South of Market in the land of ruin
You get all manner of action
Tinsel tigers in The Metal Room
Stalking satisfaction.
They got 'em packaged up for love and money
Tattooed tots and chrome spike bunnies
Check my conscience at the DMZ
And roll on in, gonna roll in it, honey
But I get a feeling like when big things collide
Like the crack before the thunder, like I really ought to hide
And here comes Metal Angel, she looks ready to ride,
And What's that she's tryin' to show me?
What's that you're tryin' to show me?

Picasso Moon, shattered light
Diamond bullets ripping up the night
Picasso Moon, liberate me,
From the middle of eternity,
Something hooks her little finger at me,
An' it's bigger than a drive-in movie,
Bigger than a drive-in movie

Hangin' ten out on space and time
Redefining distance.
The next skull on your necklace is mine:
Cheap for such assistance
I had a job trading bits for pieces
We'd make wrinkles, advertise them as creases
Please, find my resignation enclosed,
Roll with it, roll with it, we gonna roll in it, honey..,
Dark Angel, what's botherin' you?
So strange, you'll do me all that you do
Dark Angel, you're makin' me blue,
I guess it doesn't matter,
I guess it doesn't matter

Picasso Moon, blinding ball,
Spinning fire, the lightning calls
Picasso Moon, fall into the sky
Rarin' out, I'm gonna testify
And stare a shout into that burning eye,
Bigger than a drive-in movie, oh my.
Bigger than a drive-in movie, oh my.

Strikes morning; the atomic dawn,
Scramble back to cover.
Quick, pop your mirrored sunglasses on,
My little leather-winged lover.
I see your face printed on my money,
Your blazin' ways really move me, honey!
Heart of darkness, Yea yea,
Why'm I laughing? This ain't funny
Dark Angel, now just don't start..,
You'll break my spirit, wreck my heart
You must have a license for practisin' that art.
I don't presume to imagine.
I don't presume to imagine.

Picasso Moon, shattered light
Diamond bullets ripping up the night
Picasso Moon, liberate me,
From the middle of eternity,
Something hooks her little finger at me,
An' it's bigger than a drive-in movie,
Bigger than a drive-in movie

Picasso Moon, etc.


Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind

Picasso Moon Lyrics as written by Robert Hall Weir John Barlow

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Picasso Moon song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    this is one of my favorite dead songs. although the guitar playing in it sucks because the song was released on built to last which was not what jerry garcia was....so right before his demise. but i think its about drug dealers ripping off their customers.

    "We'd make wrinkles advertise them as creases Please find my resignation enclosed Roll with it, come on, lets roll in it honey. "

    grateful26guitaron December 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Recorded in the penultimate position on 1989's "Built to Last," the Grateful Dead first performed Picasso Moon, sung by Bob Weir, at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in Irvine, CA in April of 1989. According to The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics (arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl), the phrase 'Picasso Moon' "just popped out of Phil Lesh's mouth one day..."

    The song refers to shady drug deals, which took place in the part of San Fransisco south of Market Street, a sketchy area known for junkies and dealers: "South of market in the land of ruin..."

    thomasrjon March 09, 2009   Link

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