Neighbor, Neighbor

Lyrics: Alton Joseph Valier/Huey Meaux
Music: Alton Joseph Valier/Huey Meaux

Played by Jerry Garcia with Merl Saunders in the mid 1970s. It was once soundchecked by the Grateful Dead on 26 March 1995. Jerry Garcia seems to have forgotten most of the words, and mumbles or improvises them. The Dead never played it at a concert.

Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home
You're always looking for something to gossip about
You're running around from door to door
Shooting your mouth about things you don't know
Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home

Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry 'bout how I treat my wife
You tell everybody we fuss and fight every night
You got troubles it's my trouble too
Something bad's gonna happen to you
Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home

Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry about who knocks on my door
You're always running, pacing all over the floor
You're peeping and creeping through the hall
Keeping your great big ear glued to my wall
Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home

Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry about who knocks on my door
You're always running, pacing all over the floor
You're peeping and creeping through the hall
Keeping your great big ear glued to my wall
Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home

Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry 'bout how I treat my wife
You tell everybody we fuss and fight every night
You got troubles it's my trouble too
Something bad's gonna happen to you
Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home
Neighbour neighbour, don't you worry what goes on in my home
Jerry Garcia Recordings
     Date Album Recorded By
      1 Sep 1974 Pure Jerry 4: Keystone, Berkeley Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Band
     2 Nov 1974 Garcia Live Volume 18 Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
     15 Dec 1974 Garcia Live Volume 3 Legion Of Mary
     27 Feb 1975 Jerry Garcia Collection, Volume 1 Legion Of Mary

Background
"Neighbor Neighbor" was a hit for Jimmy Hughes in 1967, though he seems first to have recorded it in about 1964. (thanks to Matt Schofield for pointing this out). A number of British bands such as the Spencer Davis Group, the Graham Bond Organisation and the Spectres (later to becomee Status Quo) seem to have picked up on the 1964 version and recorded versions in the mid-60s. Recordings are variously credited to Alton Joseph Valier and Huey Meaux (or both). It was subsequently covered by Roy Head, Dr Feelgood, King Biscuit Boy (with Ronnie Hawkins) and others.

The track on ZZ Top's first album, also called "Neighbor Neighbor" and credited to Billy Gibbons, is a different song.



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

 


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