Help on the Way

Paradise waits

on the crest of a wave

her angels in flame

She has no pain

Like a child, she is pure

She is not to blame

Poised for flight

Wings spread bright

Spring from night

into the sun

Don’t stop to run

She can fly like a lie

She can’t be outdone

Tell me the cost

I can pay

Let me go

Tell me love is not lost

Sell everything

Without love, day to day,

insanity is king

I will pay

day by day

anyway

Lock, bolt, and key1

Crippled but free

I was blind

all the time

I was learning to see

Help on the way

I know only this

I’ve got you today

Don’t fly away

’cause I love what I love

and I want it that way

I will stay

one more day

Like I say

Honey, it’s you

Making it too

Without love in the dream

It’ll never come true

Words by Robert Hunter

Music by Jerry Garcia

1 Lock, bolt, and key

Reminiscent of the expression “lock, stock, and barrel,” which describes the three parts of a gun.

Images

Notes:

Studio recording: Blues for Allah (September 1, 1975).

First performance: June 17, 1975 at the Bob Fried Memorial Boogie, Winterland, San Francisco. It was performed without its lyrics. It remained in the repertoire thereafter.