Which GD Song

Which one song defines "Grateful Dead" to you?

Mine is probably Alligator. The groove is so tasty, and the humming at the beginning is soothing. Then the jam rips.

 

althea

 

Bertha.

 

So Many Roads

The whole song is just killer. The entire band plays it with such incredible emotion, espescially Jerry. It really shows what a long strange trip its been.

 

Uncle John's Band

 

I'm in definite agreement for Alligator. That is my alltime favorite, followed closely by Wharf Rat, Cold Rain and Snow, Dark Star and CandyMan.

 

Terrapin Station. It's just to me, like all of the GD songs slammed together.

 

Darkstar

 

Eyes of the World


I've learned so much about myself and the world in general through 20 + years of continuous self and life exploration aided by Grateful Dead music. In their catalog, you truly have it all. All emotions and life experiences painted out and interpretated in the most unique way I personally feel one could ever gather through music.

So all the songs, even the Picasso Moons and If the Shoe Fit's carry a message, even though I don't always warm to hearing those messages. However, if I could pick one song that defines what the band embodies and the boys attempted to do through reaching out and establishing a community, even if that community is just yourself listening to them alone, its Eyes of the World.

Being cognizant of all the emotions that one experiences though life, existing in this world with an awareness to all of its intricate beauty and living in harmony with oneself and the environment, is what that song and the Grateful Dead means to me.


and NO other band ever has nor probably ever will come close on that level of individual and world discovery through music

 

Good one.

 

Dark Star

They were all about exploratory jams and Dark Star is where they seemed to do that the best.

 

China Cat Sunflower or St. Stephen

 

As a note: it doesn't necessarily have to be your favorite song either.

 

Wharf Rat>The Other One (granted it is a run of two songs....i love them back to back....)

 

This a very true point. While Eyes is certainly one of my favorites, I couldn't claim it as my absolute favorite.

I can see the reason behind some of the other suggestions in this thread, but for the most part I think people are picking their favorites. Your selection of Aligator include. I'm not suggesting its your favorite song, I obviously don't know what is, but I don't really understand how a song that was only played for a few years and not at all since 71 can truly be the defining song for the band. Mind you I love Aligator - 4-29-71 was the first tape I ever had of the band when I was 9 years old and the Aligator from that show is mind blowing.

Likewise I can't see how someone could say Dark Star is a defining song. I LOVE Dark Star, but it only represents the 'free form' jam aspect of the band and there's so much more too Grateful Dead music than that.

For the record, my favorite Grateful Dead song is Morning Dew. It was the first song I ever heard from them - again at 9 years old, the 4-29-71 version. I was instantly hooked from the first Phil bomb in the intro. Also heard what I feel is the best one from the Brent era at my first show in 90, saw the last one Jerry ever sang and the last time 'The Dead' took the stage in Atlanta in 2004 they encored with it. It has a very special meaning for me.

That being said, I chose Eyes because through history it has had a little bit of everything involved in its performance - obvious great lyrics/message, moving melodies and room for improvisation, very much in a psycadelic Dark Star type sense in 73 (the Madison 73 Dark Star into Eyes comes to mind when I say that) and a more jazzed out bliss type of jam (3-29-90 and even more so 10-17-94 comes to mind)


Call me Rose cause I'm Rambling here.....

 

I chose Alligator because it's so sixties. it doesn't matter how long it was played, because it embodies the spirit of the sixties in one all inclusive tune. Isn't that what the dead were about? The free-wheeling spirit of the sixties, from earthy to o out there all while maintaining the grooooooove... and PIGPEN!!! PIGPEN, GAHDAMMIT lol... but I respect your answer of eyes because you gave an in depth reason for it. I agree wiuth your reasoning, the lyrics and the music. My favorite tune is probably mr charlie or here comes sunshine. It's tough to pick.


Alligator is just an OG song, and the harmony of jerry and the boys humming at the beginning... it just washes over my mind while I am dancing and puts me at ease. It's tough to explain I guess. It's like it takes me back even though I have no clue what it was like to *really* be there.

 

And yea dhs, 4-29-71 pwns, 71 is my favorite year. I especially love the sugar mag from late 70-early71 with the wah... just maaad groovin esp at those fillmore shows in april.

 

either Dark Star, St. Stephen, or The Music Never Stopped

 

China Cat Sunflower

 

Good thread...this is hard. I might say "Scarlet Begonias" exemplifies everything the Grateful Dead means to me, because it is a mixture of thoughtful reflection, jubilant love, and universal celebration (which is how I describe GD's music to people asking what makes them so good).