This was played some 15 times by the Dead in 1973. It is the developing version of what became U.S.Blues. The words seem to have varied greatly between different versions, and the order of the couplets was pretty random. This is the version from 28 March 1973 (an asterisk before a phrase means it was carried through to the final version of U.S.Blues).
Lyrics By
Robert Hunter
Music By
Jerry Garcia
Lyrics
*Wave the flag, *pop the bag
*Rock the boat, skin the goat
Trap the rat, bell the cat
Ball the jack, chew the fat
Shoot the breeze, lose the keys
Feed the poor, stop the war
Make the signs, connect the lines
Pay your fines, save your dimes
*Summertime done come and gone, my oh my
Meet the best, read the rest
Hide in caves, walk on waves
Pull the tooth, stretch the truth
[?]
Catch the flicks, get your kicks
Play your rags, pick up sticks
[?], trim your wig
Try your tricks, impress the chicks
Watch the bands, dig and dance
Live in shame, die in vain
Catch the flu, burn the stew
*Shine your shoes, sing the blues