Across the Great Divide

Here we'll take a look at the first track of the group's self-titled second album, The Band, called "Across the Great Divide". The fan title of this album, named for the color scheme of the cover, is The Brown Album, in the same vein as the Beatles' White Album. The association of this album with the Band, incidentally, is why the scheme of this blog is brown.

"Perhaps the best album by any Rock and Roll group ever. Timeless, soulful, seamless, a work that goes far beyond and yet is front-porch friendly."
--M.E. Cooper

"Music from Big Pink had been a fine, even superior debut; The Band was their masterpiece. Robbie Robertson's songwriting had grown by leaps and bounds. As players, all five musicians had reached a completely new level of ensemble cohesion. The sum was very much greater than the parts, and the parts were as good as any that existed. The album's single, 'Up on Cripple Creek,' became the Band's first and only Top 30 release. It was one of several songs on the album that had an 'old-timey' feel. Other highlights on this masterpiece include 'Rag Mama Rag,' 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' and 'King Harvest.'"
--Rob Bowman, All-Music Guide

Now, let's get to it. Of note, every song posted from this point forward was written and composed by Robbie Robertson (even if a certain drummer of a certain Band would disagree).



Standin by your window in pain, A pistol in your
hand, And I beg you, dear Molly, girl,
Try and understand your man the best you can.

Across The Great Divide, Just grab your hat, and take that ride
Get yourself a bride, And bring your children down to the river side.

I had a goal in my younger days, I nearly wrote my will
But I changed my mind for the better, I'm at the still, had my fill and I'm fit to kill
Pinball machine, and a queen, I nearly took a bust
Tried to keep my hands to myself, Ya say it's a must, but who can ya trust?
Harvest moon shinin' down from the sky, A weary sign for all
I'm gonna leave this one horse town, Had t' stall till the fall, now I'm gonna crawl!



Now Molly dear, don't ya shed a tear
Your time will surely come, you'll feed your man
chicken ev'ry Sunday, Now tell me, hon, what-cha done with the gun

Across The Great Divide, Just grab your hat, and take that ride
Get yourself a bride, And bring your children down to the river side.