GB10: California Earthquake

The 1989 Major League Baseball World Series, dubbed the Battle of the Bay: Oakland Athletics v. San Francisco Giants, was postponed due to the Loma Prieta earthquake. Here is a view of the post-quake Bay Bridge, the 880 Cypress Viaduct, and the Moss Landing area. For other USGS images of the October 17, 1989 California Earthquake,
check this out.


California Earthquake (Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On) Lyrics and Music: Rodney Crowell

There was a California earthquake, in the year of '83
It shook the living daylights out of the Owens County Seat
Not a building still left standing when the dust had cleared away
Just a rumble in the distance all the way to San Andrea

Oh Sherman Buck was driving his old mule into town
When a big one came and shook so hard, that it knocked him to the ground
Lord there opened up a hole so big, he thought his time was up
And it swallowed up that poor old mule and it just missed Sherman Buck

Chorus
California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
We may fall off in the ocean, but you'll never make us run
You're a partner to the devil, but we ain't afraid of him
We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again

Then came the quake of '99 that levelled Mission Creek
The earth was like an ocean churning, with waves of twenty feet
Lord it sounded like a thousand trains were screaming underground
Clean across to San Joachim, they heard that mournful sound

[chorus]

Then came one day the holocaust on San Franciso Bay
[Ninety] miles of walls came down like old Jericho that day
Might near everything the earthquake missed, a holy fire consumed
And left 'em smoke and the ashes of the dreams that can't be ruined (note 1)

[chorus]

We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again


Notes
(1) There are a number of small variations between the lyrics Garcia sings and those of the original Rodney Crowell version. This line is the most different. Rodney Crowell's version is: "Just left 'em Holy Smoke and Ashes, what's a dream that can't be ruined"

Lyrics courtesy of Grateful Dead Lyrics and Song Finder.

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Well, I went on this run of shows hoping just like in NJ, that I would catch the latest greatest breakouts from the "secret" Warlocks shows down in Hampton. And also wondering when and how the Grateful Dead might acknowledge the tragedy back home.

The biggest breakouts in order of significance were:
Dark Star
Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Death Don't Have No Mercy
Attics of My Life
And We Bid You Good Night

While the forgettable NJ show was a bust, Philly delivered a bit of the music (bolded below).

10-20-89 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pa. (Fri)
1: Touch> Greatest, Candyman, Picasso Moon, Little Light, Tennessee Jed, Memphis Blues, Stagger Lee, Promised, California Earthquake
2: Hey Pocky Way, Scarlet> Fire> Truckin> Other One Jam> Drumz> Take You Home> Other One> Wharf Rat> Sugar Magnolia E: Brokedown
first "California Earthquake" - final/last "Other One Jam": 08-13-75 [959]

10-19-89 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pa. (Thu)
1: Bucket, West L. A., Victim, Built To Last, Blow Away, Masterpiece, Cumberland, Cassidy> Don't Ease
2: Help> Slipknot> Franklin's, Estimated> Eyes> Drumz> Wheel> Mr. Fantasy> Hey Jude Finale> Death Don't> Lovelight E: Baby Blue

10-18-89 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pa. (Wed)
1: Shakedown, Rooster, Peggy-O, Queen Jane, Bird Song> Music
2: China Cat> I Know You Rider, Ship Of Fools> Woman Smarter> Terrapin> Drumz> Gimme Some Lovin> Watchtower> Black Peter> Around> Good Lovin E: U. S. Blues

Good shows and good times with Jay S., formerly of the Swilltones and Frankentractor, Cheryl A. formerly of Montgomery County, Maryland, and Christine S., student at Towson State.