[Xango]

Wasn’t feeling well today… Decided to walk down to the beach at sunset in Long Beach CA where I live. Black Muddy River came to my mind. As I watched the gentle waves lap the bay shore and the sun set over Palos Verdes peak, the words “When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain, and the stars start to scatter in the sky, I will walk alone along the black muddy river” came to me. I got up and started to walk home and my knees buckled as I got hit by a severe asthma attack. Couldn’t breathe. Got home as quick as I could, drove myself to the emergency room while “when it seems like the night will last forever, and there’s nothing left to do but count the years, when the strings of my heart start to sever, and stones fall from my eyes instead of tears” rang in my brain… Doctors in ER gave me their drugs and saved my life for another day. And I came home and played Black Muddy River on youtube, watching Jerry sing it at the GD’s last show… and the tears of gratitude and sorrow just rolled down my face. I KNOW Jerry G’s spirit LIVES on. When I was at death’s door, he came to me and soothed my soul. Thank you Jerry for all the amazing inspiring shows I saw from ’77 to ’95 and thank you Robert Hunter for your beautiful and profound lyrics. God bless you all. Love.
Xango

[Colonialsrv]

I remember when I first started to tour seriously the encore on night (4/8/88)' in Worcester MA was black muddy river bi remember my friends and I were all sortsnof bummed out because because we were feeling like a hit, we all had "tour cough" and it was obvious that Jerry had it to. Not only was the show onebof the shortest on the tour even though we got to hear some killer tunes (jack straw opener, west la, stagger lee, uncle john's into plain, back I to uncle john's, and black Peter...to name a few)...the encore was black muddy river. To say er were disappointed was an understatement. But....when Jerry sang...and it seems like this night will last forever....my blood turned tyedied. It should also be noted that the drums and space were out of this fucking world!!!!

[Jon S.]

One day, all of us, rich and poor, black and white, etc. etc., will walk alone by the black muddy river.

Just arranged this tune today for my band and it brought to my mind a wonderful convergence:

I will walk alone by the black muddy river and sing me a song of my own.

Sometimes we walk alone, sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own.