Tough Mama (Live at Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, July 4, 1975)
[Verse 1: Jerry Garcia]
Tough mama
Meat shaking on your bones
I'm gonna go down to the river and get you a stone
I was on the highway with that steel drivin' crew
Sister's in the big house, her working days are through
Tough mama
Can I blow a little smoke on you?
[Instrumental]
[Verse 2: Jerry Garcia]
It's my duty to take you down to the field where the flowers bloom
Ashes in the furnace, dust on the rise
You can see it all the way flying through the skies
Tough mama
Long night's journey in your eyes
[Instrumental]
[Verse 3: Jerry Garcia]
Sweet goddess
Born of a blinding light and a changing wind
Don't be modest, you know who you are and where you've been
The cowboy, went up north, hе's buried in your past
The lone wolf wеnt out drinking, that was over pretty fast
Tough mama
Your perfect stranger's coming in at last
[Instrumental]
[Verse 4: Jerry Garcia]
Silver angel
With the badge of the lonesome road written on your sleeve
I'd be grateful if this golden ring you would receive
Today on the countryside it was a hotter than a crotch
I stood alone upon the ridge and all I did was watch
Tough mama
It must be time to carve another notch
[Instrumental]
[Verse 5: Jerry Garcia]
Just fallin'
The world of illusions at my door
I ain't haulin' any of my lambs to the marketplace anymore
The prison walls are crumbling down, there is no end in sight
I've gained some recognition but I lost my appetite
Tough mama
Meet me at the border late tonight