A Little Bit of Gray, A Little Bit of Wisdom

I am finally in my 30s which for some people means they start getting gray hair. Of course one's opinion on gray hair varies like the actually color itself donned by so many people. For me of course, gray hair on my head really isn't an issue since I don't really have much hair left, especially since I cut it once a week to keep it short. However, my beard is another story altogether. It has always had different hues (black, brown, red) but now I have this one little patch on my chin that is turning gray of course it is more noticeable when my beard is longer (yet another reason for the weekly haircut). I noticed it earlier this week and the old Grateful Dead song, Touch of Grey, popped into my mind.

There probably aren't many ministers who will admit to listening to the Dead, but I am certainly one of them. I have a strong affinity to jam bands perhaps because many of them are so influenced by blues and jazz, two genres of music that I relish in. My first taste came from some friends in high school through the Allman Brothers Band, and then branched out there. I still love the music of those legendary bands and some of the newer ones as well.

As a Youth Minister, I especially find myself connected to some of these song lyrics because it is the world in which I am immersed, walking with students through their triumphs and tragedies. I find myself often repeating, "man, teenagers are different these days!" That's not all bad, though. I do see a renewed passion for God and for people in many teenagers!

Ultimately chorus, reminds us that we will get by, we will survive! As believers we hold fast to this promise in the darkest night and the brightest day, trusting that God will never leave us nor forsake us!

"Touch of Grey"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission

Must be getting early
Clocks are running late
Paint by number morning sky
Looks so phony

Dawn is breaking everywhere
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains
I don't care 'cause
It's all right

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

I see you've got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes I get the gist of it
but it's all right

Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The ABC's we all must face
And try to keep a little grace

It's a lesson to me
The deltas and the east and the freeze
The ABC's we all think of
Try to give a little love.

I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
but it's all right.

Cows giving kerosene
Kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
but it's all right

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive

The shoe is on the hand it fits
There's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and spit
cause it's all right.

Oh well a Touch Of Grey
Kind of suits you anyway.
That was all I had to say
It's all right.

I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive
We will get by / We will get by
We will get by / We will survive

An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
By David Dodd