Over the years, the lineup of the band changed a number of times. The one constant member besides Garcia himself was bassist John Kahn. Melvin Seals had the next longest tenure, serving as keyboardist from 1980 onward. Seals became band leader following Garcia's death and changed the band's name to JGB.
Jerry Garcia's musical interests were famously varied, and this was reflected in the diverse music played by his band. Like the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band played rock music that was influenced by blues, folk, country, and jazz. The band also played rhythm and blues and reggae songs, and rock versions of American roots music. Jerry Garcia notably covered many songs by Bob Dylan with the Jerry Garcia Band. Like the Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band emphasized musical improvisation, and helped create what is now known as jam band music.
During Garcia's lifetime, the Jerry Garcia Band released one studio album, Cats Under the Stars, and one live album, Jerry Garcia Band. Several more live albums were released posthumously.
Let It Rock
The Jerry Garcia Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer
Gotta make some money to buy some brand new shoes
Trying to find somebody to take away these blues
"She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun
Payday's coming and my work is all done
Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low
Sitting in a tepee built right on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Pick up you belongings boys and scatter about
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles about
Everybody's trembling and running around
Picking up their money, tearing the tepee down
Foreman wants a penny about to go insane
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Engineer blowing the whistle loud and long
Can't stop the train, gotta let it roll on
Let It Rock by The Jerry Garcia Band is a song about the life of railroad workers. The lyrics describe how the singer of the song is working in Mobile, Alabama, on a railroad with his steel driving hammer, striving to make some money to buy new shoes and find someone to take away his blues. The mood of the song is set with the beautiful combination of musical instruments, including the guitar and the organ, which create an atmosphere of working-class blues. Through the lyrics, we can imagine the intense, hardworking life of the railroad workers, the loneliness they feel, and how they look forward to payday.
The second verse of the song is about a group of railroad workers waiting for the end of their shift, sitting in a tepee built right on the tracks, playing dice in anticipation of payday. Suddenly, they get the news that they have to disperse, as an off-schedule train is coming their way. Chaos ensues, and things get out of hand as the foreman tries to get the workers out of the way of the train, which the engineer cannot stop despite the blaring whistle sound. The song ends with the message of letting things go and moving on, as the train must continue despite the turmoil caused.
In conclusion, Let It Rock is a song with deep lyrics, describing the hardworking life of the railroad workers in Alabama. The music sets the mood perfectly, giving the listeners a true sense of the blues.
Line by Line Meaning
Well up in the evening down in Mobile, Alabama
The scene is set in Mobile, Alabama, during the night
Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer
A job is being done on the railroad with a steel hammer
Gotta make some money to buy some brand new shoes
The worker needs money to purchase new shoes
Trying to find somebody to take away these blues
The worker is sad and trying to find someone to cheer him up
"She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun
Someone is singing about a failed relationship in the daylight hours
Payday's coming and my work is all done
The worker is waiting for payday after finishing the job
Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low
It is later in the evening when the sun is setting
All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
The worker has been waiting all day for a signal to end the workday
Sitting in a tepee built right on the tracks
The worker is sitting inside a tepee located directly on the railroad tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
The worker is playing a dice game until the foreman returns
Pick up your belongings boys and scatter about
The workers are instructed to gather their things and leave the area
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles about
An unscheduled train is approaching from two miles away
Everybody's trembling and running around
Everyone is panicking and hurrying about
Picking up their money, tearing the tepee down
The workers are collecting their earnings and dismantling the tepee
Foreman wants a penny about to go insane
The foreman is upset about something and is demanding money
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Efforts are being made to move the workers away from the train's path
Engineer blowing the whistle loud and long
The train's engineer is sounding the whistle repeatedly and loudly
Can't stop the train, gotta let it roll on
The train cannot be stopped and must continue moving
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: E Anderson, Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christopherhlad3397
This is hands down one of the greatest covers of all time.
@Scottymo-pj7iw
Instead of karate, my mom made me take piano lessons which paid off in the long run. Because girls would rather see a sensitive piano. Playing man than 2 guys beat the s*** out of each other. The moral of the story is I can play. Let it Rock On the v piano and chicks. Dig it
@Scottymo-pj7iw
I wanted to take karate, but my mother said play piano. So she took me to piano lessons. Moral of the story. I can play let it Rock on the piano and chicks dig it
@christopherhlad3397
@@Scottymo-pj7iw
INCREDIBLE.
@NicholasOsella
Thank God we have Youtube, time-machines, etc.
@kevinrichards4759
What sort of hand cranker gives this a thumbs down ? rock on JG you legend.
@stephansteohanlarsen7457
A wanker
@brandenmiquelas3319
Someone who's jealous of the chops this man had
@twoinchdave
Still one of the greatest tunes performed by one of the greatest performers of all time.. new shoes baby...
@nedrobinson7490
Def one of the greatest guitar riffs ever written. Truly timeless: it sounds just as badass and hair-raisin’ and toe tappin’ as it did in 1960