Bird Song (Jerry Garcia) - For Love & The Days Between

Dear Friends,

We are within what we Deadheads call, The Days Between. That is to say, the days between the anniversaries of Jerry Garcia’s birthday on August 1st and his transition day on August 9th. This year, each day, I’m sharing my version of a song that Jerry also played. (Check the “Quips” section of my Patreon page or my social media accounts (IG, FB) for the first two video clips.) Today’s share deserves just a lil’ story and is reserved for those of you who support me by subscribing to my Patreon account. Here's a lil' preview. Subscribe for just $1/month or more to receive a download of the song and read the full story. Thanks!

Twenty-three years ago, I had newly started dating Travis, who would become my husband. We hung out a few times, but had only been on one official date when I was scheduled to make a run to Austin, Texas to visit some old friends and do some recording. Russell Barber had a home studio he was calling Noiseland and I had a handful of songs. Remember that in 2003, home studios weren’t quite as ubiquitous as they are today. Russ was in school for engineering and I hadn’t been in a studio since 1991 or so, my one and only time up to this point.

On the 13 hour drive south (speed limits were also not as high back then!) I had that new, giddy in-love kind of feeling. I was listening to the Grateful Dead thinking of Travis, knowing he’s a huge fan. He traveled the country going to shows, something I only dreamed of doing. There was one particular tune I kept playing again and again, Bird Song. Ah... the melody that careened upward and back down, dancing and twirling between the lyrics... “laugh in the sunshine, sing, cry in the dark, fly through the night.” It was the multitudes I felt all in one line.

Join my Patreon to continue reading and receive notices of blog posts right to your inbox! There is a free option available, or in exchange for just $1/month (or more!) you’ll receive home videos and recordings of brand new songs, first dibs on new merchandise, including handmade goods, poetry and personal essays and free downloads of studio recordings. I have a goal to get 100 new supporters by the end of 2026. Thank you for considering!

Please join us on Sunday, August 9, 2026 for the annual Jerry Garcia Memorial Stomp in Theis Park (across from the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum) as Deadheads from around the area gather to play music and celebrate all that Jerry offered to the world and how he lives on today through his actions. Folks will start gathering around noon and it lasts until... ??? I'll be playing a couple tunes on the mic.

Here’s a short YouTube playlist I’m just putting together of other Grateful Dead covers I’ve done. I think the oldest video there is 18 years old with a band I was a part of for a very short while called New Alligators. It was filmed in Lawrence, KS at a bar called Fatso’s, which is now Lucia. There’s a super quick cameo of my ol’ friend Saul Tucker, a/k/a White Owl, who passed away several years ago.

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Photo of Jerry Garcia from Rolling Stone Australia.

BIRD SONG
Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia/Bill Kreutzmann
Listen to Jerry’s original recording on his 1972 album, Garcia.

All I know is something like a bird within her sang

All I know she sang a little while, and then flew off

Tell me all that you know, I'll show you

Snow and rain

If you hear that same sweet song again

You know why?

Anyone who sings a tune so sweet is passin' by

Laugh in the sunshine, sing, cry in the dark

Fly through the night

Don't cry now

Don't you cry, don't you cry anymore

La, la, la, la

Sleep in the stars

Don't you cry

Dry your eyes on the wind

La, la, la, la, la