"If I told you all that went down It would burn off both your ears"

The Annotated "Deal"

An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
By David Dodd
Library, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Copyright notice; © 1995, David Dodd
"Deal"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission.

Since it cost a lot to win
and even more to lose
You and me bound to spend some time
wondring what to choose

Goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow
Wait until your deal come round
Don't you let that deal go down

I been gambling here abouts
for ten good solid years
If I told you all that went down
it would burn off both your ears

It goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow
Wait until your deal come round
Don't you let that deal go down

Since you poured the wine for me
and tightend up my shoes
I hate to leave you sittin there
composin lonesome blues

It goes to show you don't ever know
Watch each card you play
and play it slow
Wait until your deal come round
Don't you let that deal go down
Don't you let that deal go down, no
Don't you let your deal go down

"Deal"

Musical details: Recorded on

Covers:

Note: Thanks to Lee Lindgren for sending me the info on Foamfoot!

First performance: February 19, 1971 at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY. "Deal" appeared in the fifth spot in the second set, between "Easy Wind" and "The Other One". "Bird Song" was also debuted at this show. The song never left the repertoire thereafter.


Don't you let that deal go down

Reminiscent of the folk song: "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down."
I've been all around this whole wide world,
Way down in Memphis Tennessee.
Any old place I hang my hat
Seems like home to me.

[Chorus]:
Don't let your deal go down.
Don't let your deal go down.
Don't let your deal go down, sweet mama
Till your last old dollar's gone.

When I left my love behind,
She's standin' in the door;
She throwed her little arms around my neck and said,
"Sweet daddy please don't go!"

Now it's who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet?
Who's gonna glove your hand?
And who's gonna kiss your ruby lips
Honey, who's gonna be your man?

She says, "Papa will shoe my pretty little feet,
Manma will glove my hand.
You can kiss my rosy lips
When you get back again."

Where did you get them high-heel shoes.
And that dress you wear so fine?
Got nry shoes from a railroad man
Dress from a driver in the mine.

First posted: January 11, 1996
Last revised: April 22, 1997