I will never get out in one piece
Those aren’t the terms of my release
Since that’s the case, I’ve thought it through
And decided to leave a piece for you
A piece of my vision, a piece of my brain
To fight your battles once I am slain
A piece of my heart I never touched
A piece of my soul, though I can’t spare much
A piece of blue from me to you
See the sky when night is through
See the moon hanging full and low
Off the coast of China, or wherever you go
I’ll be with you, in spirit at least
Every time glory rises in the east
When sunlight splatters down Rampart Street1
And the last cool breeze tastes oh so sweet
Down Memory Lane, today is still tomorrow
Yesterday another source of sorrow
Come what may, today is only borrowed
It may not be returned from whence it came
Here’s a piece for you, another for your friend
Here’s a piece for everyone, line forms at the end
Here’s a little piece for you
A little piece for you
A little piece for you
Salt and sand and river tide
Ties that bind but to divide
A drunk passed out on the Lower East Side
Trailer park in flames
Identifying marks of blame
Dissolved in sudden rain
Warmed in the cradle by the hammer of the sun
I never looked up to see what I had won
It wasn’t much in silver, smaller yet in gold
It could soothe the heat, but never touch the cold
Never touch the cold
Here’s a piece for you
Just a piece from me to you
Here’s a piece of blue
When the night is through
Words by Robert Hunter
Music by Phil Lesh
A famed New Orleans street located in the French Quarter and associated with music.
First performance: June 21, 2003, at the Meadows in Hartford Connecticut.