Morning Dew
"Morning Dew" | |
---|---|
Song by Bonnie Dobson | |
from the album Bonnie Dobson at Folk City | |
Released | August 1962 |
Genre | Folk |
Label | Prestige International |
Songwriter(s) | Bonnie Dobson |
"Morning Dew", also known as "(Walk Me Out in the) Morning Dew", is a contemporary folk song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bonnie Dobson. The lyrics relate a fictional conversation in a post-nuclear holocaust world. Originally recorded as a solo performance, Dobson's vocal is accompanied by her finger-picked acoustic guitar playing.
In 1962, "Morning Dew" was included on the album Bonnie Dobson at Folk City. Subsequently, the song was recorded by other contemporary folk and rock musicians, including the Grateful Dead, who adapted it using an electric rock-ensemble arrangement for their debut album. Tim Rose recorded a version in 1967, and he claimed lyrics-writing credits with no evidence to support his claim; legal action in 1998 resulted in full credit returning to Dobson.[1]
Background and lyrics
The song is a dialogue between the last man and woman left alive following an apocalyptic catastrophe.[2] Dobson stated that the inspiration for "Morning Dew" was the film On the Beach, which is about the survivors of virtual global annihilation by nuclear holocaust. Dobson wrote the song while staying with a friend in Los Angeles; she recalled how the guests at her friend's apartment were speculating about a nuclear war's aftermath and "after everyone went to bed, I sat up and suddenly I just started writing this song [although] I had never written [a song] in my life".[3]
Renditions
Dobson first played "Morning Dew" at the inaugural Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ontario in August 1961.[4][5] She played it at an acoustic session with Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs at Gerde's Folk City in New York. The song, along with Ochs's and Dylan's songs from the session, was printed in the folk music publication Broadside. Dobson lacked a publisher at the time it appeared in Broadside, which led to problems with the rights later on.[4] She recorded "Morning Dew" shortly after at the Folkways studio. A recording is included on her album At Folk City which was released in August 1962.[4][6]
The earliest cover version of "Morning Dew" was by
"Morning Dew" became part of the Grateful Dead's repertoire after frontman Jerry Garcia was introduced to the Fred Neil recording by roadie Laird Grant in 1966. The group electrified the song and first played it as their opening number at the Human Be-In in January 1967; the same month the group recorded a studio version[1] of it for their self-titled debut album, which was released that March.[16] (A lengthy, iconinc live version was later included on their double album, Europe '72.) Morning Dew became a concert-going fan favorite, and the Grateful Dead played it live 274 times over nearly three decades, concluding with their performance on March 29, 1995, just four dates before the close of their Spring Tour, which itself was just five months before Jerry Garcia died.[17] Around the time of the Dead's version, Duane & Greg Allman recorded a demo version of "Morning Dew" that was released as a single following Duane Allman's death in 1971.
American psychedelic rock band
With
References
- ^ a b c d e f Morris, Charles (12 April 2021). "Morning Dew – How Bonnie Dobson Reclaimed Her Anti-war Song". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Bonnie Dobson: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-155-0228748.
- ^ a b c d Bell, Max (13 August 2014). "The Story Behind The Songs: Bonnie Dobson - Morning Dew". Classic Rock. Bath: Future Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021.
- ^ "The Early Years: 1961-64". Mariposa Folk Festival. Orillia: Mariposa Folk Foundation.
- ^ Ostrow, Marty; Howard, Ira, eds. (11 August 1962). "August Album Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. New York: The Cashbox Publishing Co. p. 173. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2024.
- ^ Zhito, Lee; Ackerman, Paul, eds. (11 January 1964). "'Winter Magic' UA Message". Billboard. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. p. 3.
- ^ United Artists Records (11 January 1964). Zhito, Lee; Ackerman, Paul (eds.). "Winter Wonderland Sales Magic". Billboard. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. p. 13.
- ^ [4][7][8]
- ^ Well, Well, Well (Record label). United Artists. 1964. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ a b "A Complete History of Morning Dew on Vinyl". Thirsty Vinyl. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Rob (23 January 2013). "The 101 strangest records on Spotify: The Goldebriars". The Guardian. London: Guardian News & Media Limited. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
Come Walk Me Out – Previously 'Morning Dew'
- ^ The Goldebriars (Record label). CBS. 1964. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ [11][12][13]
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Vince Martin & Fred Neil: Tear Down the Walls – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ISBN 0-7679-1186-5.
- ^ "Morning Dew performed by Grateful Dead". setlist.fm. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Part One – The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band: Songs, Reviews, Credits", AllMusic, retrieved 5 September 2021
- ^ "Episode Six: Morning Dew (9 June 1967)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Lulu: Morning Dew (5 July 1968)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
External links
- Dobson, Bonnie (2013). "The Story of Bonnie Dobson's 'Morning Dew'". Inside the Music. CBC Radio – via BonnieDobson.net. – Hour long interview