Simple Twist of Fate

Simple Twist of Fate

"Simple Twist of Fate" was performed 3 times by the Grateful Dead with Bob Dylan during the Dylan & The Dead tour in July 1987. These were the only Grateful Dead performances of the song.

"Simple Twist of Fate" was common feature of the Jerry Garcia Band repertoire between 1976 and 1995. It was also performed by Jerry Garcia and John Kahn in their duo performances in the 1984 to 1986 period. In total Simple Twist of Fate was performed nearly 250 times by Jerry Garcia bands. The version of "Simple Twist Of Fate" that is included in the Jerry Garcia box set All Good Things is a previously unreleased studio recordings from Spring 1979.


Lyrics

They sat together in the park
As the evening sky grew dark
She looked at him and he felt a spark tingle to his bones
'Twas then he felt alone and wished that he'd gone straight
And watched out for a simple twist of fate

They walked along by the old canal
A little confused, I remember well
And stopped into a strange hotel with a neon burnin' bright
He felt the heat of the night hit him like a freight train
Moving with a simple twist of fate

A saxophone someplace far off played
As she was walkin' by the arcade
As the light bust through a beat-up shade where he was wakin' up
She dropped a coin into the cup of a blind man at the gate
And forgot about a simple twist of fate

He woke up, the room was bare
He didn't see her anywhere
He told himself he didn't care, pushed the window open wide
Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate

He hears the ticking of the clocks
And walks along with a parrot that talks
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks where the sailors all come in
Maybe she'll pick him out again, how long he must wait
Once more for a simple twist of fate

People tell me it's a sin
To know and feel too much within
I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring
She was born in the spring, but I was born too late
Blame it on a simple twist of fate


Jerry Garcia Rhythm Guitar Lesson


Rhythm Transcription


Intro Transcription


Solo Lesson


Backing Track

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