bias here assuming you recorded with video! Hope you have a good day & life of health
@thegreatchain7112
I was there for all 5 & Bill Graham& crowd and birthday cake singing happy birthday to Weir first show
@MrEasye6996
Thats awesome man
@TheGunnCat
This may be the greatest example of what the Grateful Dead was all about that I've ever seen in my forty years of being a deadhead. Gives me chills and makes me cry all at the same time.
@kennykaufman8263
Amen
@evanjohnson5480
I'm sitting here listening on Christmas morning with tears in my eyes.
@maureenperry1169
And everyone at the show had a great beautiful trip!