The Wall Song

Lyrics: David Crosby
Music: David Crosby

Played by Jerry Garcia with David Crosby, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart in December 1970 in shows billed as "Jerry Garcia and Friends." Also recorded with David Crosby on several studio sessions - the PERRO sessions in early 1971 plus another session with Weir, Lesh and Cippolina on August 21 1971. Played live by Jerry Garcia with Merl Saunders at least once.

You are walking
You've always been walking
Stumbling half-blinded and dry as the wind
That strafes you and leaves you to lie in the sand (note 1)
And the wall stretches endless beside you to nowhere
This wall that you've been trying to cross for years
This fence made of fears
No one hears

You see a door
Ah such a great open door
You know that your eyes telling lies, still you chance
A shambling run, a ridiculous dance
Like a scarecrow that's hung up to dry on a fence pole
And there's a space like vacuum waiting inside you
For you to get through
To the blue

You scent the water
Fresh clean grass, food and water
Your breath is scraping your brain into dust
Your rusty old engine is ready to bust
You cannot believe it that they would not trust you
The door is wavering, is that your eyes?
Are they still telling lies?
What are lies?