Grateful Dead Family Discography: Ocean Of Diamonds

Ocean Of Diamonds

Composer: Cliff Carnahan

Ocean Of Diamonds was played by the played by the Black Mountain Boys on the 7th March 1964. The Black Mountain Boys included Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Eric Thompson, Sandy Rothman and David Nelson.

On a few recordings of the song writing credits are given to Cliff Carnahan and Bill Otis. On the majority of recordings though sole credit is Cliff Carnahan. Cliff Carnahan was a Louisiana based bluegrass fiddle player and songwriter.

Recordings

no info Single (Ocean Of Diamonds / Sophronie), Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys, 1958
no info EP (Rock Hearts / Ocean Of Diamonds / Sophronie / I'll Never Take No For An Answer), Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys, 1959
Livin' On The Mountain, Bill Keith & Jim Rooney, 1963
Sing Widow Maker, Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys, 1964
Mid-Mountain Ranch, Banana and The Bunch, 1972
no info Sing & Pick Bluegrass Favorites, Rainbow Valley Boys & Sweetheart, 1973
no info Bluegrass, Sawtooth Mountain Boys, 1976
The Bluegrass Album, Volume 2, The Bluegrass Album Band, 1982
no info Single (Sunny Side Of The Mountain / Ocean Of Diamonds), Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys, 1982
One Woman Man, Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys, 1982
no info On Stage, Kentucky Colonels, 1984
no info You Don't Know My Mind (1956-1966), Jimmy Martin, 1984
no info On The Move, Yankee Bluegrass, 1984
no info By Request, Tom & Newell & the Grass-Cutters, 1985
Jack Rabbit!, Doug Dillard Band, 1986
The Bluegrass Compact Disc, The Bluegrass Album Band, 1987
no info Sing, Jimmy Martin, 1988
no info Live in 1990, Jimmy Martin & his Sunny Mountain Boys with Grant Turner, 1990
no info The Goodnight Blues, Peter Keane, 1991
no info Trying to Get to You, Roland White, 1994
Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys, Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys, 1994
no info Live in Holland, Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys, 1996
Greatest Grooves, Joe Poovey, 1999
no info Greatest Grooves, Joe Poovey, 1999
Prestige/Folklore Years, Vol. 6: Comin' from the Ball, Various Artists (Bill Keith/Jim Rooney), 1999
Livin' In The Past, The Kentucky Colonels (199? CD only, not on original LP)
no info Single, Rainbow Valley Boys, 19??
no info Best Of The Best: King of bluegrass, Jimmy Martin & his Sunny Mountain Boys, 2000
no info The King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin, 2001
no info Songs of a Free Born Man, Jimmy Martin, 2002
no info Blue Ridge Frame Of Mind, Phoenix, 2002
no info O Bluegrass, Various Artists (Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time), 2002
no info Old Soul, Ryan Holladay, 2003
Essential Bluegrass, Various Artists (Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time), 2003
Don't Cry to Me, Jimmy Martin, 2004
no info A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass, Vol. 1, Various Artists, 2004
no info Live at the White Eagle, Jackstraw, 2005
no info Further Adventures, John Carlini, 2007
no info Roadhouse Gems, The Texas Sapphires, 2007
Rambling Boy, Charlie Haden Family & Friends, 2008

Lyrics

The lyrics used by the Black Mountain Boys are hard to distinguish in places but are roughly as follows;

Some people drink champagne out under the stars
While others drink wine [leaning on a] bar
But all that I need dear to make me feel fine
Is to know that your love will forever be mine
I give an ocean of diamonds and a world filled with flowers
To hold you closely for just a few hours
Hear you whisper softly that you love me true
Will change all the dark clouds to the bluest of blue
I don't drink their champagne and I don't drink their wine
But if you refuse me my poor heart will pine
I'll be so lonely till the day that I die
And as long as I live dear [it's to] hear thee cry
I give an ocean of diamonds and a world filled with flowers
To hold you closely for just a few hours
Hear you whisper softly that you love me true
Will change all the dark clouds to the bluest of blue