Dead Songs in Depth

    
Welcome to the Dance
w: Lesh (?) m: Lesh
LASF: http://www.whitegum.com/introjs.htm?/songfile/WELCOMDA.HYM
  

    
Welcome To The Dance

Lyrics: Phil Lesh?
Music: Phil Lesh

A new Phil Lesh song introduced with Furthur in 2009.

    Here pack all our treasure
    Our time is at an end
    I long to leave the harbour
    And sail with you again

    Across the sea of changes
    Destiny or doom
    Under a rising moon
    Dancing hand in hand with you

    Life has changed
    Rich and strange
    Welcome to the dance

    The nights are filled with motion
    I'm searching for your face
    And by the dance I learn
    The holy cup of grace

    Life is strange
    Rich and strange
    Welcome to the dance
  

    
I don't know what Phil (or whoever the lyricist is) had in mind - but
it resonates with my experience of aging, health struggles and
mortality.  Acknowledging how spooky and unsettling it can be, and at
the same time nodding to the sweet intimacy, introspection and
revelations it can also afford.  Looking at Phil last week, I certainly
was aware of both the journey he has made and the wild excitement in
his eyes as he played - and yes - danced around the stage.
  

    
"I long to leave the harbour
And sail with you again..."

Great lines! And off they sail, furthur...
  

    
This was played again on December 30 2010 pretty much completely
rewritten - recognisably the same tune, though. The lyrics are very
hard to make out, but here's my best shot, with lots of square brackets
- any help gratefully received:

[Day can lose in winter]
Put them round your shell
Shield your heart again [go]
Don't you [need so well]

Masquerade in white [band]
Bringing it so [while]
[Come again and dance]
[Did it down and die]

Out of madness comes
Whispers of a breeze of change
Take a bow, your turn now
May I have a dance
Every time, line by line
Welcome to the dance

[She been] dance in moonlight
Cast its eyes on you
Where the [bed is leaping]
At the [ear of few]

As the circus comes
See the joy come over you
Take a bow, your turn now
Shall we have a dance
Every time, line by line
Welcome to the dance

Hold the love again
Standing in the cold
[Under store] forever
Stories never told

Looking for repentance
Looking for the damned
Rhythms ever changing
Waiting for the change

Hear the music swirl
As you stand beside the moon
Take a bow, your turn now
Shall we take a chance
Every time, line by line
Welcome to the dance
  

    
I was there, and caught pretty much zero of the lyrics--thanks for all
your work, Alex!