Haynes also spent the summer of 2004 playing with The Dead, a group featuring the remaining members of The Grateful Dead. He was also a member of the longest running lineup of Phil Lesh's "Phil Lesh and Friend's" band, comprised of himself, Lesh, Jimmy Herring, John Molo, and Rob Baracco
In 2004, he was named to the Rolling Stone magazine list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time at #23. He was joined on the list by fellow Allman Brothers Band guitarists Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, and Derek Trucks.
Warren is well known for the annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam which draws many well known musicians, who play until the early morning hours. The Jam is a benefit for Habitat for Humanity, and is known as one of the best shows in the country.
Patchwork Quilt
Warren Haynes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But then who really did?
If you were at all like me
You managed to keep yourself hid
A patchwork quilt of a life
Memories embroidered
On your soul
For putting you in my song
But the spirit she moves me
In fact she pushes me along
It's a patchwork quilt of a life
Can't stop the river
Just let it roll
We were at Jones Beach
When we got the word
Saddest sound that I ever heard
The bluest note that nobody could play
Ravens sang with us that night on the stage
Tears of sadness, tears of rage
But nobody spoke, we all felt old
And in the way
So walk beside me
Or above me, I don't know
These days it sure seems
I'm lost where ever I go
God, how could you, I heard someone say
And what do we do with our lives now anyway?
Now that our North Star can no longer be found
But there's a banjo moon in a tie-dyed sky
Hippies dance and babies cry
Church bells ring as a silver-haired angel look down
And the blood of his music runs through the veins of our guitars
Bright lights, Dark Star
I never knew you
But then who really did
If you were at all like me
You managed to keep yourself hid
The Warren Haynes song, Patchwork Quilt, is a tribute to an unknown individual who had a patchwork quilt of a life. Throughout the song, Haynes is both apologetic and grateful for the individual’s presence in his life, even though he never knew them personally. The lyrics suggest that the person lived a life of great complexity but kept it hidden from others, like a patchwork quilt with numerous intricate details embroidered on each patch.
Haynes’ song is about the power of music and how it brings people together. In the middle section of the song, he recounts a powerful experience he had with his band on stage, where the news of a tragic event was delivered. The group is united in their grief, and the music helps to heal them. The lyrics suggest that even though we may feel lost and alone, music has the power to bring us together and create unity amongst people.
Overall, the song is a masterpiece of poetic lyricism that captures the complexity of life, the power of music, and the importance of human connection. It is a reminder that even though we may be different and come from different walks of life, we can still find common ground and a sense of community in music.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew you
I didn't know you personally
But then who really did?
No one really knew you intimately
If you were at all like me
If you were similar to me
You managed to keep yourself hid
You kept your true self hidden from others
A patchwork quilt of a life
Your life was made up of different pieces that didn't necessarily fit together
Memories embroidered
Memories that are intricately woven into your being
On your soul
Your innermost self
So please forgive me
I apologize
For putting you in my song
For using you as inspiration for my music
But the spirit she moves me
I'm guided by something greater than myself
In fact she pushes me along
It propels me forward
Can't stop the river
Things will continue to happen, whether we like it or not
Just let it roll
We can't control everything, so just let things be
We were at Jones Beach
We were at a specific location
When we got the word
When we were told
Saddest sound that I ever heard
It was the most heartbreaking news I've ever received
The bluest note that nobody could play
An inexplicably sorrowful feeling
Ravens sang with us that night on the stage
There was a shared feeling of mourning among everyone present
Tears of sadness, tears of rage
People were feeling a mix of intense emotions
But nobody spoke, we all felt old
There was a collective feeling of heaviness and weariness among us
And in the way
Feeling stuck or blocked
So walk beside me
Join me
Or above me, I don't know
Or lead me, I'm not sure
These days it sure seems
Lately, it feels like
I'm lost where ever I go
Feeling disoriented or directionless
God, how could you, I heard someone say
Expressing a sense of disbelief or questioning why something could happen
And what do we do with our lives now anyway?
Trying to figure out what to do now that things have changed
Now that our North Star can no longer be found
Now that we've lost our sense of direction or guidance
But there's a banjo moon in a tie-dyed sky
Finding beauty, even amidst sorrow
Hippies dance and babies cry
Life goes on, even in the midst of tragedy
Church bells ring as a silver-haired angel looks down
A sense of spirituality or otherworldliness
And the blood of his music runs through the veins of our guitars
We carry on the legacy of those who came before us
Bright lights, Dark Star
Contrasting elements of light and dark
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WARREN HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KitchenWitchNikkie
on Soulshine feat. Vusi Mahlasela
I love this song, especially THIS version. I was wondering does anyone know the translation of Vusi's lyrics at the very end?