The Only Time Is Now

Lyrics: Jerry Garcia
Music: Grateful Dead

One of the very early Grateful Dead songs that didn't last beyond their first year or so. Dennis McNally says that the song was "written by Garcia and sung by Lesh", though the writing credits on "Birth Of The Dead" are to all members of the Grateful Dead.

Oh I know there is no place you can go to
And I know you don't know anyone at all
So come walking in the sun with me my little one
And remember that the only time is now

Well strange is the story your eyes tell me
And quiet all the few words that you say
So come and hold my hand for you see I'd understand
And remember that the only time is now

Oh I come to you a ragged laughing stranger (note 1)
And you come to me an angel of the night
So I'll dance and we will sing, for it doesn't mean a thing
To remember that the only time is now

So forget about your yesterdays of sorrow
And forget about the darkness you have seen
For there's only you and me at the edge of an endless sea
And remember that the only time is now

Notes
(1) in his book, "A Long Strange Trip," Dennis McNally quotes this line as "... a ragged and open stranger", but that's not what I hear.

Grateful Dead Recordings
	Date	Album
	studio 3 Nov 1965	Birth Of The Dead (note 2)

Notes
(2) originally issued as part of the Rhino box set The Golden Road (1965-1973)

Futher Information
For an online discussion of the lyrics to this song see the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography