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Banks of the Deep End Lyrics
On the banks of the deep end
Where your soul is your best friend
Searching for a reason
To go astray
Wild dreams turn to nightmares
Silver clouds turn to golden stairs
And everything that you used to know
Is slipping away
Here I've got my puzzle-piece
Only got it for a short term lease
No time for asking
No going back to get hurt
I take a little from the mixture
Try to fit it into the picture
Got a place where you're standing
Dig your shoes into the dirt
Trying hard to get back
Runnin' on the stones
Put you on my shoulders
We can be the only one
See the world's still spinning 'round
Gettin' dizzy when we look
There's a reason to be home
There's a feeling when you smile
But it feels like it might take over
This feeling deep inside
And there's a distance down the line
Far away from the station
We can leave it all behind
On a rolling creation
Sit away from the window
And lock the door
Can't you learn from the last time
And the time before
See the world's still spinning 'round
Gettin' dizzy when we look
Got to leave town
To see the yellow flowers bloom
Sun going down
It's gonna be rising soon
On the banks of the deep end
Twisted as a river bend
Searching for a reason to go astray
You couldn't hire twenty-five men
To do what the man could do
Just the sound of his walking
Could split the whole damn town in two
Into the night full of shadows
He still walks when the thunder rolls
This river ain't shallow
Reminds us that the bell still tolls
Bears in the kitchen
Tigers on TV
The singer's pretending
That this song's for me
See the world's still spinning 'round
Gettin' dizzy when we look
You took a wrong turn
Down by the waterline
I heard they had to drag you off the sand
Find a dune and the wind will miss you
Hold on to a piece of dry land
Got to hold on to a piece of dry land
Got to hold on to a piece of dry land
On the bands of the deep end
Where I lost my best friend
Searching for a reason to go astray
This song is definitely about losing control... The image of being on the banks of the deep end to me means you're standing on the edge of losing it and you know it, but you keep peaking down there. He says he lost his best friend and he is looking for a reason to go astray (change his ways). This is some heavy stuff and further illustrates why Gov't Mule is one of the greatest bands in the world!
This is a great song paying omage to the late bass player of Gov't Mule, Allen Woody. I especially like the imagery created by the phrase "deep end." One meaning is that Allen Woody was the deep end of the band playing bass. Also, it is used to represent the afterlife and the person's friends coming to the bank to get one last look. A great song.
I think the got to hold onto a piece of dry land is Warren tripping giving his advice to Allen or whatever as he makes the transition.
I think the got to hold onto a piece of dry land is Warren tripping giving his advice to Allen or whatever as he makes the transition.
I agree with you jethro but I also think "the deep end" is a refrence to loosing control of your life possibly to drugs. I do know its about Alan and I know we all miss him.
that probably is a third meaning.
This is a very special song. I always liked it ever since I first heard it. Then it took on a whole new meaning to me after the sudden, unexpected death of one of my closest friends. This song actualy halped me get through a very tough time. I will always be thankful to Gov't Mule & especialy to fellow Ney Yorker Warren Haynes.
Well, Warren is not a New Yorker. He is from Asheville, NC.
Well, Warren is not a New Yorker. He is from Asheville, NC.
One of Warren's best songs IMHO. I was in a MDMA psychosis and this song had a special meaning to me as it fit in with my delusions.
Still I've always liked this song, even before that.
"Got to hold onto a piece of dry land".
I miss the long drives to Tuscaloosa to find new music. Fuck I need to get breakfast.
But yea I was hearing voices and they told me Warren was on acid and wrote it subconsciously.
Shame I'll never know if they were right.
Ahh I have found the other page on this site for this song. It appears the voices lied to me...fuckers
Maybe not. I'll keep having a conversation with myself on this page. Confuse the masses...
I'm going to hijack the discussion - from what I've learned from your interpretations.
I was in a psychosis and hearing voices they told me Warren ate acid and wrote this subconsciously.
I think he was on mushrooms. If it is after Allen died he ate mushrooms to get a spiritual look on everything - "Here I've got my puzzle piece only got it for a short term lease".
So it's a glimpse into the spiritual enlightenment he had when he was tripping going to that place. Which would be hard to articulate. But this is a kick ass song.
I had a horrible trip that turned awesome at a mule/brothers show at Wanee when I was in high school but that's another story.