The Eleven

The song was first released into the general public via the Grateful Dead's seminal live album, Live/Dead; however, it was performed live various times before as evidenced by the collection So Many Roads (1965-1995). It was noted among deadheads for being capable of producing exceptional jamming with its eponymous musical meter.^[1] It would often achieve its jam potential by being segued together with songs like "Dark Star" (another song famous for its spontaneity and being the Grateful Dead's signature song^[2]) and "Saint Stephen".

1 Lyrics
2 See also
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] Lyrics

The lyrics to the song were recurrently sung out of place or changed grammatically, and some of them were in fact missing from performances. Bob Weir and Phil Lesh would often sing from the two uppermost stanzas, while Jerry Garcia sang fragments from the bottom stanza. Some of the lyrics allude to biblical stories such as Jonah. Other lyrics echo passages from other songs in the Grateful Dead lineup.

No more time to tell how

This is the season of what

Now is the time of returning

With thought jewels polished and gleaming

Now is the time past believing

The child has relinquished the reign

Now is the test of the boomerang

Tossed in the night of redeeming

Eight sided whispering hallelujah hatrack

Seven faced marble eye transitory dream doll

Six proud walkers on jinglebell rainbow

Five men writing in fingers of gold

Four men tracking down the great white sperm whale

Three girls wait in a foreign dominion

Ride in the whale belly

Fade away in moonlight

Sink beneath the waters to the coral sand below

Now is the time of returning

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

^ The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics by David Dodd. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.

[edit] External links

Dead.net, the official site of the Grateful Dead

v • d • e Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia • Bob Weir • Phil Lesh • Bill Kreutzmann • Mickey Hart • Vince Welnick Ron "Pigpen" McKernan • Tom Constanten • Keith Godchaux • Donna Jean Godchaux • Brent Mydland

Side projects and spin-off bands	The Other Ones • The Dead • Jerry Garcia Band • Ratdog • Phil Lesh and Friends • Rhythm Devils • Donna Jean and the Tricksters • Missing Man Formation • New Riders of the Purple Sage • Old and in the Way • Legion of Mary • Reconstruction • Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band • Kingfish • Bobby and the Midnites

Related articles	Eric Andersen • John Perry Barlow • Dark Star Orchestra • Deadhead • Bob Dylan • Bill Graham • Gerrit Graham • Grateful Dead discography • The Grateful Dead Movie • Grateful Dead Records • Grateful Dead songs • Rick Griffin • David Grisman • Dan Healy • Bruce Hornsby • Robert Hunter • Jazz Is Dead • Alton Kelley • Steve Kimock • Ned Lagin • Dick Latvala • Branford Marsalis • Stanley Mouse • Rex Foundation • Merl Saunders • Laurence Shurtliff • Owsley Stanley • Summer Jam at Watkins Glen • Sunshine Daydream • Howard Wales • Wall of Sound • Wharf Rats

Studio albums	The Grateful Dead • Anthem of the Sun • Aoxomoxoa • Workingman's Dead • American Beauty • Wake of the Flood • Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel • Blues for Allah • Terrapin Station • Shakedown Street • Go to Heaven • In the Dark • Built to Last

Live albums	Live/Dead • Grateful Dead • Europe '72 • History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice) • Steal Your Face • Reckoning • Dead Set • Dylan & The Dead • Without a Net • One From the Vault • Infrared Roses • Two from the Vault • Grayfolded • Hundred Year Hall • Dozin' at the Knick • Fallout from the Phil Zone • Terrapin Station (Limited Edition) • Live at the Fillmore East 2-11-69 • Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead • View From The Vault, Volume One • View From The Vault, Volume Two • Nightfall of Diamonds • Postcards of the Hanging • Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72 • View from the Vault, Volume Three • Go to Nassau • Birth of the Dead • View from the Vault, Volume Four • The Closing of Winterland • Rockin' the Rhein with the Grateful Dead • The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack • Rare Cuts and Oddities 1966 • Truckin' Up to Buffalo • The Complete Fillmore West 1969 • Fillmore West 1969 • Live at the Cow Palace • Three from the Vault • Road Trips Volume 1 Number 1 • Road Trips Volume 1 Number 2 • Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings • Dicks Picks (36 Volumes) • Digital Download Series (12 Volumes)

Compilations and box sets	Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead • What a Long Strange Trip It's Been • Dead Zone: The Grateful Dead CD Collection (1977–1987) • The Arista Years • Selections from the Arista Years • So Many Roads (1965–1995) • So Many Roads (1965–1995) Sampler • The Golden Road (1965–1973) • The Very Best of the Grateful Dead • Beyond Description (1973–1989)

Categories: 1969 songs | Grateful Dead songs

The Eleven

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] Lyrics

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

Views

Navigation

Interaction

Search