The Grateful Dead
Althea (Live at Hartford Civic Center, October 14, 1983)
[Verse 1]
I told Althea I was feeling lost
Lacking in some direction
Althea told me upon scrutiny
That my back might need protection
I told Althea that treachery
Was tearing me limb from limb
Althea told me, "Now, cool down, boy
Settle down easy, Jim"

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 2]
You may be Saturday's child all grown
Moving with a pinch of grace
You may be a clown in the burying ground
Just another pretty face
You may be the fate of Ophelia
Sleeping and perchance to dream
Honest to the point of recklessness
Self-centered to the extreme

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Nobody messing with you but you
Your friends are getting most concerned
Loose with the truth, maybe it’s your fire
Baby I hope you don't get burned
When the smoke has cleared, she said
That's what she said to me
Gonna want a bed to lay your head
And a little sympathy
[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 4]
There are things we can replace
And others we cannot
The time has come to weigh those things
This space is getting hot
You know this space is getting hot

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 5]
I told Althea I’m a roving sign
I was born to be a bachelor
Althea told me: "Okay, that's fine"
You know I'm out trying to catch her
Can't talk to you without talking to me
We're guilty of the same old thing
Thinking a lot about less and less
And forgetting the love we bring

[Instrumental]