Tumblin'

Lyrics: Marty Balin, Robert Hunter
Music: David Freiberg

Credited to Robert Hunter on the sleeve of "Red Octopus" but not included in his lyric collection "Box Of Rain" - and not one of his most memorable collaborations! This may partly be explained by Marty Balin's role. In a 1978 interview, Robert Hunter explained:

And then I wrote "Tumblin'" on Red Octopus with Freiberg ... and then Marty [Balin] wrote the lyrics that go "This time, you'll never go, this time ..." Marty wrote that part. He put the shmaltz in it. And I really respect that guy ... for his love of shmaltz ... because he does, and he'd be the last to deny it. He likes that crooner edge on it. 'Cause he is one of the all-time great crooners, I think. One of the last of the crooners, too."

When love comes tumblin' down
Tumblin' down to the truth
And can't fall no more
Can't fall no more

Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't be blue
I'll stand by you
And we'll get that feelin'
Just like before
Only more and more and

Love'll mean something again
Oh, baby, you know it can
Be just like heaven
It was heaven before
Yes, it was

Oh, if you stand by me
I'll stand by you
And the feelin' it'll get
Stronger and stronger
Won't be much longer
'Cause

This time, this love's gonna grow
This time, you'll never go
This time, I'll love you so
This time, everything we ever wanted
This time, our love's gonna grow
This time, I'll never let go
This time, I'll love you so
This time, everything that we could ever feel
In lovin'
I feel it's comin'
Now I know the meanin'
I'm through with all the driftin'
The dreamin'

Cause when love comes tumblin' down
Tumblin' down to the truth
It can't fall no more

Tumblin', tumblin', tumblin'
Tumblin', tumblin', tumblin'
Tumblin', tumblin', tumblin'
Tumblin', tumblin', tumblin'
Tumblin', tumblin', tumblin'