I said at the time this song was Patti's posthumous tribute to Jerry Garcia, which in online conversation offended her punkish fans and others who revile the Grateful Dead.
Nonetheless, the interpretation fits the song: "DEAD to the World," the magical musician with "life in his fingers," and the delicate, spiraling, Garcia guitar licks which embroider the edges of the lyrics in this Smith song and no other.
In a subsequent tour Patti would place an empty chair on the stage for Jerry to sit, showing her special affection for the man and his music.
I said at the time this song was Patti's posthumous tribute to Jerry Garcia, which in online conversation offended her punkish fans and others who revile the Grateful Dead.
Nonetheless, the interpretation fits the song: "DEAD to the World," the magical musician with "life in his fingers," and the delicate, spiraling, Garcia guitar licks which embroider the edges of the lyrics in this Smith song and no other.
In a subsequent tour Patti would place an empty chair on the stage for Jerry to sit, showing her special affection for the man and his music.