Leave Me Out Of This

Lyrics: Jeff Mattson
Music: Rob Barraco

Originally a Zen Trickster's song, now played by Rob Barraco with Phil Lesh & Friends and recorded on the album "There And Back Again."

Little angel on my shoulder
Barking in my rightmost ear
Says "You'd better walk the line
If it's fire that you fear"

Little devil on my left
And he's digging in his heels
Says "Forget this straight and narrow jive
Let's talk on how it feels"

But she's a feisty little angel
For a creature born of light
Says "Take your fork and hit the road
Unless you're looking for a fight"

By now he's glowing scarlet
With his nostrils blowing steam
And I think I'd better interrupt
Before they start to scream

Leave me out of this (note 1)
Leave me out of this
So sister Angel, brother Satan
Leave me out of this

"Now hold on just a minute"
I said, "I've seen enough"
Arguing is one thing
But this here's getting rough

"Now if you folks want to tussle
You can fight until you're dead
But take your battle elsewhere
Please just not inside my head"

Leave me out of this (note 2)
Leave me out of this
I see an angel and a demon
I hope to God I'm only dreming
Leave me out of this

Well it seems my little friends
Have ignored my pleading lines
And in fact my moral fiber
Is the last thing on their minds

And it's getting pretty boring
Just to listen to them yell
So I'm going back to bed
And they both can go to hell

Leave me out of this (note 3)
I never asked for this attention
Leave me out of this
Won't be the bone of your contention
I see an angel and a demon
I hope to God I'm only dreming
Leave me out of this
Leave me out of this
Leave me out of this
Leave me out of this

Notes
(1) in the original Zen Tricksters' version, the lyrics for this first chorus were:

Leave me out of this
I never asked for your assistance
Leave me out of this
I walk the path of least resistance
I got a young and sweet thing waiting
So sister Angel, brother Satan
Leave me out of this

(2) what is now the third chorus originally came here as the second chorus in the Zen Tricksters' version
(3) in the original Zen Trickster's version, the third chorus was:

Leave me out of this
Pardon me you're interfering
Leave me out of this
Though your concern is quite endearing
I got a young and sweet thing waiting
So sister Angel, brother Satan
Leave me out of this

Recordings
	Date	Album	Recorded By
	studio 2002	There And Back Again	Phil Lesh & Friends

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