Box of Rain

BOX OF RAIN
Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
this is all a dream we dreamed 
one afternoon long ago 
Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you -
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see 
clear through to another day
I know it's been seen before 
through other eyes on other days 
while going home --
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed 
one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken 
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through
A box of rain will ease the pain 
and love will see you through

Just a box of rain -
wind and water -
Believe it if you need it,
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower -
Wind and rain -
in and out the window
like a moth before a flame

It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long long time to be gone 
and a short time to be there 

"Box of Rain" is the first track on American Beauty by The Grateful Dead.  The song was composed by Phil Lesh and the lyrics were written by Robert Hunter.  "Box of Rain" is an acoustic song and has folk and country roots.  This is the first Grateful Dead song produced to feature Phil Lesh as the lead vocalist.


Lesh directed Hunter to write a song that he could sing to his father who was dying.  Once "Box of Rain" was written, Hunter drove to the nursing home where he sung the song for his father who was dying of terminal cancer.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4SqDx1vi4c