Song

  • U.S. Blues
    Lyrics By:
    Music By:

    Red and white, blue suede shoes
    I'm Uncle Sam, how do you do
    Gimme five, still alive
    Ain't no luck, I learned to duck

    Check my pulse, it don't change
    Stay seventy two, come shine or rain
    Wave the flag, pop the bag
    Rock the boat, skin the goat

    Wave that flag, wave it wide and high
    Summertime done come and gone, my oh my

    I'm Uncle Sam, that's who I am
    Been hiding out, in a rock and roll band
    Shake the hand that shook the hand
    Of P. T. Barnum and Charlie Chan (note 1)

    Shine your shoes, light your fuse
    Can you use them old U.S. Blues
    I'll drink your health, share your wealth
    Run your life, steal your wife

    Back to back, chicken shack
    Son of a gun, better change your act
    We're all confused, what's to lose
    You can call this song the United States Blues (note 2)

    (1) on a few occasions in 1979-1980 Jerry sang "Of P. T. Barnum and the Shah of Iran" (eg Cleveland 29 Nov 1979, Oakland 13 Jan 1980).

    (2) for an ironic take on this, see One More Saturday Night

    (3) alternative lyrics were tried out as the song was being developed - see Wave That Flag

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(1) on a few occasions in 1979-1980 Jerry sang "Of P. T. Barnum and the Shah of Iran" (eg Cleveland 29 Nov 1979, Oakland 13 Jan 1980).

(2) for an ironic take on this, see One More Saturday Night

(3) alternative lyrics were tried out as the song was being developed - see Wave That Flag

Lyrics By
Robert Hunter
Music By
Jerry Garcia
Lyrics

Red and white, blue suede shoes
I'm Uncle Sam, how do you do
Gimme five, still alive
Ain't no luck, I learned to duck

Check my pulse, it don't change
Stay seventy two, come shine or rain
Wave the flag, pop the bag
Rock the boat, skin the goat

Wave that flag, wave it wide and high
Summertime done come and gone, my oh my

I'm Uncle Sam, that's who I am
Been hiding out, in a rock and roll band
Shake the hand that shook the hand
Of P. T. Barnum and Charlie Chan (note 1)

Shine your shoes, light your fuse
Can you use them old U.S. Blues
I'll drink your health, share your wealth
Run your life, steal your wife

Back to back, chicken shack
Son of a gun, better change your act
We're all confused, what's to lose
You can call this song the United States Blues (note 2)