Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
This is the first song in Robert Hunter's
Terrapin Station Suite.
In setlists, "Lady With A Fan" is often lumped together with "Terrapin Station" rather than shown as separate songs.
The Dead at least once (on 13 April 1986) played "Lady With A Fan" without going on into "Terrapin Station"
Let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythmNotes
That will not forsake me, till my tale is told and done
While the fire lights aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow
Till things we've never seen will seem familiar
Shadows of a sailor forming winds both foul and fair, all swarm
Down in Carlisle he loved a lady many years ago
Here beside him stands a man, a soldier by the looks of him, (note 1)
Who came through many fights, but lost at love
While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks, (note 2)
Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there
Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair
She takes her fan and throws it in the lion's den (note 3)
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance (note 4)
The sailor gave at least a try; the soldier, being much too wise,
Strategy was his strength, and not disaster
The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him
That's how it stands today. You decide if he was wise (note 5)
The story teller makes no choice, soon you will not hear his voice
His job is to shed light, and not to master
Since the end is never told we pay the teller off in gold (note 6)
In hopes he will come back, but he cannot be bought or sold
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | ||||
Studio 1977 | Terrapin Station (2) | ||||
26 Feb 1977 | Dave's Picks Volume 29 | ||||
22 Apr 1977 | 30 Days Of The Dead (2021) | ||||
25 Apr 1977 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
30 Apr 1977 | Download Series Vol 1 | ||||
4 May 1977 | Dave's Picks Volume 50 (bonus disc) | ||||
7 May 1977 | May 1977: Get Shown The Light Box | ||||
12 May 1977 | Winterland June 1977 - The Complete Recordings (bonus disc) (7) | ||||
17 May 1977 | May 1977 Box Set | ||||
19 May 1977 | Dick's Picks Vol 29 | ||||
26 May 1977 | Dave's Picks Volume 41 | ||||
28 May 1977 | To Terrapin: Hartford '77 | ||||
7 Jun 1977 | Winterland June 1977 - The Complete Recordings | ||||
9 Jun 1977 | Winterland June 1977 - The Complete Recordings | ||||
3 Sep 1977 | Dick's Picks 15 | ||||
16 Oct 1977 | Road Trips Volume 1, Number 2 | ||||
2 Nov 1977 | Dave's Picks Volume 12 | ||||
29 Dec 1977 | Dick's Picks 10 | ||||
22 Jan 1978 | Dave's Picks Volume 23 | ||||
7 Apr 1978 | Friend Of The Devils: April 1978 | ||||
11 Apr 1978 | Friend Of The Devils: April 1978 | ||||
18 Apr 1978 | Dave's Picks Vol 37 | ||||
24 Apr 1978 | Dave's Picks Volume 7 | ||||
1 Jul 1978 | July 1978: The Complete Recordings | ||||
8 Jul 1978 | July 1978: The Complete Recordings | ||||
15 Sep 1978 | Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978 (bonus disc) | ||||
31 Dec 1978 | The Closing Of Winterland (DVD & CD) | ||||
6 Nov 1979 | Road Trips Volume 1, Number 1 (6) | ||||
3 Dec 1979 | Dave's Picks Vol 31 | ||||
9 Dec 1979 | Dave's Picks Vol 47 | ||||
28 Dec 1979 | Road Trips Vol 3, No 1 | ||||
7 May 1980 | Road Trips Volume 3, Number 4 | ||||
28 Nov 1980 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
6 Apr 1982 | Road Trips Volume 4, Number 4 | ||||
20 Sep 1982 | In And Out Of The Garden | ||||
19 Apr 1984 | Dave's Picks Volume 35 | ||||
28 Jun 1985 | 30 Days Of The Dead (2014) | ||||
1987 | So Far (video only) (5) | ||||
26 Jul 1987 | View From The Vault IV (DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
18 Sep 1987 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
31 Dec 1987 | Ticket To New Year's (video/DVD only) | ||||
31 Mar 1988 | Road Trips Volume 4, Number 2 | ||||
31 Mar 1989 | 30 Days Of The Dead (2017) (8) | ||||
4 Jul 1989 | Truckin' Up To Buffalo (DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
13 Jul 1989 | RFK Stadium 1989 Box | ||||
15 Mar 1990 | Terrapin Station (Limited Edition) | ||||
24 Mar 1990 | Dozin' At The Knick | ||||
30 Mar 1990 | Spring 1990 | ||||
16 Jun 1990 | View From The Vault III (video/DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
8 Jul 1990 | View From The Vault (video/DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
18 Jul 1990 | Dave's Picks Volume 40 | ||||
12 Sep 1991 | So Many Roads (1965-1995) | ||||
25 Sep 1991 | Dick's Picks Vol 17 | ||||
1 Oct 1994 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
5 Jul 2015 | Fare Thee Well (CD and DVD) | ||||
(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.) | |||||
Other Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
studio 1980 | Jack O'Roses | Robert Hunter | |||
1996 | Play Terrapin Station | The Mudkats | |||
1996 | DeadBeats Acoustic | DeadBeats | |||
1997 | Pickin' On The Grateful Dead | David West et al (5) | |||
9 Aug 1998 | Jerry Jams for Rex | Phish | |||
1999 | Terrapin | Joe Gallant & Illuminati | |||
2000 | Here Come The Noisemakers | Bruce Hornsby (5) | |||
2001 | Solo Acoustic | David Gans | |||
2001 | Great Sky River | Jazz Is Dead | |||
15 Sep 2002 | Live At The Powerhouse | David Gans (DVD only) | |||
11 Jul 2002 | Live: Salt Lake City, UT | Bruce Hornsby (5) (9) | |||
2003 | Solo Acoustic | David Gans | |||
2003 | Thunder And Lightnin' | Dark Star Orchestra | |||
11 Jun 2005 | Live: Bonaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN | Gov't Mule (9) | |||
2006 | Release The Medicine | Sylvia Bagge | |||
2006 | Piano Impressions | Lore Constantine | |||
2007 | Blue Light Cheap Hotel | Wake The Dead (5) | |||
2008 | Ithica 30 Years Later | Dark Star Orchestra | |||
25 Jul 2009 | Jerry Jams For Rex | Bruce Hornsby (5) | |||
4 Sep 2010 | House Concert, Club Meg, Missoula, MT | David Gans (9) | |||
2011 | Blottopia XII Day 1 | Mr Blotto | |||
10 Mar 2012 | Live: San Francisco, CA | Railroad Earth (9) | |||
2013 | Keys | Keller Willams | |||
2013 | Harpin' On The Dead | Anela Lauren | |||
2013 | Move Me Brightly | Bob Weir et al (DVD) | |||
17 Apr 2015 | Live: Morrison, CO | Disco Biscuits | |||
27 Jun 2012 | On The Road: Rothbury, MI | String Cheese Incident (9) | |||
2015 | It's A Hand-Me-Down | David Gans | |||
2015 | Songs Of Their Own | Dead Set | |||
2016 | Songs To Fill The Air (WFMU Pledge Drive) | Anthony Pasquarosa (5) | |||
2016 | Day Of The Dead | Daniel Rosen, Christopher Bear and the National | |||
2016 | Better Left Unsung | Holly Bowling | |||
2019 | Sabertooth Plays Dead | Sabertooth | |||
2021 | Alive And Grateful | Bert Keely and Friends | |||
2021 | Jerry's Smilin': Guitar Tribute To The Grateful Dead | Damià Timoner | |||
Jun 2021 | Live In Colorado Vol 2 | Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros |