Whiskey

Lyrics: John Dawson
Music: John Dawson

My family's always been in whiskey
It's a simple honest way to earn a dime
The only trouble's been my Uncle Sam now
He been trying to collect taxes all the time

Now this ain't no ordinary Chevy
The motor and suspension ain't the same
Whiskey as you know is very heavy
And getting through is what they call the game

Chorus
It's a dark and rainy night
But my engine's running right
And I hope to get to Memphis before dawn
Yeah and if I make it through
Gonna save what I have to
It ain't healthy running whiskey very long (note 1)

Three hundred miles from home to Memphis
There's a dozen men along the way (note 2)
Never stop and let 'em do no looking
Yeah, that was what my pappy used to say

[chorus]

Oh there's three hundred miles from home to Memphis
And Susan says she don't want me to go
She said, now honey don't take chances
Ah love I want to keep you, don't you know

[chorus]
Notes
(1) the lyrics on the official NRPS site are "Then help me running whiskey very long" but I think that must be a mistake
(2) in the version on "Worcester, MA" Dawson sings "And a dozen cops that know me on the way." And in 1976, Dawson sang "a dozen smokeys know me on the way." (thanks to Jay Tenewitz for pointing this out)

New Riders Recordings
     Date Album
      1972 Gypsy Cowboy
     27 Aug 1972 Field Trip
     23 Nov 1972 Thanksgiving In New York City
      5 Dec 1972 Boston, MA
     17 Mar 1973 S.U.N.Y Stonybrook, NY
     18 Mar 1973 Felt Forum, NYC
      4 Apr 1973 Worcester, MA
     13 Jun 1975 Armadillo World HQ
     31 Dec 2006 Live: New Year's Eve

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

 


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