Coming late to this one, but hope this helps.

From the always interesting volume

The complete annotated Grateful Dead lyrics : the collected lyrics of Robert Hunter and John Barlow, lyrics to all original songs, with selected traditional and cover songs / annotations by David Dodd ; illustrated by Jim Carpenter ; edited by Alan Trist and David Dodd.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
1. Rock music—United States—Texts. I. Hunter, Robert, 1941 June 23– II. Barlow, John, 1947– III. Dodd, David G., 1957– IV. Trist, Alan. V. Grateful Dead (Musical group) VI. Title.
ML54.6.C62 2005 782.42166'0265—dc22 2005051378
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-7747-1
ISBN-10: 0-7432-7747-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-7749-5 (Pbk)
ISBN-10: 0-7432-7749-X (Pbk)
eISBN: 978-1-4391-0334-0


"A buck dancer is one who dances the buck-and-wing. From The Dictionary of American Regional English:

buck-and-wing, n. . . . Also buck (dance) . . . A lively dance usually performed by one person.
The word wing was used to describe a combination known as Buck and Wing—the general designation for tap dance (and almost anything else) at the turn of the century. Introduced on the New York stage in 1880 by James McIntyre, the Buck and Wing began to swing . . . and launched a new style of Negro-derived dancing.
Appalachian buck-dancing is the simplest and yet the most enigmatic kind of Southern mountain dancing. Essentially, buck-dancing is a dance for one but can be for more than one; the dance itself involves nothing more than moving your feet in time to the music. The origins of buck-dancing are unclear. The name probably came from the Indians who may have had a ceremonial dance danced by a brave costumed as a buck deer.

A note from the record jacket of Taj Mahal’s 1973 album Oooh So Good ‘n’ Blues, which includes a song titled “Buck Dancer’s Choice”:

“Buck Dancer’s Choice” is a tune that goes back to Saturday-night dances, when the Buck, or male dancer, got to choose who his partner would be. Sort of the opposite to “Ladies’ Choice.” While mostly used as a string-band tune, anyone calling this tune out would be sure to get a positive reaction from all the Does and Bucks.
In The Anthropology of Dance, Anya Royce says:

There existed also a genre that has been labeled “water dances.” These, including such named dances as Set the Floor, Buck Dance, and Juba [compare line in “Mister Charlie”], all involved a test of skill in balancing a glass of water on the head while dancing. Juba and Buck dances appeared as well without the water balancing. . . . Emery also claims a long past for the Pigeon Wing and Buck Dance: “The Pigeon Wing and the Buck Dance appear as authentic dances of the Negro on the plantation, much before they were picked up for the minstrel shows and billed as the Buck and Wing.

Buck Dancer’s Choice (1966) is the title of a volume of poetry by James Dickey.

Also the title of an old mountain fiddle tune. It was definitely in Garcia’s repertoire in 1962, when he was a member of the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers (Jerry Garcia, guitar and banjo; Marshall Leicester, banjo and guitar; Dick Arnold, fiddle. Leicester was Garcia’s early music guru and banjo teacher.) Here’s a set list of theirs from June 11, 1962:

Boar’s Head Coffee House, Jewish Community Center, San Carlos, California

—Set I—
Run Mountain
Billy Grimes the Rover
Cannonball Blues
Devilish Mary
Buck Dancer’s Choice
Little Birdie
Sally Goodin’
Hold the Woodpile Down

—Set II—
Crow Black Chicken
The Johnson Boys
Shady Grove
Hop High Ladies
Sweet Sunny South
All Go Hungry Hash House
Man of Constant Sorrow
Rabbit Chase
Three Men Went A-Hunting"