Stage Soldiers (poem) by Jaimey Perham on AuthorsDen

Stage Soldiers
by Jaimey Perham → (All Poetry by Jaimey Perham)
Monday, July 27, 2020 Rated "PG13" by the Author.

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Dedicated to the 55th Year Anniversary of The Grateful Dead, remaining members, and all those Cowboys we lost along the way...
Stage Soldiers © Jaimey Perham – 04/15/2015 The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Pigpen played the keys and harmonica like a madman blues pirate With his deep soulful vocals he chased the dancing ladies towards the light Some people thought by his rugged looks he just wasn’t right But we all knew better than that because he really blew our sights Sadly we lost our first leader of the troops to the starless night The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Keith stepped in to blend in to the psychedelic mix and quietly play the keys The band did not miss a beat as they toured the world with their greet and meet Closed out some venues, wall of sound, traveled to Egypt playing in the desert heat Made his mark on the deadheads, tapers, strangers and dancing feat Had to leave the band, and sadly left this world from the grateful dead hot seat The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Donna singing sweet backup vocals with the boys with ever long flowing hair Adding seductive harmonies seducing the travelers in the crowd both far and near Swinging to the rhythm and drum beats and mix of guitars and her husband without a care Took the band to new heights and high peaks in the late seventies during the disco scare Left with Keith, but no other woman could take her place down the road no one would dare The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Brent came into the picture during the fast pace eighties setting the keys on fire The sensitive soul with the beard playing from the heart, but living life on the wire Exchanging all-knowing glances and jams with the captain taking the band to a new high One of the deadhead’s favs seemed to pour his heart out until the end, an unexpected die All everybody could say in the shock and sadness is ask the lord up above in heaven is why? The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Vince took over during the nineties on keys, and all he really wanted to do was play His wild hair and shirts he jammed on the keys adding his own style on any given day Attacking the keys with vengeance singing his signature song, “a long, long, long, long way” Sadly a tortured soul inside couldn’t get over his demons and offstage had to ultimately pay Hopefully he found his “way to go home” and now is jamming again in the higher upper bay The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Bruce played on special nights adding his professional expertise to the psychedelic mix Fans always hoped he would be at their show and they would have the miracle tix The rest of band seemed to step up their pace when the smiling piano man played his licks They never missed a beat, blended in with the band on accordion, keys, during song picks Some might not consider him an official member, but once a deadhead, always in the clique The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Mickey, one half of the yin-yang keeps the beat pounding on percussions galore Cultured and well-travelled his arsenal is a sight to see and sound a mysterious lore At times when the moment is right he enters a trance with a wild spirit and open doors Eyes bug eyed and arms flattering he takes the people on an ethnic journey wanting more A true important piece of the cosmic puzzle on drums you can’t duplicate during the tour The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Billy, the other half of the yin-yang is the stable one keeping the beat strong and going One of the originals, never complained, silent inside, but loud on the drums and all knowing The band could always count on him where ever the energy in the room was flowing Stepped out of his comfort space during drums in the second set and the fans were glowing With his partner in crime, and band onstage they kept the “fire on the mountain” blowing The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Phil, the professor on bass plays the heavy strings with thunderous explosive rifts Helps the other guys out with humor and professionalism when they need a boost, or lift The Deadheads in the crowd personal favorite player with “we want phil” chant drifts A gracious soul on planet earth, many are thankful he was given the ultimate donor life gift A true legend to his art with a mix of reality, humanity, and a bit of interstellar myth The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Bobby, the shaman on guitar and vocals holds the band together with his personal touch Always attracting the ladies and providing high energy, confidence, a stroke of the brush Constantly learning from the Captain to his left, loyal, and help guiding the ship if he must Sometimes forgetting lyrics, but that’s okay he always kept the live music fresh, never rust Could not imagine “the grateful dead,” without Bobby who kept things fun without a fuss The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending Jerry the Captain and leader of the “greatest band on earth,” god rest his grateful soul Even without a finger he played guitar and sang vocals bringing people out of their hole His guitar solos were majestic and vocals rich as the band would hit the “long strange road” Humble to the end with his beard and casual look, but life experience did take a heavy toll Jerry Garcia will always be remembered 50 years and beyond with “The Grateful Dead” lore The Stage Soldiers play their shining weapons high up on the stage to anyone who listens Sending fractals of life lyrics and electric sound that pierce the ears and makes eyes glisten They travel the land to cities near and far, wherever they are welcome and love is missing Some call them The Warlocks, or The Grateful Dead, but the name is just the beginning These Stage Soldiers take you on a group trip into the subconscious mind with no ending 8.0.3

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on August 1, 2020

You certainly must have been a deadhead in your days to have such knowledge of all of the players and their nuances. Even though I was there during the summer of love, they were not on my radar because I wasn't tuned to the San Francisco street scene--just an observer.

One Saturday in 1968 after dropping off a hippie hitchhiker, I happened on a gathering in Panhandle Park with a band playing. I pulled over with my window down to listen and watch, but I was dressed way to square to join that crowd. I just listened for a while and then drove off. Thinking about it later, I may have been watching the Grateful Dead.

Ron