Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
The Dead's most commercially successful song, debuted live in 1982 but not released until it was included on the
In The Dark album in 1987.
It must be getting earlyNotes
Clocks are running late
Paint by numbers morning sky
Looks so phony
Dawn is breaking everywhere (note a)
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains, I don't care
'Cause it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
I see you got your list out (note e)
Say your piece and get out (note b)
Yes I got the gist of it
But it's alright
Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey
It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The A B C's
We all must face
And try to keep a little grace (note f)
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright
Cows are giving kerosene
The kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene (note c)
But it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
It's a lesson to me
The Deltas and the East and the Freeze
The A B C's
We all think of
And try to keep a little love
The shoe is on the hand it fits
There's really nothing much to it (note g)
Whistle through your teeth and spit (note d)
'Cause it's alright
Oh well a touch of grey
Kind of suits you anyway
That was all I had to say (note h)
And it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
We will survive
Even this is bound to passRobert Hunter's handwritten lyrics include some changes and one additional verse:
Not the first, you're not the last
Fortune smiles then turns away
But it's OK
When it goes from bad to worse
Not the last, you're not the first
Today's tomorrow yesterday
So what's to say?
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
It's a lesson to me
The Ables, the Bakers and C's
The ABC's of the fast ball curve
Trying not to lose your nerve
It must be getting earlyNotes
The time is running late
Paint by numbers morning sky
It looks so phony
Dawn is breaking everywhere
As for me I couldn't care
I'll just pull the curtains there
It's all right
I see you got your list out
Say your piece and piss off
Yes I get the gist of it
But it's alright
Only thing that I can say
Sorry that you feel that way
Every silver lining has a
Touch of grey
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright
The glove is on the hand it fits
That's all there really is to it
Whistle through my teeth and spit
'Cause it's alright
Modern saviours, saints and seers (note i)
A motley pack of Paul Reveres
Just keep on smiling through the tears
It's all right
It's all a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The A B C's
We got to face
Just try to do it with grace
The ABC's of the fast ball curve
Trying not to lose your nerve
The alphabet we all know of
Hold on to your love
(alternate chorus)
We can get on by
We can get on by
We can get on by
We will survive
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | ||||
(studio) Aug 1982 | In The Dark (note 1) | ||||
20 Sep 1982 | In And Out Of The Garden | ||||
21 Sep 1982 | In And Out Of The Garden | ||||
11 Oct 1983 | In And Out Of The Garden | ||||
21 Oct 1983 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
3 Jul 1984 | 30 Days Of The Dead (2014) (note 5) | ||||
(studio) Jan 1987 | In The Dark (note 2) | ||||
27 Mar 1987 | Dave's Picks Volume 36 | ||||
11 Apr 1987 | ONXRT: Live From The Archives, Vol 11 | ||||
9 May 1987 | The Making Of The Touch Of Grey Video (video only) | ||||
3 Jul 1988 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
4 Jul 1989 | Truckin' Up To Buffalo (DVD & CD soundtrack) (note 7) | ||||
12 Jul 1989 | RFK Stadium 1989 Box | ||||
14 Oct 1989 | The Music Never Stopped: Music From The Motion Picture | ||||
16 Mar 1990 | Spring 1990 | ||||
25 Mar 1990 | Spring 1990 (The Other One) | ||||
1 Apr 1990 | Spring 1990 (The Other One) | ||||
16 Jun 1990 | View From The Vault III (video/DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
8 Jul 1990 | View From The Vault (video/DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
20 Sep 1990 | Road Trips Number 2, Volume 1 | ||||
18 Mar 1991 | 30 Days Of The Dead (2021) | ||||
20 Jun 1991 | Download Series Vol 11 | ||||
5 Jul 2015 | Fare Thee Well (CD and DVD) (note 4) | ||||
(Plus live recordings by The Dead, Furthur, Dead & Company, Ratdog, Phil Lesh & Friends etc not listed here. See Grateful Dead Family Discography for a full list.) | |||||
Tribute Albums | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
1996 | Fire On The Mountain Vol 1 | Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead (Mighty Diamonds) | |||
1996 | Long Live The Dead | Billy And Terry Smith | |||
1997 | Pickin' On The Grateful Dead | David West et al | |||
1999 | Swingin' To The Grateful Dead | Steve Marsh et al | |||
2000 | Wake The Dead | Danny Carnahan et al | |||
2000 | Whole Lotta Rock | Lamajam | |||
2001 | Blues Tribute To The Grateful Dead | Various (Richie and the Pocket Rockets) | |||
2002 | Finger Play | Kugel | |||
2003 | Ukelele Summit 5 | Various (Kawaihae) | |||
2004 | Werewolves Of Atlanta: Halloween 2004 | Dark Star Orchestra | |||
2005 | Deadgrass | Deadgrass | |||
2009 | Yoga Tribute To Grateful Dead | Yoga Pop Ups (note 6) | |||
4 Aug 2012 | Live: San Rafael, CA | Yonder Mountain String Band | |||
2013 | Keys | Keller Willams | |||
14 May 2015 | Dear Jerry: Celebrating The Music Of Jerry Garcia | Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann | |||
2016 | Day Of The Dead | The War On Drugs | |||
2017 | Dead Songs Vol 1 | Barton Hills Choir | |||
2019 | Dead Air | Chamomile & Whiskey | |||
2021 | Jerry's Smilin': Guitar Tribute To The Grateful Dead | Damià Timoner | |||
2021 | Grateful Deadication | David McMurray | |||
2024 | Grateful: The Music Plays The Band | Doom Flamingo | |||
Covers By Other Artists | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
1998 | Put Some Style In It | Lounge Brigade | |||
1998 | Super Bos | The Binghampton Crosbys | |||
1999 | Rockin' Race | John Boy & Billy | |||
2002 | Finger Play | Kugel | |||
?2012 | Karaoke Legends, Vol. 45 | Unknown | |||
?2016 | Live Big Sur | Little Wings | |||
31 Dec 2018 | Rising Up To Paradise | Big Swell |