American Popsicle

Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Music: Brickell, Garcia, Wasserman

Played on Rob Wasserman's album "Trios" with Jerry Garcia and Edie Brickell

All I want for Christmas is an American popsicle
All I want for Christmas is an American popsicle
Nice and cold in the sand
Nice and cool in my hand
Nice and cold down my throat
All I want for Christmas is an American popsicle

And the only colors I like are red or green
The only colors I like are red or green
American popsicle, red or green, please
American popsicle, red or green, please
American popsicle, red or green

Is it true that you had planned to do a fully improvised tour with Jerry Garcia?

Yes, and I was so disappointed that we never got to do it. We improvised a lot during our session with Rob Wasserman [recording “Zillionaire” and “American Popsicle” for 1994’s Trios]. When he discovered that we could do that together, and that I loved improvising, he suggested that we go out on the road just as an all-improv band. I couldn’t wait because the most exciting music you can make is what you come up with when you’re channeling the thoughts and melodies that you’re feeling in the moment. It made me feel completely alive. It still does.

I loved working with Jerry. He was exciting to play with, the energy was completely alive. When people are in the moment and they have that flexibility and freedom in their playing to listen and have that conversation, it’s the most fun you can have with music. It’s a lot more fun than remembering a song and playing it over and over, as privileged a position as it is to be able to play your music for people. Then, he called and asked me if I wanted to do a blue-jeans commercial with him. He flew to New York, we did this goofball improv thing and they made a 501 commercial out of it.