Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia
Recorded by Robert Hunter in 1987 with both words and music by Hunter.
It entered the Grateful Dead's repertoire in 1993, with Garcia having re-done
the music.
Saw a bird with a tear in his eye
Walking to New Orleans my oh my
Hey, now, Bird, wouldn't you rather die
Than walk this world when you're born to fly?
If I was the sun, I'd look for shade
If I was a bed, I would stay unmade
If I was a river I'd run uphill
If you call me you know I will
If you call me you know I will
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Say what I mean and I don't give a damn
I do believe and I am who I am
Hey now Mama come and take my hand
Whole lotta shakin' all over this land
If I was an eagle I'd dress like a duck
Crawl like a lizard and honk like a truck
If I get a notion I'll climb this tree
or chop it down and you can't stop me
Chop it down and you can't stop me
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Went to the well but the water was dry
Dipped my bucket in the clear blue sky
Looked in the bottom and what did I see?
The whole damned world looking back at me
If I was a bottle I'd spill for love
Sake of mercy I'd kill for love
If I was a liar I'd lie for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Sake of my baby I'd die for love
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
I'm gonna find my own way home
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | ||||
29 Mar 1993 | 30 Days Of The Dead (2018) | ||||
26 May 1993 | Road Trips Vol 2, No 4 | ||||
30 Mar 1994 | So Many Roads (1965-1995) (note 1) | ||||
1 Oct 1994 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
14 Oct 1994 | Ready Or Not | ||||
21 Feb 1995 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
4 Jul 2015 | Fare Thee Well (CD and DVD) | ||||
Other Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
1988 | Liberty | Robert Hunter | |||
1995 | Vineyard Sound Vol 2 | Mischief | |||
2000 | Might As Well | The Persuasions (note 2) | |||
2002 | There And Back Again | Phil Lesh & Friends | |||
2002 | Buckdancer's Choice | Wake The Dead | |||
2004 | 20 Degrees Of Solitude | The Grass Is Dead |