Childhood's End

Lyrics: Phil Lesh
Music: Phil Lesh

When I was hoppin' freights and makin' payments on the farm
Here between the angels and the deep blue sea
You were runnin', laughin', growin' sheltered from the storm
Dreamin' of the day the moon would set you free
Yeah, to sing your siren song so sweet and warm

River run deep
River run slow
Get a little restless
Wanna see some whales blow

River run cold
River run clear
That feeling always gets to me
'Round about this time of year

Scoutin' unknown borders under multi-colored moons
In the wildest flights of cosmic mystery
Rang a single soarin' tone that strung the sky in tune
As the silence in my heart rose from the sea
Aaah, to greet you in the dawn with a pale harpoon

River run restless
River run high
Runnin' thru a hailstorm
Try to catch a star on the fly

River run muddy
River flow like tears
Cocoon of life surroundin' us
Holdin' all our hopes and fears

Reach behind the wind
Search beyond the stars
We're the life on Mars

When the day grows dark and scary scatterin' the light
All the colors run away and hide behind your knees
The same sweet thunder tumbles rollin' down the night
Like a mothership that calls for you and me
Come on, and drift along that sky river bright

River run swiftly
River run wide
Feel like sailin'
On the morning tide

River run golden
River run true
Set a course and follow
Ooooh, the star that leads to you



Further 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 information on references in the lyrics see David Dodd's Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics
For sheet music, see:
          Grateful Dead Anthology Volume 2 (piano arrangement)

 


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