Tennessee Jed (05-13-1973 Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA) Songtext
von Grateful Dead

Cold iron shackles, ball and chain
I listen to the whistle of the evenin′ train
You know you bound to wind up dead
If you don't head back to Tennessee, Jed

Rich man step on my poor head
When you get back, you better butter my bread
Well, you know it′s like I said
You better head back to Tennessee, Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won′t you carry me
Back to Tennessee?

Drink all day and rock all night
The law come to get you if you don′t walk right
Got a letter this mornin', baby, and all it read
"You better head back to Tennessee, Jed"


I dropped four flights and cracked my spine
Honey, come quick with the iodine
Catch a few winks, baby, down under the bed
Then you head back to Tennessee, Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain′t no place I'd rather be
Baby, won′t you carry me
Back to Tennessee?

I ran into Charlie Phogg
Blacked my eye, and he kicked my dog
My doggie turned to me, and he said
"Let's head back to Tennessee, Jed"

I woke up a-feeling mean
I went down to play the slot machine
The wheels turned around and the letters read
"Better head back to Tennessee, Jed"

Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain′t no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee?


Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain′t no place I′d rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee?