I'm Counting On You

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Traditional

Played by Robert Hunter on 18 November 1981. He says just before launching into this song:

"I'm a little nervous tonight because last week I wrote half a dozen tunes. I took all my time writing them and didn't have time to learn them. So I've been sitting up in the dressing room trying to memorize them. I read them on the plane, try to close my eyes and memorise them. I know the sense of these things like ..."

I had assumed this was one of the new songs, though Hunter didn't include it in his collected lyrics in "Box Of Rain." Jesse Jarnow has pointed me to a performance on 10 May 1982 when after singing the song Hunter said:

"Some new lyrics & new treatment for an old and venerable tune. Gotta keep brushing these songs up. You never know what'll happen to American folk music"

(I don't know what the "old and venerable tune" was.)

In setlists, as well as "I'm Counting On You" other titles used are "Forty Days" and "David & Goliath"

For forty days the rain did pour
Not one day less, not one day more
I'm talking about David, the shepherd boy
Who killed the giant, to Israel's joy

Then he played on his harp, hallelu, hallelu
Played on his harp, hallelu
Come on David, I'm counting on you
I'm counting on you
I'm counting on you

I'm counting on David, I'm counting on you(note 1)
Now come on David, see this through
Stand up David, lay down Saul
You've got the goods, boy, you've got it all

Just stick to your harp, hallelu, hallelu
Stick to that harp, hallelu
Now David, I'm counting on you
I'm counting on you

You've got position, you've got wealth
Now come on David, behave yourself
Now David, crawl out of that lady's tent
Or I'll bring your nation discontent

Just play on your harp, hallelu, hallelu
Play on your harp, hallelu
Now David, I'm counting on you
I'm counting on you

I counted on Adam, he did fall
I counted on Cain, he did fall
I counted on Noah, and Jonah too
They were both good boys, I'd depending on you

Just play on your harp, hallelu, that's all I ask you
Play on your harp, hallelu
Great God, David, I'm counting on you
I'm counting on you

For forty days the rain did pour
Not one day less, not one day more
I'm counting on David, the shepherd boy
Who killed the giant, to Israel's joy

Then he played on his harp, hallelu, hallelu
David, played on your harp, hallelu
Come on David, I'm counting on you
I'm counting on David
I'm counting on you

Notes
(1) the first time he played this (on 31 October 1981) he sang this line as "I've got my favourites, I got my fools"

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography