The song is a dialogue between the last man and woman left alive following an apocalyptic catastrophe. Dobson stated that the inspiration for "Morning Dew" was the film On the Beach, which is about the survivors of virtual global annihilation by nuclear holocaust. Dobson wrote the song while staying with a friend in Los Angeles; she recalled how the guests at her friend's apartment were speculating about a nuclear war's aftermath and "after everyone went to bed, I sat up and suddenly I just started writing this song I had never written in my life". In 1961, Dobson premiered "Morning Dew" at the inaugural Mariposa Folk Festival and a live recording appeared on Dobson's At Folk City album in 1962. In 1969, she recorded a studio version for her self-titled album.
Other recordings
The earliest release of a studio version of "Morning Dew" was on the 1964 self-titled album by the Goldebriars, using the title "Come Walk Me Out" and without giving songwriter credit to Dobson. It was followed about a month later by a recording by singer and guitarist Fred Neil with Vince Martin, for their album Tear Down The Walls. Tim Rose followed with a version for his self-titled debut album; according to Dobson, "all Tim Rose did was take Freddie Neil's changes". Dobson claimed she never met Rose, but she received 75% songwriting royalty as she retains sole writing credit for the song's music. "Morning Dew" became part of the Grateful Dead's repertoire after frontman Jerry Garcia was introduced to the Fred Neil recording by roadie Laird Grant in 1966. The group first played the song as their opening number at the Human Be-In in January 1967; the same month the group recorded it for their self-titled debut album, which was released that March. In February 1968, a recording by Sugar Shack reached number 17 in Ireland.. Later in the summer, a version by pop singer Lulu from her 1967 album Lulu Sings 'To Sir With Love' ranked as high as number eight at Los Angeles Top 40 station 93 KHJ. However, it only reached number 52 in the national U.S. charts, but in Australia, it reached number 59 and in Canada it reached number 55. The Jeff Beck Group recorded this song in 1968. It appears on the Truth album. Blackfoot recorded this song on their 1984 album "Vertical Smiles". Robert Plant covered Morning Dew on his 2002 album, Dreamland.
