Hill And Gully Run

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter

A song Hunter introduced on his fall 1997 solo tour. Any help deciphering the lyrics gratefully received - they seem to vary quite a bit.

This is the version from 26 September 1997 (thanks to Gene Baran for his help with this):

Walking in Jerusalem just like John
Pop goes the weasel, another man gone
The streets of the city are paved with gold
Wheels turn round but the brake won't hold
I don't wanna be the one to spoil your fun
But we might have to bail before the ride is done
Hill and gully run

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Fifteen hundred miles south of kingdom come (note 1)
Ain't no bed of roses when it's said and done
Hill and gully run

Some folks turn the heat down
Shake, rattle and cough
I just let my heater run
Till the gasman turns it off

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Hill and gully run

Standing in a puddle on Slingshot Lane
Singing Hully Gully to the pouring rain
All my washing hung on the line
Plays that way every time
Might as well stick out my thumb
And head back where I started from
Hill and gully run

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Fifteen hundred miles south of kingdom come
Ain't no bed of roses when it's said and done
Hill and gully run

Some folks take the medicine
Others take the pain
Don't ask me what I said again
The answer's still the same

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Hill and gully run

Strolling into battle with a government clothes (note 2)
Singing Hully Gully through a broken nose
Tenements revolving like a New Year's bash
I'd save the world but I'm short on cash
I'd love to do it if it could be done
Without getting out of bed before half past one
Hill and gully run

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Fifteen hundred miles south the kingdom come
Ain't no bed of roses when it's said and done
Hill and gully run

Reading in the new lost city Times
Looking in another man's mirror
Bucket of slime with a byline
Deadline drawing near

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Hill and gully run

Catch a cab you might beat the train
You save five minute's but what do you gain
Set my course, and set me straight
Lay a nine pound hammer on my plate
You can score six for the price of one (note 3)
But that's no return when the deal is done
Hill and gully run

Way down yonder in the new lost city sun
Fifteen hundred miles south of the kingdom come
Ain't no bed of roses when it's said and done
Hill and gully run

Some folks drinking' molasses
Others drinking' hundred proof wine
Forget where they park their asses
They're trying' to take a ride on mine

Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run
[etc]

Later 1987-88 versions added some new verses (together with some mumbled verses that are impossible to make out):

Sal met Eddie on the midnight run (note 4)
Sal got a switchblade, Eddie a gun
Di got a suitcase packed with lace
Strange expression on her face
Staring at the hat don't beat the sun
On the face of the hill and gully run
Hill and gully run

with the last two lines changed when the verse is repeated:
I don't want to have to be the one
To straighten you up when the party's done

Might have to borrow a flashlight
It's dark at the end of the turn
You're shining that candle much too hard
You got no wick left to burn

Notes
(1) Sometimes "eighteen hundred miles"
(2) It's very hard to make out if this is "government clothes" or "government closed"
(3) Sometimes "score half-a-dozen"
(4) It sometimes sounds as if it's "Sam and Eddie" rather than "Sal and Eddie"

Robert Hunter played what seems to have one-off version on 30 April 2002. This uses some of the verses above but adds some new ones and modifies the chorus:

Late afternoon on the midnight run
Ninety nine sound in the kingdom come
Trying to get to heaven before they slam the gate
I"m much too early or way too late
Blinking in the hot tone beam of the sun
On the face of the hill and gully run

Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run
Ain't no bed of roses when it's said and done
Ain't no bed of roses, no bed of roses
No bed of roses but it could be one

If you would stand by me
If you would stand by me
Baby [when the party couldn't be

I got a new place in [?]
College in [?] Road
An asset flat on [?]
Never got my eye on the [?]

Walking in Jerusalem just like John
Pop goes the weasel, another man gone
The streets of the city are paved with gold
Wheels turn round but the brake won't hold
I don't wanna be the one to spoil your fun
But we might have to bail before the ride is done
Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run
Bed of roses when it's said and done
No bed of roses, no bed of roses
No bed of roses when it could be won

Stand by me
Stand by me
Where the part couldn't be

Some folks turn the heat down
Shake, rattle and cough
I just let my heater run
Till the gasman turns it off

Standing in a puddle on Slingshot Lane
Singing Hully Gully to the pouring rain
All my washing hung on the line
Plays that way every time
Might as well stick out my thumb
And head ack where I started from
Hill and gully run

Some folks swallow medicine
Others bear the pain
End of the day seems so far away
But the answer's still the same

Strolling into battle with a government clothes
Singing Hully Gully through a broken nose
Tenements revolving like a New Year's bash
I'd save the world but I'm short on cash
I'd love to do whatever could be done
Without pulling on a mask and pulling a gun
Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run
Bed of roses when it's said and done
No bed of roses, no bed of roses

If you would stand by me
If you would stand by me
Oh what a party it could be

Got no place under pressure
Just quick cross hook and a right
Dad taught me how to argue
But mum taught me how to fight

Catch a cab you might beat the train
You save five minute's but what do you gain
Set my course, and set me straight
Lay a nine pound hammer on my plate
You can score six for the price of one
But that's a poor return when the deal goes down
Hill and gully run
In the midnight sun
No bed of roses when it's said and done
No bed of roses, no bed of roses
No bed of roses when it's said and done

Some folks drinking' molasses
Others drinking' hundred proof wine
Forget their backstage passes
They're trying' to keep a [? of mine

Sal met Eddie on the midnight run
Sal got a half pound, Eddie a ton
Di got a shotgun packed with grace
Save your soul but it will cost your face
I don't want to have to be the one
To straighten you up when the party's done

Lost city sun
No bed of roses when it's said and done
Stand by me, stand by me>BR> What a party this could be
Stand by me, stand by me>BR> Oh, stand by me

Might have to borrow a flashlight
It's dark at the end of the turn
You're shining that candle much too hard
You got no wick left to burn

Hill and gully run
New lost city sun
No bed of roses when it's said and done
Stand by me, stand by me>BR> What a party this could be
Hill and gully run
Hill and gully run

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