I Heard You Singing

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: David Freiberg, Robert Hunter

Originally recorded by David Freiberg with Mickey Hart during the Area Code 415 sessions in 1972-73, and subsequently by Robert Hunter on his first solo album and by Quicksilver Messenger Service. Oddly, on the "Tales Of The Great Rum Runners" it is only credited to "Hunter" (and the ASCAP registration is just Hunter). But it's definitely the same music as that sung by David Freiberg.

These are the Robert Hunter lyrics from "Box of Rain":

I heard you singing
What were you singing when the people got right?
Were you singing Stand and Deliver?
Or was it Down by the River?
Were you singing a fine old tune like Gone to Glory?
Laying it down with grace and power
Long about the midnight hour

I heard the people all singing
Like they'd never sung before
All over the country
Who could help but stand beside you?

Hello, hello - is there anybody here?
My knuckles are sore from rapping all day
I said: Give me one more chance
I'd do it for you if I had your way
If I had your way

What do I know? What do I see?
Don't know nothing but the name of the game
It's high-card draw with everything wild
You bet your life like anyone's child
What else would you want to do?

I heard the people all singing
Like they never sung before
Singing in key and strumming
Everything they heard from you
Hello, hello, hello, hello ... goodbye

Looking back across the years
Other matters disappear
In the murmur I can hear
Familiar voices loud and clear
Hello, hello, hello, hello ... goodbye

I heard you singing
Like one last song in the middle of the night
Were you singing in tongues of fire
Or was it knots of anger?

Were you singing a fine old tune like
Love Me, Love Me, Love Me Only?
Were you caught between the curtains
Thinking this was too uncertain?

Remember ... the people were singing
Like they never sung before
All over the country
Did you love the way they loved you?

Ain't no knocker on the last big door
Just push on the panel and walk on in
Hello, hello, is there anybody here
But a two-bit high and a busted mirror?
Hello, hello - is anybody here?
My tongue is so sore from rapping all day

Sunshine in the dead on night
I know that can't be right
Could it be? I don't know
But it never done that thing before
So close to my own back door
It got me wondering what to do
And the only thing was to come and tell you
Because - I heard you singing - I heard you

The sun got to shining in the dead of night
I feel in my soul that can't be right
[line crossed out]
It never done such a thing before
Shining like noon in the midnight door
Got me wondering what to do
And the only thing I thought was to come and tell you
Because
I heard you singing

Now the sun's shining in the dead of night
My soul, that can't be right
Could it be? I don't know?
Never saw such a thing before
So close to my own back door
And it's got me wondering what to do
And the only thing was to come and tell you

'Cause I heard you singing
What were you singing when the people went right?
What were you singing Stand and Deliver?
Or was it Down by the River?
Were you singing a fine old tune like Gone To Glory?
Laying it down with grace and power
Along about the midnight hour

Remember the people all singing
Like they never sung before
All over the country
Did you love the way they love you?

Now hello, hello - is there anybody here?
My knuckles are sore from rapping all day
But give me one more chance
I'd do it the same if I had your way
If I had your way
If I had your way

What do I know? What do I do?
I don't know nothing but the name of the game
And that's high-card draw, everything's wild
I bet my life like anyone's child
What else would you want to do?

Well I heard the people all singing
Like they never sung before
Singing in key and strumming
Every word they heard from you
Like hello (hello)
And goodbye (goodbye)

Looking back across the years
Conversations disappear
In the murmur I can hear
Familiar voices sweet and clear
Hello, hello, hello, hello
Goodbye (goodbye)

I heard you singing
[?] some song in the middle of the night
Were you singing in tongues of lightning
Or was it in knots of anger?

Were you singing a fine old tune
Like Love Me, Love Me, Love Me Only?
Were you standing between the curtains
Making it was too uncertain?

Remember the people all singing
Like they never sung before
All over the country
Who could help but stand beside you

Ain't no knocker on the last big door
Push on it madam, walk on in
Hello, hello is there anybody here
But a two-bit high and a busted mirror?
Hello, hello is there anybody here?
My knuckles are sore from rapping all day

Now the sun's shining in the dead of night
My soul, that can't be right
Could it be? I don't know?
I never saw such a thing before
So close to my own back door
That it's got me wondering what to do
And the only thing was to come and tell you

'Cause I hear you singing
Well I hear you
I hear you singing