Box of Rain

I've almost been looking for an excuse to post the lyrics to this beautiful song on this blog for a while. It's a Grateful Dead song written by Robert Hunter with music by Phil Lesh. Any Deadhead knows that this song was composed in honor Lesh's father while he was dying of cancer.

I just found out that during the crafting of this song, Lesh would visit his father in the nursing home and bring along a guitar and practice. Not sure if it was the bass guitar or what, since Phil is a bassist, but something tells me the guy is as comfortable with six strings as he is with four.

Box of Rain
Robert Hunter and Phil Lesh

Look out of any window,
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining,
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky-
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
this is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon, long ago

Walk out of any doorway,
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction,
Around some corner
where its been waiting to meet you-
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you are sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too.

Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear through to another day,
I know it's been seen before,
through other eyes on other days
while going home--
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon, long ago.

Walk into splintered sunlight,
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land.
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through

Just a box of rain-
wind and water
Believe it if you need it
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower-
wind and rain-
In and out the window
like a moth before a flame

It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But its just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long, long time to be gone
and a short time to be there.