Notes

This words of this wonderful song were written by Robert Hunter and the music was written by Jerry Garcia. It was first performed by The Grateful Dead in 1986.

 

However, it was the wonderful rendition by Norma Waterson that brought it to our attention.

Appears on:



Lyrics

When the last rose of summer pricks my finger

And the hot sun chills me to the bone

When I can’t hear the song from the singer

And I can’t tell my pillow from a stone

 

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

 

And when the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain

And the stars start to splutter in the sky

When the moon splits the north west horizon

With the scream of an eagle on the fly

 

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And listen to the ripples as they moan

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

 

Black muddy river, roll on forever

I don’t care how deep or wide

If you’ve got another side

Black muddy river, black muddy river,

Black muddy river roll

 

And when it seems like the night will last forever

And there’s nothing left to do but count the years

When the strings of my heart begin to sever

And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears

 

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And dream me a dream of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own