The shift to "we" here feels a little more collective, a reminder that you're not alone in facing challenges. It brings everyone together in the same struggle, with the same hope to get through it

The lyrical repetition emphasizes the overarching message of perseverance throughout the song. The original "I will get by' line switches the use of pronouns to "we" which is symbolic of the song's use of collectivism to make itself more accessible to its audience.

4th extended (modified) chorus)

This conclusive lyric sets up the ending chorus of the song and nicely wraps up the track in a satisfactory, full-circle fashion. The lyrics comment on a cohesive structure of the song that establishes a clear lyrical flow and chronology that is satisfactory for music listeners.

This is another key line that flips the script. Instead of seeing grey (mperfection, age, struggle) as something bad, It's presented as something that "suits" you, It's like saying, "Yeah, things might be messed up, but they also make you who you are" It's a pretty solid piece of wisdom wrapped in a Grateful Dead vibe

This lyric presents positive imagery of carrying on and persevering. Its emblematic of "choosing to be happy" and contributes to the songs overall positive messaging.

This lyric builds on the song's simplification of stress. Problems can seem big and overwhelming when one is "in the weeds" however the general use of reassuring language here adds to the songs "safe haven" environment that the comforting lyrics create.

This is a playful twist on the idiom "the shoe fits," but it's a little twisted in that it's the "shoe" on the hand. It feels like a moment of acceptance-like the speaker is saying, "Well, if this is how things are. I'll just roll with it."

Chorus 3

The speaker admits that things are tough, maybe tougher than you think, but still pulls back to the mantra 'it's alright'. It's almost like saying, "Yeah, life's tough, but you just have to deal with it and keep going."

These lines paint a pretty grim picture of personal struggles. The rent being late and the dog starving is a very specific relatable image of things falling apart. But the fact that it's not the end of the world shows that even in tough situations, it's still "alright:

The lyric 'and try to keep a little love' again stresses positivity and is a repetition of a previous lyric 'and try to keep a little grace' This is another example of how lyrical repetition in used regularly throughout the song. It resembles similar lyrical trends in popular mainstream music that are musically satisfactory to the listener. "Love" a trope commonly sung about in popular music a also integrated into the lyrics of the song

The use of "we" stresses the innate collectivism the song harbors throughout its structure. The union of artist and audience further makes the song palatable and accessible for a broader universal audience beyond the band's regular returning listeners

Trying to keep a little grace is emblematic of keeping one's 'cool" and persevering through hard times. This message is emblematic of the song's uplifting purpose of stressing perseverance. This contributes to the song's positive messaging

The ABC's are a stand-in term for struggles that "we all must face". The song employs collectivism, uniting its listeners under their different struggles.

This alludes to the old military alphabet before it was changed in 1952 to what it is today.

Chorus 2

This is one of the most famous lines from the song. It's the perfect mix of optimism and reality - saying that even in the good stuff there's something imperfect, something to remind you life isn't lawless. It's such a down-to-earth way of acknowledging that things aren't always as tight as they seem.

This lyric neglects to address a specific emotion to make room for a variety of emotions the listener may possibly be experiencing. This given space allows the listener to prescribe their own worry, sadness, anger, frustration, or other struggles to this lyric and relate. This simplicity and vagueness that creates space for listeners to relate is a common technique used throughout the song to make it more broadly accessible

Originally, the lyric was supposed to and with "piss off" instead of the final studio version as noted in the lyrics here, "get out." The phrasing was revised due to anxiety over the line hurting the track's air time on the radio. This anxiety is emblematic of a shift in the band's attitude towards radio since their carlier album, "Working Man's Dead That era of the band's career relished in counter-cultural ignorance of platforming their music through radio to achieve air-time revenue. Instead, they spread their music through live performances allowing fans to bootleg audio recordings.

Like the previous lyric "it's alright" these lines have the same function. This is the chorus of the song. The lyrics "I will get by" are general and simple. They are quintessential examples of the positive messaging caked in throughout the lyrics. No matter the struggle, it ensures the listener that the trouble will pass and their current worries will enter the realm of the past. It suggests the bare minimum of survival is enough, and makes the complicated stressful nature of life more simple and less existential. Those lyrics function therapeutically and appeal universally to an audience of listeners. The inclusiveness of the lyrics makes one ot the most memorable parts of the song appealing to a larger mainstream audience.

Chorus 1

Follow up on last post here

This positive message repeats itself throughout the song's lyrics. It effectively complements the joyful music that backs Jerry Garcia's vocals. The inherent positivity and happiness the project harbors arguably helped the Grateful Dead reach a broader audience of pop music consumers which made the record go platinum.

The "it's alright" lyric first appears here but regularly reoccurs throughout the song's lyrics. The structure of the line is clear and concise and uses a common phrase of reassurance. This lyric's repetition makes it a bigger takeaway after listening to the song. in reaches out to listeners and naturalizes their anxiety, stress, and struggles, it provides relief that alleviates some of the pressure felt by listeners. It also reinforces overarching themes of hopefulness and joy. The overall uplifting function of this lyric mimics pop music

These three lines establish a consistent meter of seven syllables per lyric and a consistent rhyme scheme stressing the "air" sound at the ending of each last word. This sonically makes the lyrics have more synchronicity and consistency and establishes an Inviting, accessible lyrical rhythm

The world feels fake. its like they are frustrated with all the surface level stuff, and the rawness of the world is no where to be found.

This line gives off the vibe of life being too scripted or fake. A painted sky-one that's supposed to be natural - feels artificial. it speaks to how things in the world can seem really constructed, especially when you're just going through the motions.

The clear juxtaposition of "early" and "late" in the song's first two lines establishes connectivity through generating a reciprocal This choice adds a palatable coherence and flow to hook listeners and encourage listening further into the song

Time is always moving, but here it feels like everything is out of sync. It hints at the feeling that no matter how hard you try, you're always behind.

Opening the song with a sense of earliness signifies dawn and the beginning of a new day. The following lyrics, "Paint by numbers morning sky,* "Dawn is breaking everywhere," and "Draw the curtains," clarity and emphasize morning imagery, newness, and a sense of rebirth. The choice to start the song like starting a new day employs chronology and fullness that makes the track more appealing.

These lines paint a pretty grim picture of personal struggle. The rent being late and the dog starving is a very specific, relatable image of things falling apart. But the fact that it’s not the end of the world shows that even in rough situations, it’s still "alright."

The speaker admits that things are tough, maybe tougher than you think, but still pulls back to the mantra: it’s alright. It’s almost like saying, “Yeah, life’s tough, but you just have to deal with it and keep going."

This is a playful twist on the idiom “the shoe fits,” but it’s a little twisted in that it’s the “shoe” on the hand. It feels like a moment of acceptance—like the speaker is saying, “Well, if this is how things are, I’ll just roll with it."

The shift to “we” here feels a little more collective, a reminder that you’re not alone in facing challenges. It brings everyone together in the same struggle, with the same hope to get through it.

This is another key line that flips the script. Instead of seeing grey (imperfection, age, struggle) as something bad, it’s presented as something that “suits” you. It’s like saying, “Yeah, things might be messed up, but they also make you who you are.” It’s a pretty solid piece of wisdom wrapped in a Grateful Dead vibe.

This is one of the most famous lines from the song. It’s the perfect mix of optimism and reality—saying that even in the good stuff, there’s something imperfect, something to remind you life isn’t flawless. It’s such a down-to-earth way of acknowledging that things aren’t always as bright as they seem.

The world feels fake. It’s like the speaker’s frustrated with all the surface-level stuff, and the rawness of the world is nowhere to be found.

This line gives off the vibe of life being too scripted or fake. A painted sky—one that’s supposed to be natural—feels artificial. It speaks to how things in the world can seem really constructed, especially when you're just going through the motions.

Time is always moving, but here it feels like everything is out of sync. It hints at the feeling that no matter how hard you try, you’re always behind.

TRIAL

Even more pushes back against traditional marriage ideals and such because they aren't really married right now its something that happened within the flea . Maybe marriage doesn't have to be exactly what people think?

Sacredness brought to the text

Alliteration "m" sound in "mark," "me," and "mingle"

"cloistered" (religious) referring to the seclusion of monks or nuns in a monastery "Walls of jet" (flea), hard dark exterior of flea, shows a physical and symbolic barrier that contains their union

This flea represents us / its like our marriage bed and its our temple

Wait, don't kill the flea, it has 3 lives in it / We are married because of this

Look at this flea, and notice this: What you’re denying me is really something small.

It bit me first, and now it’s biting you / Our blood has now mixed inside this flea

You know this can’t be considered / A sin, shame, or the loss of virginity / And yet, this flea gets pleasure before supporting

Its full and bloated from our combined blood / And unfortunately this flea has done more than we have

Donne contrasts good and evil spirits, says that while both might wear white, the difference is in their effects: evil spirits cause fear (“set our hairs”), while angels like the woman bring pleasure and arousal (“our flesh upright”). Play on words, “upright” carries sexual connotations

Donne is taking this physical even and turning it into something holy and reverent, making their love seem like an act of worship or transcendence. Relating soft bed to temple.

Definition:"A meadow"

Definition: "a small or relatively simple crown, especially as worn by lesser royalty and peers or peeresses"

Definition: "a jeweled crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty"

Rhyming couplets in Iambic Pentameter