One good ride from start to end, I'd like to take that ride again...""

The Annotated "Might As Well"

An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
By David Dodd
Library, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (The opinions expressed are those of the author, not of the University of Colorado.) Copyright notice; © 1995,1996, David Dodd
"Might As Well"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission.
Great North Special, were you on board?
You can't find a ride like that no more
Night the chariot swung down low
Ninety nine children had a chance to go

One long party from front to end
Tune to the whistle going round the bend
No big hurry, what do you say?
Might as well travel the elegant way

Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well

Ragtime solid for twenty five miles
then slip over to the Cajun style
Bar car loaded with rhythm and blues
Rock and roll wailing in the old caboose

Long train running from coast to coast
bringing long the party where they need it the most
Whup on the boxcar, beat on the bell
Nothing else shaking so you might just as well

Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well

Never had such a good time
in my life before
I'd like to have it one time more
One good ride from start to end
I'd like to take that ride again
Again

Run out of track and I caught the plane
Back in the county with the blues again
Great North Special been on my mind
Might like to ride it just one more time

Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well
Might as well, might as well


"Might As Well"

Recorded on

First performance: June 3, 1976, at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon. "Might As Well" opened the show, and was followed by "Cassidy". Other firsts in the show were

The song memorializes the Trans-Continental Pop Festival, or Festival Express tour, which saw the Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, NRPS, Delaney and Bonney, and others joining forces to "bring on the party where they need it the most," in May of 1970.


chariot swung down low

A reference to the Spiritual, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

Might as well

Sometimes heard and/or transcribed as "mighty swell."

county

Possibly a reference to the band's home county, Marin, in California.
Keywords:
DeadBase code: [ASWE]
First posted: January 7, 1997
Last revised: