Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: psych-rock
Song Meaning of “Samson and Delilah – Live at the Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, March 22, 1990” by Grateful Dead
This classic Grateful Dead song is a parable about Samson, who relied on his physical strength to conquer his enemies and the seductive Delilah who tricked him into revealing his secret source of strength. In the song, the ideas of faith and trust are symbolized by the long hair that Samson allows Delilah to cut and the loss of strength that follows.
The lines “If I had my way, I would tear this old building down/I’d throw the tumbling walls to the ground” suggest that if Samson were here, he would bring down the walls of Copps Coliseum—an allusion to his fight against the Philistines in biblical times—with his great strength.
The lyrics also suggest that life has a fragile balance between pleasure and pain, between self-destruction and salvation. It is a reminder that strength of purpose and trust in our innermost desires can ultimately save us from ourselves.
The song urges us to be mindful of our actions and their consequences, and to open ourselves up to the possibilities of a life of faith and freedom. The live performance of the song in Copps Coliseum is an affirmation that in the end, following our own convictions can ultimately lead to a life of joy and acceptance.