Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter
This is the sixth song in Robert Hunter's
Terrapin Station Suite.
It was never played by the Grateful Dead
(nor, so far as I know by Robert Hunter himself).
The lyrics below are from the second edition of his collected lyrics in "Box Of Rain". I have also include the earlier version from the first edition.
Endless recognitions pourThe first version by Robert Hunter is below, with differences in red:
like honey from a honey jar
Lights from near and distant stars
come streaming through the door
Tonight I do not know my face
from one who looks the same
by flicker of unburning flame
inside this old familiar place
Fortune sweet and bitter fate
converse beside the open fire
removed from weavings of desire,
twisted skeins of love and hate
And I know you
Yes I do
I know you--
And you know me--
I could swear
you know me too
We have been together
since the first-born seed of light
reflected on the water
and divided day from night
Sometimes we were strangers
Sometimes we were friends
Dreamed up lives of danger
Broke hearts and made amends
It's time to leave fair Terrapin
Head down the stairs again
Step by step return below
Fill the blanks in as we go
Find out what we need to know;
from gossip if it must be so
Forsake this cool and kindly light
for troubled day and sleepless night
Or shall I go while you remain;
search below for you in vain
find you here from time to time,
elusive subject of a rhyme?
Or would you rather go alone
in unfamiliar flesh and bone,
meet and put me to the test,
a scarlet flower at your breast?
I don't know how we chose before,
for love or sorrow, peace or war
but where our paths unite the two
you always know me
yes you do - and know that I know you
Tonight I do not know my face
from one who looks the same
Am I late? Did we travel far?
Endless recognitions pour
like honey from a honey jar
turns and twists of love and hate
each one becomes the other
And I know you
and I know you know me, too
Yes, you do, you know me
I could almost swear you do
Let's get out of Terrapin Station
Symbol of our separation
Find out what we need to know
from gossip if it must be so--
Fill the blanks in as we go
I know you
Somehow I know you
Do we go together or leave alone
with brand new shapes or broken bones?
I don't know how we chose before
but I could go with you
through that station door--
because I know you
and I know that you know me, too