Right Place Wrong Time

Lyrics: Mac Rebennack
Music: Mac Rebennack

Played by Jerry Garcia with James Booker in the JGB on 10 Jan 1976. The full lyrics are:

I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time
I was sayin' the right things, but I must have used the wrong line
I was on the right trip, but I must have used the wrong car
Head is in a bad place and I wonder what it's good for
I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time
My head is in a bad place, but I'm havin' such a good time

I've been runnin', tryin' to get hung up in my mind
Really got to give myself a good talkin' to this time
Just need a little brain salad surgery
I got to cure my insecurity

And I was in the wrong place, but it must have been the right time
I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong song
I was in the right thing, but it seemed like a wrong wrong
'Cause I was in the right world, but it seemed like a wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong

Slippin', dodgin', sneakin', peepin', hidin' out down the street
See my life shakin' with every who I meet
Refried confusion is a-makin' itself clear
Wonder where to, where do I go to get on outta here

'Cause I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time
And I was sayin' the right thing, but I must have used the wrong line
I took the right road but I must have took a wrong turn
I took a right move but I made it at the wrong time
I was in the right trip but I made it in the wrong car
My head is in a good place and I wonder what it's there for
'Cause my skull is in a bad place
The lyrics James Booker sang in a rehearsal on 7 Jan are much more sketchy (he says "Oh I just made a medley"):
I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time
I was on the right song, baby, must have been the wrong line
I was in the right place, must have been the wrong time
I been on the wrong road, wrong road so long
I been on the wrong road, wrong road so long

I was on the right trail, but it must have been the wrong train
I was in the right [arm], I think it really was the wrong place
Really, really, really, really was the right place
Really must have been the wrong time

Well baby do you believe me
Mama do you believe me
People do you believe me
I wanna know, I wanna know whether you believe me
Baby I'm trying to tell you, trying to tell you
[etc]
All I want to know is this
Some people, they like a lot of money
And they never, they never get enough
As for me, long as I'm free and easy
I just wanna know, how to keep the times from getting too rough
How do you do it
Do you believe me
Do you believe me
Do you believe me


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

 


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