Morning Dew

Lyrics: Bonnie Dobson
Music: Bonnie Dobson

One of the songs the Dead played almost every year from the 60s to the 90s.

Walk me out in the morning dew, my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
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 today
You didn't hear no baby cry this morning
You didn't hear no baby cry today

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 mourn this morning (note 1)
I thought I heard a young man mourn today
I thought I heard a young man mourn 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
Can't walk you out in the morning dew, my honey
I guess it doesn't matter anyway
Well I guess it doesn't matter anyway
Notes
(1) It certainly sounds as if Jerry sings "mourn" even though the Bonnie Dobson original is "moan"

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Origins
Bonnie Dobson wrote the song in the early 1960s. She describes the background in an interview with Randy Jackson. Her version is pretty similar, though not exactly the same as Jerry Garcia sang:
Take me for a walk in the morning dew, my honey
Take me for a walk in the morning sun, my love
You can't go walking in the morning dew today
You can't go walking in the morning sun today

But listen, I hear a man moaning, lord
Oh yes, I hear a man moaning, lord
You didn't hear a man moan at all
You didn't hear a man moan at all

But I thought I heard my baby crying mama
Oh yes I hear my baby crying mama
You'll never hear your baby cry again
You'll never hear your baby cry again

Oh where have all the people gone?
Won't you tell me, where have all the people gone?
Don't you worry 'bout the people any more
Don't you worry 'bout the people any more

Won't you take me for a walk in the morning dew my love
Please take me for a walk in the morning sun my honey
You can't go walking in the morning dew today
You can't go walking in the morning sun today

But listen, I hear a man moaning lord
Oh you didn't hear a man moan at all
But I'm sure I hear my baby crying mama
You'll never hear your baby cry again

Oh where have all the people gone?
Won't you tell me where have all the poeple gone?
Don't you worry about the people any more
Oh don't you worry about the people any more
Don't you worry about the people any more
Fred Neil recorded a version of the song in 1964 that changed the opening line from "Take me for a walk in the morning dew" to "Walk me out in the morning dew", which is how Jerry Garcia sang it:
Walk me out in the morning dew, my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
Can't walk you out in the morning dew, my baby
Can't walk you out in the morning dew today

Thought I heard a young man moaning, lord
Thought I heard a young man moaning, lord
You didn't hear no young man moaning, Lord
You didn't hear no young man moan today

Where have all the people gone, my honey
Where have all the people gone today
Don't you worry 'bout those people, baby
You'll never see those people any more

Thought I heard my baby crying mama
Thought I heard my baby crying mama
You didn't hear no baby crying mama
You didn't hear no baby cry today

Walk me out in the morning dew, my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
Can't walk you out in the morning dew, my baby
I'll never walk you out in the morning dew again
Tim Rose recorded a version in 1967 (and somehow became credited as a co-author of the song):
Walk me out in the morning dew, my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
Can't walk you out in the morning dew, my honey
Can't walk you out in the morning dew at all

Thought I heard a young girl crying mama
Thought I heard a young girl cry today
You didn't hear no young girl crying mama
You didn't hear no young girl cry at all

Walk me out in the morning dew, my honey
Walk me out in the morning dew today
Can't walk you out in the morning dew, my baby
Can't walk you out in the morning dew at all

Thought I heard a young man crying mama
Thought I heard a young man cry today
You didn't hear no young man crying mama
You didn't hear no young man cry at all

Now there's no more morning dew
Now there's no more morning dew
What they were saying all these years is true
'Cause there's no more morning dew

Now there's no more morning dew
Now there's no more morning dew
Lord, what they were saying all these years was true
'Cause there's no more morning dew

Now there's no more morning dew
Now there's no more morning dew
Lord, what they were saying all these years is so true
'Cause they've done chased away all our morning dew

Oh, now there's no more morning dew
Oh, now there's no more morning dew


Futher Information
For an online discussion of the lyrics to this song see the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For online chords and TAB see www.rukind.com

 

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