| Grateful Dead – Shakedown Street Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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In the '70's there were some people who were disappointed in the "new Dead" and criticized them that they weren't as good as they were in the 60's and early 70's. This song is clearly a response to that. "Town" and "Shakedown Street" = Grateful Dead "You tell me this town ain't got no heart." Then: "Maybe the dark is from your eyes", meaning maybe it's your stupid fault that you don't like the new stuff. The hate is coming from inside you, you are projecting that onto the Dead. "Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street. Used to be the heart of town. Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around." Meaning nothing good coming from the Dead these days, whereas they used to be the greatest, the "heart of town". But don't give me that crap, just open your mind and listen! Just because it's different, doesn't mean it's no good. "It's not because you missed out on the thing that we had to start." This addresses the very often heard refrain from people that were upset they weren't around for the early hay days of the Dead. Then there is the piece de resistance: it's a disco song! I think they must have did that on purpose as well. Of course they are going to get criticized for doing disco! So they write a song about being unduly and unfairly criticized and they put it to a disco song! FANTASTIC! These boys sure are creative! You gotta love it! Obvious, isn't it? |
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