Phish.net

"Eyes of the World” features some of the most introspective lyrics Robert Hunter ever wrote for the Dead. Appropriately, it was a staple of their live performances and one of their most popular songs. “Eyes” never left the Dead’s repertoire for more than 16 shows at a time from its debut on 2/9/73 to its last performance on 7/6/95, and it remains a concert staple for Phil Lesh, Ratdog, and other post-Dead entities.

Phish debuted this cover at one of their first shows billed as “Phish,” performing a passable version that segued interestingly into the Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post.” This combo is especially telling, as it represents the two major musical forces that brought the band together; Trey, Jeff, Mike, and Fish all commonly liked the Dead and The Allman Brothers, both considered fathers of modern jam-rock. At the first Nectar’s show on 12/1/84, “Eyes” showed up as an extra long encore. Then at Page’s first show on 5/3/85, the song segued out of the Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias.” No other versions of the tune are known to exist, but it is likely the guys played it here and there at other undocumented early shows. It should be noted that while Phish certainly covered a few Dead tunes during their first few years, they were decidedly never a “Dead cover band,” as is sometimes inaccurately asserted.

Outside of Phish, “Eyes” was played on 12/31/86 by a band consisting of half Phish (Trey and Page) and half The Joneses, billed as “The Phones.” Trey then had a fun and unique opportunity to reprise this performance over fifteen years later; a private party on 7/6/02 in Hinesburg, VT featured “Doctor Jones,” consisting of former members of The Joneses and Trey on guitar. “Eyes” was performed, and recordings do circulate. "Eyes" was sadly omitted from the April 1999 "Phil & Phriends" run (it was sound-checked on 4/17/99), although you can catch an excellent version with Trey from the Phil & Friends 2/12/06 Beacon Theater gig.

Watch Eyes of the World on YouTube Grateful Dead "Eyes of the World" 10/20/74 San Francisco, CA

(Garcia/Hunter)
© Ice Nine Publishing Company, Inc.

Right outside this lazy summer home
you don't have time to call your soul a critic, no
Right outside the lazy gate of winter's summer home
wondering where the nuthatch winters
Wings a mile long just carried the bird away

Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own

There comes a redeemer
and he slowly too fades away
There follows a wagon behind him
that's loaded with clay
and the seeds that were silent
all burst into bloom and decay
The night comes so quiet
and it's close on the heels of the day

Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own

Sometimes we live no
particular way but our own
Sometimes we visit your country
and live in your home
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

Wake up to find out
that you are the eyes of the world
but the heart has its beaches
its homeland and thoughts of its own
Wake now, discover that you
are the song that the morning brings
but the heart has its seasons
its evenings and songs of its own