Lyrics: Robert Hunterk
Music: Greg Anton
A Hunter lyric with music by Greg Anton. It was first sung by Stu Allen with The Rock Collection at Terrapin Crossroads in January
2020.
It was introduced by Dan ('Lebo') Lebowitz:
All right, here's a newer one. As in, it's never been played before. By anyone - well, live, yeah. The live debut. This song's from a Robert Hunter play. Yeah and Greg [Anton] wrote the music to this tune. And Hunter lyrics. It's called "Just Because". Hunter lyrics you've probably never heard.It has subsequently been released as part of the Antin Guberman Ptoject:
"Just Because (Circa 2005-2006): Greg wrote songs with Robert Hunter for two stage plays written by Michael Mann. 'Just Because' was a song that never made it to the stage, so to give it the honor it deserves, Scott and Greg rearranged it as a rock 'n roll song."Lyrics:
Didn't do it for the moneyNotes
Didn't do it for the fame
Didn't do it for security
Didn't do it for the shame
Didn't do it for the moon and stars
Didn't do it for the sun
Didn't do it for the fancy cars
Didn't do it for the fun
I did it just because
Didn't do it for the social climb
Didn't do it for the rocks that shine
Didn't do it for the ties that bind
Didn't do it for Auld Lang Syne
Didn't do it out of sympathy
Didn't do it out of charity
Didn't do it out of rivalry
Didn't do it for the company
I did it just because
I did it just because
The long and the short of it (note 1)
It's one of my flaws
The long and the short of it
I did it because
Listen here, Charlie Chan
Draw in your claws
I ran no scam, I broke no laws
Let's leave it as the curtain draws
For you're the reason
Then just because
I did it just because
(I did it just because)
I did it just because
(Just because)
I did it just because
(Did it just because)
Even with all his hats, Anton isn't done searching for new experiences. One of the latest projects he took on was contributing songs to "Shakedown Street," a play by Michael Mann set in 1930s San Francisco. The play, set to open in New York later this year, includes many Garcia/Hunter songs and three Huner/Anton songs, including a new one, "The Long and the Short of It."I presume that the song "The Long And The Short Of It" is really "Just Because", perhaps renamed.