Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter (R) died Monday, according to a statement from his family. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Posted on 09/24/2019 1:14:28 PM PDT by Red Badger
Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter died Monday night, Rolling Stone first reported. He was 78.
The family of Hunter provided a statement to the New York Times, The Wrap and Rolling Stone.
"He died peacefully at home in his bed, surrounded by love," the statement read. "His wife Maureen was by his side holding his hand. For his fans that have loved and supported him all these years, take comfort in knowing that his words are all around us, and in that way he is never truly gone."
"Uncle John's Band," "China Cat Sunflower," "Scarlet Begonias," "Box of Rain" and "Dark Star" are among the songs for which Hunter provided lyrics.
Grateful Dead founder Jerry Garcia invited Hunter to play with his jug band in 1961, but Hunter preferred to write, according to Rolling Stone's tribute bio. He took part in LSD studies at Stanford and sent Garcia lyrics from the Southwest before moving to San Francisco, where Hunter became the official Grateful Dead lyricist.
In an interview published as an Amazon Kindle ebook in 2015, Hunter said he usually wrote the lyrics first. In unusual cases like "Foolish Heart" and "Uncle John's Band," he wrote lyrics after he heard the melody.
Hunter also wrote songs with Bob Dylan from 1980 to 2009. He reunited with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart to write new music and collaborated with Elvis Costello, Bruce Hornsby, and Jim Lauderdale.
Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter (R) died Monday, according to a statement from his family. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Well, is he grateful now?
R. I. P. Wrote some great stuff, Althea being my favorite.
The story of my life....
Sometimes the light’s all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long strange trip it’s been
Great words....Sad to hear, Rest in Peace, Hunter..
Well, he’s dead..................
No kiddin !
We're all getting old and .... there.
Some of the best lyrics ever. Full of wisdom and joy. RIP
You stole my question, but your screen name causes me to ask: doe he cry when you die, and was he washed in the blood of the lamb?
RIP and thanks.
Shall we go
You and I
While we can?
Through
The transitive nightfall
Of diamonds
Alabama Getaway (with Jerry).
Number 3 after Eddie Money and Rick Ocasic
I once saw an hour long Grateful Dead concert. Great Song ! :)
I absolutely loved growing up when the best music in the history of man was created (60’s 70s) but really never cared much for the music of the Grateful Dead.
I guess you just had to have an ear for them and if you did you were fanatical about the band.
And it’s just a box of rain
I don’t know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
Or leave it if you dare.
And it’s just a box of rain
Or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long long time to be gone
And a short time to be there.
One of the songs I have on my funeral playlist.
“Franklin’s Tower”
In another times forgotten space
Your eyes looked from your mother’s face
Wild flower seed on the sand and stone
May the four winds blow you safely home
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
I’ll tell you where the four winds dwell
In Franklin’s tower there hangs a bell
It can ring, turn night to day
It can ring like fire when you lose your way
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
God save the child that rings that bell
It may have one good ring, baby, you can’t tell
One watch by night, one watch by day
If you get confused listen to the music play
[Instrumental]
Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
If you plant ice you’re gonna harvest the wind
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
In Franklin’s tower the four winds sleep
Like four lean hounds the lighthouse keep
Wildflower seed on the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
You’d better roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
Roll away the dew
You’d better roll away the dew - roll away
RIP Robert Hunter. Been listening to The Grateful Dead for decades. Thanks for so much great lyrics and music.
Ripple
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall, you fall alone
If you should stand, then who's to guide you
If I knew the way I would take you home
[snip] I will get by / I will survive [/snip]
Guess that’s settled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRtR4RVgb8
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