Cold iron shackles, ball and chain
Listen to the whistle of the evenin' train
You know you bound to wind up dead
If you don't head back to Tennessee Jed

Rich man step on my poor head
When you get back you better butter my bread
Well, do you know it's like I said
You better head back to Tennessee Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee

Drink all day and rock all night
The law come to get you if you don't walk right
Got a letter this morning, baby all it read
You better head back to Tennessee Jed

I dropped four flights and cracked my spine
Honey, come quick with the iodine
Catch a few winks, baby, under the bed
Then you head back to Tennessee Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee

I run into Charlie Fog
Blacked my eye and he kicked my dog
My doggie turned to me and he said
Let's head back to Tennessee Jed
I woke up a felin' mean
Went down to play the slot machine
The wheels turned around, and the letters read
You better head back to Tennessee Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee


Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind

Tennessee Jed Lyrics as written by Robert C. Hunter Jerome J. Garcia

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Tennessee Jed song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    so many things happen to him that its so obvious he only fits in at one place in the whole world.

    bimOliciouson May 29, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    So deadheads who have been with the band since the 60's cant understand it if they werent at bonaroo? that might be the dumbest thing ive ever heard. have fun in homeroom tomorrow yeahyouknowme

    myoungcon April 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    to me, this song defines the dead, maybe just because it's my favorite, but, a song about drinking, working, gambling, and most importantly not fitting in is totally 100% GRATEFUL DEAD... i think hunter wrote this about how all of the authority and upperclass citizens feel about the dead's rebelious carefree attitude toawrds life esp. jerry garcia

    dylanandeadiskilleron November 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ahhh bonnaroo was insane man. 04' and 03' over here biitch.

    Atemporalon January 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I wouldn't say you don't understand the song unless you were at Bonnaroo, but this was the most "appropriate" song at the whole venue.

    DAS JETSon April 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hahaha nice I love this song

    lukewagoneeron March 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    On the morning I left New England to move to Tennessee in 1980 I called the local rock station to request this song. Just after I got on the road I turned on the radio and heard, "Baby won't you carry me... back to Tennessee" Nice.

    myfriendvladon June 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me, these lyrics are sooo acid drenched. By that I mean the way they play on the words "Tennessee Jed".

    It can be a guy there named Jed.

    Then again, is the singer named "Jed"?

    If the doggy turned to him and said "better head back to Tennessee Jed" is the comma missing on purpose?

    I can totally see them sitting around laughing at the way those two words can be used. I happen to think Jerry is Jed here. His dog confirms it.

    gfaheyon May 16, 2020   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    The first line - "Cold iron shackles - ball and chain" - are on the narrator's leg.

    In the chorus, he's asking to be carried back to Tennessee because he can't walk there.

    JeromeGarciaon November 28, 2023   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    you don't understand this song unless you were at bonnaroo

    yeahyouknowmeon October 03, 2004   Link

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