Grateful Dead Family Discography: Turtle Dove

Turtle Dove

Composer: Traditional

Turtle Dove was performed the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band in 1987 and 1988. It was also performed by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Joan Baez at the Human Rights Benefit in San Francisco on December 17, 1987.

The song, sung by Bessie Jones and others, was recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959-60 whilst recording in the Georgia Sea Islands. Released versions of this recording are given the title Turkle Dove.

Note that there is another, unrelated, traditional song called Turtle Dove (sometimes Little Turtle Dove) which has been recorded many times. This is a song about lost love which usually starts with lines about a Turtle Dove in a tree.

Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band

Ragged But Right, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, 2010

Other recordings

Southern Journey 2: Georgia Sea Islands Volume II, Various Artists, 1962
Going Up the Mountain, Jody Stecher, 1977
Nine 'Til Midnight, Robin & Linda Williams, 1985
Close as We Can Get / Nine 'Til Midnight, Robin & Linda Williams, 1992
Southern Journey, Vol. 12: Georgia Sea Islands: Biblical Songs and Spirituals, Various Artists, 1998
Going Up the Mountain: The Classic First Recordings, Jody Stecher, 1999
no info Gambling Eden, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem, 2003
Migrations, The Duhks, 2006
no info Four Spacious Guys, Marley's Ghost, 2006
no info Puff & Other Family Classics, Peter, Bethany & Rufus, 2007
no info Bound to Go, Andrew Calhoun & Campground, 2008

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song performed by the JGAB and by Garcia, Weir and Baez are usually similar to the following.

Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Went on Zion's hill to sing

Adam and Eve, no, no
Adam and Eve, don't tell it to me
Meet me at the door, don't tell it to me
There's sasalido on salasaree

My name is written on David's line
My name is written on David's line
My name is written on David's line
I'm going to heaven on the wheel of time

Adam and Eve, no, no
Adam and Eve, don't tell it to me
Meet me at the door, don't tell it to me
There's sasalido on salasaree

When I get to heaven I know the rules
When I get to heaven I know the rules
When I get to heaven I know the rules
I keep on down to the bathing pool

Adam and Eve, no, no
Adam and Eve, don't tell it to me
Meet me at the door, don't tell it to me
There's sasalido on salasaree