Drink Up and Go Home

Lyrics: Johnny Bond, Joe Maphis
Music: Johnny Bond, Joe Maphis

This was played once by the Grateful Dead, in an acoustic set in August 1970. Garcia sang only the two verses below:

You sit there a-crying, crying in your beer
You say you got trouble, my friend listen here
Don't tell me your troubles, I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living, drink up and go home

Now there stands a blind man, so blind he can't see
Do you think he's complaining, why should you or me?
Don't tell me your troubles, I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living, drink up and go home
Garcia also sang this with groups outside the Dead: in 1964 in pre-Dead days with the Black Mountain Boys, in 1974 with the Great American String Band, in 1975 with the Good Old Boys, and in 1992 with David Grisman. These versions include an additional verse, and some variations on what he sang with the Grateful Dead:
You sit there a-crying, crying in your beer
You say you got trouble, my friend listen here (note 1)
Don't tell me your troubles, I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living, drink up and go home

I'm fresh out of prison, six years in the pen (note 2)
Lost my wife and family, no one to call friend
Don't tell me your troubles, I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living, drink up and go home

Now there stands a blind man, so blind he can't see (note 3)
Do you think he's complaining, why should you or me
Don't tell me your troubles, I got enough of my own
Be thankful you're living, drink up and go home
Be thankful you're living, drink up and go home

Notes
(1) with the Black Mountain Boys in 1964 Garcia sang "You think you've got troubles ..."
(2) with the GASB, Garcia sang "... six years in the can", which is the original Carl Perkins' version
(3) in 1964, Garcia sang "Now there sits a blind man ..."

Jerry Garcia Recordings
     Date Album Recorded By
     Spring 1964 Before The Dead Black Mountain Boys
     21 Feb 1975 Good Old Boys - Live Good Old Boys
     199? Been All Around This World Garcia/Grisman



Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography

 


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