Lyrics: Ron McKernan
Music: Ron McKernan
Played by the Grateful Dead a dozen times in 1972, with Pigpen singing the lead vocals.
Until recently, it wasn't entirely clear whether or not this was a Pigpen original, or what the title was -
most setlists had the title as just "Two Souls In Communion".
But when it was first released on a Grateful Dead album (as one of the bonus tracks on "Europe '72" on the box set The Golden Road (1965-1972)), the title was given as "The Stranger," with Pigpen confirmed as the author .
It is also mentioned in the liner notes for So Many Roads:
In Europe [Pigpen] gave his all, and even introduced a pair of tunes he'd written - the jaunty "Chinatown Shuffle" ... and the gospel-tinged "Two Souls In Communion"
Lyrics:
What are they seeing, when they look in each other's eyes?
What are they feeling, when they see each other's smile?
Is it a love I've never known - or an emotion that I've outgrown?
Did I take a wrong turning on life's winding road?
Won't somebody help me find the right way to go?
My life need some correction, alteration in direction
Won't somebody comfort me for a while - yes, I'm lost
What is the secret of this tie that binds?
Two souls in communion, both body and mind
Is it special magic, or just the nature of things?
Conceived of great spirit, not for beggars but kings
You who have found it, please help me along
I'm a man, I'm a man, - I'm not made out of stone
My needs they are simple, I don't want many things,
But I truly want to fly on those wings of love one more time.
That's all I need (fly up, fly home)
I want to fly on them wings (fly up, fly home)
I want to fly on them wings of love (fly up, fly home)
I'm a stranger here (fly up, fly home)
Won't somebody help me now (fly up, fly home)
I wake up early in the morning (fly up, fly home)
you know I never saw you babe (fly up, fly home)
I just can't seem to understand
Can't seem to understand what's wrong (fly up, fly home)
What I wanna do is take a little ride with you, on the wings of love
Woh-oh one more time, one more time.
| Grateful Dead Recordings | ||||
| Date | Album | |||
| 26 Mar 1972 | Dave's Picks Vol 14 | |||
| 28 Mar 1972 | Dick's Picks Vol 30 | |||
| 26 Apr 1972 | Europe '72 (note 1) (note 2) | |||
| 4 May 1972 | Europe '72 - The Complete Recordings | |||
| 10 May 1972 | Europe '72 - The Complete Recordings | |||
| 11 May 1972 | Europe '72 - The Complete Recordings | |||
| 23 May 1972 | Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72 (note 2) | |||
| 24 May 1972 | Rockin' The Rhein (note 2) | |||
| 26 May 1972 | Europe '72 - The Complete Recordings | |||