In 2014 I asked dutch/canadian painter Willem Grift if he could make a painting based upon two songs: ‘Coming back to life’ of David Gilmour/Pink Floyd, and ‘Dark Star’ of Grateful Dead. The result is hanging in our living room and is beautiful. The video below doesn’t do right to the depth, colors and beauty of the painting but combined with the music it might give you a good impression…
Slowly But Surely
Lyrics: James Booker
Music: James Booker
James Booker with Jerry Garcia – Palo Alto Rehersals (1976)
Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals
John Kahn – bass
James Booker – piano, vocals
Ron Tutt – drums
I couldn’t find this song on YouTube so I had to post it here myself. No copyright … intended, it’s just for bringing a little joy in your heart. Played by James Booker, one of New Orleans’ true piano geniuses, with the Jerry Garcia Band in Jan 1976. The title in some lists is “Right Back Together” but the correct title is “Slowly But Surely”
Jerry’ s guitar picking and James Booker’ s piano playing match perfectly. And the song is so optimistic. Just a perfect soundtrack for a long drive at night to a far and foreign country… A big thanks to whoever recorded this jam session! The Piano Prince released only five official LPs of music during his lifetime. one of New Orleans’ true piano geniuses who died On November 8, 1983, only 43 years old, after taking a deadly dose of bad quality cocaine.
Lyrics
You know the world keeps going on around and round
And slowly getting back together
I know it’s getting right back together right now
Sun’s got the world going round and round
As though they’re getting back together
I know it’s getting right back together right now
There is a great big plan
It’s greater than superman, as great a superman
Tell you no lie, [’cause here is superfly, ooperfly]
Keeps the world running round and around and round
Slowly getting back together
I know it’s getting right back together right now
Well dead and gone, I may be dead and gone
Just helping the ground rotting
Yeah but the truth will live on
It never be forgotten
Oh but the birds and the ants
I know the trees and plants
They’re gonna bring me all the news
It won’t be no use, it won’t be no use
Because the world still be going on around and round
And slowly getting back together
I know it know it’s going to get back together, slowly but surely
Right back together now
[spoken]
This song here, “Slowly But Surely”, I dedicate this to my aunt down
in Bay, St Louis, Bessie, my aunt Bessie, she inspired this you know,
she inspired the title, ’cause she used to say that all the time,
“Slowly But Surely”, and she used to say this, she said…