Morning Dew

"Morning Dew", also known as "(Walk Me Out in the) Morning Dew", is a contemporary folk song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bonnie Dobson. The lyrics relate a fictional conversation in a post-nuclear holocaust world. Originally recorded live as a solo performance, Dobson's vocal is accompanied by her finger-picked acoustic guitar playing.

For other uses, see Morning dew (disambiguation).
"Morning Dew"
Song by Bonnie Dobson
from the album Bonnie Dobson at Folk City
Released1962 (1962)
GenreFolk
LabelPrestige International
Songwriter(s)Bonnie Dobson

In 1962, "Morning Dew" was included on the live Bonnie Dobson at Folk City album. Subsequently, the song was recorded by other contemporary folk and rock musicians, including the Grateful Dead, who adapted it using an electric rock-ensemble arrangement for their debut album.

Background and lyrics

The song is a dialogue between the last man and woman left alive following an apocalyptic catastrophe.[1] Dobson stated that the inspiration for "Morning Dew" was the film On the Beach, which is about the survivors of virtual global annihilation by nuclear holocaust. Dobson wrote the song while staying with a friend in Los Angeles; she recalled how the guests at her friend's apartment were speculating about a nuclear war's aftermath and "after everyone went to bed, I sat up and suddenly I just started writing this song [although] I had never written [a song] in my life".[2] In 1961, Dobson premiered "Morning Dew" at the inaugural Mariposa Folk Festival and a live recording appeared on Dobson's At Folk City album in 1962. In 1969, she recorded a studio version for her self-titled album.[1]

Renditions

The earliest release of a studio version of "Morning Dew" was on the 1964 self-titled album by the Goldebriars, using the title "Come Walk Me Out" and without giving songwriter credit to Dobson.[3][4] It was followed about a month later by a recording by singer and guitarist Fred Neil with Vince Martin, for their album Tear Down The Walls.[5] Tim Rose followed with a version for his self-titled debut album; according to Dobson, "all Tim Rose did was take Freddie Neil's changes".[1] Dobson claimed she never met Rose, but she received 75% songwriting royalty as she retains sole writing credit for the song's music.[2]

"Morning Dew" became part of the Grateful Dead's repertoire after frontman Jerry Garcia was introduced to the Fred Neil recording by roadie Laird Grant in 1966. The group first played the song as their opening number at the Human Be-In in January 1967; the same month the group recorded it for their self-titled debut album, which was released that March.[6]

References
  1. Unterberger, Richie. "Bonnie Dobson: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  2. Schneider, Jason (2009). Whispering Pines: The Northern Roots of American Music (1st ed.). Toronto: ECW Press. p. un-numbered. ISBN 978-155-0228748.
  3. Fitzpatrick, Rob (23 Jan 2013). "The 101 strangest records on Spotify: The Goldebriars". The Guardian. London: Guardian News & Media Limited. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020. Come Walk Me Out - Previously "Morning Dew"
  4. The Goldebriars (Record label). CBS. 1964. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. Ruhlmann, William. "Vince Martin & Fred Neil: Tear Down the Walls – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  6. McNally, Dennis (2002). A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead. New York City: Broadway Books. p. 539. ISBN 0-7679-1186-5.
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