Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
This is the version as Jerry Garcia sang it on "Go To Heaven":
Thirty-two teeth in a jawboneNotes
Alabama's tryin' for none
Before I have to hit him
I hope he's got the sense to run
Reason the poor girls love him
Promise them everything
Why they all believe him?
He wears a big diamond ring (note a)
Chorus
Alabama getaway, get away
Alabama getaway, get away
Only way to please me
Just get down and leave and walk away (note b)
Majordomo Billy Bojangles
Sat down and had a drink with me
Said what about Alabama
That keeps a-coming back to me?
I heard your plea in the court house
Witness box began to rock and rise
Forty nine sister states
Had Alabama in their eyes
[chorus]
Major said why don't we give him
Rope enough to hang himself?
No need to worry the jury
They'll probably take care of themselves
Twenty third psalm Majordomo
Reserve me a table for three
Down in the valley of the shadow
Just you, Alabama and me
[chorus]
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | ||||
studio 1980 | Go To Heaven (note 1) | ||||
6 Nov 1979 | Road Trips Full Show: Spectrum 11/6/79 | ||||
10 Nov 1979 | Road Trips Volume 1, Number 1 | ||||
3 Dec 1979 | Dave's Picks Vol 31 | ||||
9 Dec 1979 | Dave's Picks Vol 47 | ||||
26 Dec 1979 | Dick's Picks Vol 5 | ||||
28 Dec 1979 | Road Trips Vol 3, No 1 | ||||
5 Apr 1980 | Saturday Night Live: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD) | ||||
15 May 1980 | Go To Nassau | ||||
6 May 1981 | Dick's Picks Vol 13 | ||||
31 Jul 1982 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
11 Sep 1983 | Dave's Picks Vol 52 | ||||
14 Oct 1983 | Dick's Picks Vol 6 | ||||
24 Jun 1985 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
27 Mar 1987 | Dave's Picks Volume 36 | ||||
(Plus live recordings by The Dead, Furthur, Dead & Company, Ratdog, Phil Lesh & Friends etc not listed here. See Grateful Dead Family Discography for a full list.) | |||||
Other Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
studio 1982 | Run For The Roses | Jerry Garcia Band (note 2) | |||
1996 | Long Live The Dead | Billy and Terry Smith | |||
2000 | Dead Grass | Vassar Clements | |||
2003 | Gods And Fraks | Scott Finch | |||
2004 | 20 Degrees Of Solitude | The Grass Is Dead | |||
2010 | Songs Of The Grateful Dead | Jesse McReynolds | |||
2010 | Let The Music Live | Skeleton Key Band | |||
2011 | The Wheel: A Musical Celebration of Jerry Garcia | Jesse McReynolds, David Nelson et al | |||
2012 | Run For The Roses | Greg Anton et al (Rex Foundation) | |||
2015 | Songs Of Their Own | Toby Oler |
Thirty-two teeth in a jawbone
Alabama cryin' for none
Before I have to hit him
I hope he's got the sense to run
Reason those poor girls love him
Promise them anything
Reason they believe him?
He wears a big diamond ring
Chorus
Alabama getaway, get away
Alabama getaway, get away
Only way to please me
Turn around and leave and walk away
Majordomo Billy Bojangles
Sit down and have a drink with me
What's this about Alabama
Keeps coming back to me
I heard your plea in the courthouse
Jury box began to rock and rise
Forty nine sister states
All had Alabama in their eyes
[chorus]
Why don't we just give Alabama
Rope enough to hang himself?
Ain't no call to worry the jury
His kind take care of itself
Twenty third psalm Majordomo
Reserve me a table for three
In the valley of the shadow
Just you, Alabama and me
[chorus]