"...but maybe I have a tune or two..." rose logo for AGDL

The Annotated "If I Had The World To Give"

An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
By David Dodd
Research Associate, Music Dept.
University of California, Santa Cruz
(The opinions expressed are those of the author, not of the University of California.)
Copyright notice; © 1995,1996, 1997 David Dodd

"If I Had The World To Give"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; Used by permission

If I had the world to give
I'd give it to you - long as you live
Would you let it fall
or hold it all in your arms?

If I had a song to sing
I'd sing it to you - as long as you live
Lullabye - or maybe a plain serenade
wouldn't you laugh, dance, and cry
or be afraid at the trade you made?

I may not have the world to give to you
but maybe I have a tune or two
Only if you let me be your world
could I ever give this world to you,
could I ever give this world to you

But I will give what love I have to give
I will give what love I have to give
I will give what love I have to give
long as I live

If I had a star to give
I'd give it to you - long as you live
Would you have the time
to watch it shine - watch it shine
or ask for the moon and heaven too?
I'd give it to you.

Maybe I've got no star to spare
or anything fine or even rare
Only if you let me be your world
would I ever give this world to you
could I ever give this world to you

"If I Had The World To Give"

Musical details:

Recorded on

First performance: August 30, 1978, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. "If I Had the World To Give" appeared in the second set, following "Drums" and preceding "Iko Iko." Other firsts in the show included "Stagger Lee" and "I Need A Miracle." It was performed only three times in concert, the final performance being November 20, 1978 in Cleveland.


Keywords: @music, @star
DeadBase code:[2GIV]
First posted: March 15, 1997