Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
This was played some 15 times by the Dead in 1973.
It is the developing version of what became U.S.Blues.
The words seem to have varied greatly between different versions, and the order of the couplets was pretty random.
This was a demo version recorded by Jerry Garcia in 1973 (only the first two lines and the chorus made it into the final U.S.Blues version):
Wave the flag, pop the bagThis is the version from 28 March 1973:
Rock the boat, skin the goat
Bell the cat, trap the rat
Ball the jack, chew the fat
Shoot the breeze, scratch the fleas
Pass the cheese, lose the keys
Read the sign, connect the line
Pay the fine, save a dime
Chorus
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high
Summertime done come and gone, my oh my
Ride the train, count your change
Sit up straight, wail your fate
Don't delay, what I'd say
Check the stile, run a mile
Hop the freight, got a date
Make a fuss, maybe try your luck
Change a tyre, pull a wire
Chase a tie, catch a fly
[Chorus]
Watch the band, feed the damned
Blow your scene, wake up mean
Catch the flu, burn the stew
Shine your shoes, sing the blues
[Chorus]
Summertime done come and gone, my oh my
Summertime done come and gone, my oh my
Wave the flag, pop the bagFor comparison, here is the live version from 21 March 1973:
Rock the boat, skin the goat
Trap the rat, bell the cat
Ball the jack, chew the fat
Shoot the breeze, lose the keys
Feed the poor, stop the war
Make the signs, connect the lines
Pay your fines, save your dimes
Chorus
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high
Summertime done come and gone, my oh my
Meet the best, read the rest
Hide in caves, walk on waves
Pull the tooth, stretch the truth
Feed the poor, start the war
Catch the flicks, get your kicks
Play your rags, pick up sticks
[Take your pig], trim your wig
Try your tricks, impress the chicks
[Chorus]
Watch the bands, dig and dance
Live in shame, die in vain
Catch the flu, burn the stew
Shine your shoes, sing the blues
[Chorus]
Wave the flag, pop the bagAdditional couplets and variations that were sung on other occasions include:
Skin the goat, [command?] the coat
Bell the cat, trap the rat
Ball the jack, chew the fat
Shoot the breeze, lose the keys
Pass the cheese, scratch the fleas
Make a sign, connect the lines
Pay your fines, save your dimes
Chorus
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high
Summertime done come and gone, my oh my
[Bring the dead], read the rest
Hide in caves, walk on waves
Stretch the truth, pull the tooth
Feed the poor, start the war
Get your licks, catch the picks
Play your rags, pick up sticks
[??]
Try your tricks, impress the chicks
[Chorus]
Wash the fence, dig [a dent?] (note 1)
Live in shame, die in vain
Burn the stew, catch the flu
Shine your shoes, sing the blues
[Chorus]
9 Feb 1973 (the first live performance)Notes
Smell the rat, trap the cat
Do that dance, sleep in caves
Read the raves, walk on waves
Pick up tricks, catch the fix
Get your kicks, pick up sticks
Trim your wick, take your pick
17 Feb 1973
Rock the boat, skin the goat
Lose the keys, do the [?]
Spend some fees, [?] the cheese
Watch the Feds, dig the dead
Live in chains, die in vain
Don't delay, start today
24 March 1973
Skin the goat, grab the float
Get your kicks, catch the flicks
Play your licks, pick up sticks
Other
Eat for days, hide in caves
Pick up time, light the fuse
Making time, pass the juice
Pay your fines, read the rhymes
Don't be late, that's what I say
Skin the goat, sail the boat
Read the signs, connect the lines
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
24 Mar 1973 | Dave's Picks Volume 32 | ||||
28 Mar 1973 | Dave's Picks Volume 16 (note a) | ||||
2 Apr 1973 | Dave's Picks Volume 21 | ||||
10 Jun 1973 | Here Comes Sunshine |