Story Behind The Song

Originally written for a Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter collaboration

Song Description

Very contemporary/political strong rock song--lyrics by Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter

Lyrics

I WAS BORN ONE AMERICAN SPRING
NECK IN A NOOSE, ARM IN A SLING
ROLLED FROM MY CRADLE, COLD AND NUMB
CRAWLED TO THE ROAD, STUCK OUT MY THUMB
SIX DAYS AND NIGHTS WITHOUT A RIDE
THE SEVENTH SOMEONE PULLED ASIDE
PICKED ME UP WHERE I LAY DEAD
KNOCKED SOME SENSE INTO MY HEAD


I WAS BORN ONE AMERICAN SPRING
BRIGHT DAWN OF THE RECKONING
CLOUDS HAD FACES FEET HAD WINGS
GREW UP LEARNING AMERICAN THINGS
STAR SPANGLED CHURCH OF THE GRAND OLD FLAG
NOT SOME BLOOD-SOAKED MOB UP RAG
COPS WERE GOOD, CROOKS WERE BAD
RIGHTS WERE SOMETHING EVERYONE HAD

CHORUS
AMERICAN SPRING OF THEE I SING
OF ALL THE HOPELESS HOPES YOU BRING
STARS AND BONES TWINED IN YOUR HAIR
ELECTRIC MUSIC IN YOUR STARE

VERSE
GAMBLED WITH THE BONE MAN ONE DARK NIGHT
FORTY-NINE CARDS, WE WERE THREE JACKS LIGHT
COULDN?T TELL AN ACE AND A DEUCE BY FEEL
BONE MAN SAID, SHUT UP AND DEAL
I BUILT YOUR HOUSE AND I LAID YOUR FLOOR
CARRIED YOUR FLAG AND I FOUGHT YOUR WAR
SILVER PISTOL ON YOUR THIGH
COLD BLUE THUNDER IN YOUR EYES

CHORUS
AMERICAN SPRING OF THEE I SING
OF ALL THE HOPELESS HOPES YOU BRING
STARS AND BONES TWINED IN YOUR HAIR
ELECTRIC MUSIC IN YOUR STARE

BRIDGE
AMERICAN SPRING OF THEE I SING
OF ALL THE HOPELESS HOPES YOU BRING
OF ALL THE HANGING ROPES YOU SWING
OF ALL THE BELLS YOU NEVER RING

VERSE
SWORE ALLEGIANCE NEARLY EVERYDAY
HAND ON HEART UNDER GOD WE PRAY
IT WAS LIKE RELIGION UNDER HOLY SKIES
WITH VISIONS OF THE STARS AND STRIPES
NONE OF THAT MAKES SENSE NO MORE
THICK BLACK WAVES LAP ON THE SHORE
INNER CITY GUNSHOTS RING
THERE?S NOTHING LEFT TO DO BUT SING

CHORUS
AMERICAN SPRING OF THEE I SING
OF ALL THE HOPELESS HOPES YOU BRING
STARS AND BONES TWINED IN YOUR HAIR
ELECTRIC MUSIC IN YOUR STARE