Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
Looking for a chateauThe earliest versions of the song (eg 12 Sep 1982) included a verse that Robert Hunter sang but Garcia soon dropped from his version:
Twenty one rooms but one will do
Looking for a chateau
Twenty one rooms but one will do
I don't want to buy it
I just want to rent it for an hour or two
Met an old mistake
Walking down the street today
Met an old mistake
Walking down the street today
I didn't want to be mean about it
But I, I didn't have one good word to say
Chorus
West L.A. fadeaway
West L.A. fadeaway
Little red light on the highway
Big green light on the speedway, hey, hey, hey
I had a steady job
Hauling items for the mob
I had a steady job
Hauling items for the mob
You know the pay was pathetic
It's a shame those boys couldn't be more copacetic
I met a west L.A. girl
Already know what I need to know
I met a west L.A. girl
Already know what I need to know
Name, address and phone number, Lord
And just how far to go
[chorus]
Looking for a chateau
Twenty one rooms but one will do
Looking for a chateau
Twenty one rooms but one will do
I don't want to rent it
I just what to use it for a minute or two
[chorus]
Little red light on the highway
Big green light on the speedway, hey, hey, hey
Little red light on the highway
Big green light on the speedway, hey, hey, hey
Here's what Ginger saysAn early version by Robert Hunter in a solo performance in November 1981 reveals some differences in the lyrics:
She walks right, she ain't nobody's fool
Here's what Ginger says
She always tries to play by the golden rule
She says if you treat other people all right
Other folks probably treat you right too
Well I'm looking for a chateau
Fifteen rooms but one will do
Well I'm looking for a chateau
Fifteen rooms but one will do
No I don't want to buy it
I just want to rent it for an hour or two
Chorus
Well, well, well, West L.A.
Well, well, well, fade away
Little red light on the byway
Big green light on the freeway, hey, hey, hey
Oh I quit my job
Running items for the mob
Well I quit my job
Run [right on] hideouts for the mob
Well the payment was pathetic
It's a shame those boys can't be more copacetic
[chorus]
I met an old mistake
Walking down the street today
Met an old mistake
Walking down the street today
I didn't want to stutter
But I could not think of one good word to say
[chorus]
Here's what Ginger says
She walks right, dresses right, talks right, now think Ginger you
[Shoulda know] [?] Ginger says
I think that Ginger used to know
She says if you treat other people right
You'll find that other people will usually treat you cool
That's what Ginger says
West L.A. fadeaway
West L.A. fadeaway
[tape cuts]
| Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | ||||
| (studio) Mar 1984 | In The Dark (note 2) | ||||
| (studio) Jan 1987 | In The Dark (note 1) | ||||
| 24 Jul 1987 | View From The Vault IV (DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
| 3 Oct 1987 | View From The Vault III (DVD & CD soundtrack) | ||||
| 19 Jul 1989 | Downhill From Here (video/DVD only) | ||||
Recordings from dead.net Tapers Section
"The Dead" Concert Recordings
Ratdog Live CD Series
| Other Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
| 1998 | Live, Vol 1 | Joe Gallant and Illuminati | |||
| 2003 | Ukelele Summit 5 | Various (Maacho) | |||
| 2003 | Still Going On | The Daugherty McPartland Group | |||