My personal opinion about this song is as a kind of protest about the Vietnam war (which was, unless I am very much mistaken, well underway at the time of this song's writing). The Dead's manager at this time was named John, and his nickname was 'Uncle John', so Uncle John's Band probably means the Dead themselves.
The giveaway verse is the one that begins, "Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like? Their walls are built of cannonballs, their motto is don't tread on me." This is a reasonably obvious reference to the USA. The Dead are playing by the riverside, preaching peace ("got some things to talk about") as the tides of war threaten to envelop them.
They talk of the transience of life, and how trivial and pointless hate is given a man's short time on this earth ... "Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait."
Uncle John's children are probably the soldiers sent to Vietnam, and the Dead want them to be taken home. As for the rest of the lyrics, they're completely beyond me.
It's about the American Revolution, not vietnam. Don't Tread on me is a revolutionary slogan and there weren't many cannon balls in Vietnam, unlike the revolution. the people are talking about revolutionary meetings and joing the cause.
It's about the American Revolution, not vietnam. Don't Tread on me is a revolutionary slogan and there weren't many cannon balls in Vietnam, unlike the revolution. the people are talking about revolutionary meetings and joing the cause.
My personal opinion about this song is as a kind of protest about the Vietnam war (which was, unless I am very much mistaken, well underway at the time of this song's writing). The Dead's manager at this time was named John, and his nickname was 'Uncle John', so Uncle John's Band probably means the Dead themselves.
The giveaway verse is the one that begins, "Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like? Their walls are built of cannonballs, their motto is don't tread on me." This is a reasonably obvious reference to the USA. The Dead are playing by the riverside, preaching peace ("got some things to talk about") as the tides of war threaten to envelop them.
They talk of the transience of life, and how trivial and pointless hate is given a man's short time on this earth ... "Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait."
Uncle John's children are probably the soldiers sent to Vietnam, and the Dead want them to be taken home. As for the rest of the lyrics, they're completely beyond me.
It's about the American Revolution, not vietnam. Don't Tread on me is a revolutionary slogan and there weren't many cannon balls in Vietnam, unlike the revolution. the people are talking about revolutionary meetings and joing the cause.
It's about the American Revolution, not vietnam. Don't Tread on me is a revolutionary slogan and there weren't many cannon balls in Vietnam, unlike the revolution. the people are talking about revolutionary meetings and joing the cause.