Drummer reacts to "Brokedown Palace" by Grateful Dead

[@brotherbob3569]

The dude's young & seems to like the dead as much as us old folks. More power to him.

[@crazyfingers19]

We dug the boys when we were young so why not. 🥀🥀

[@captainkangaroo4301]

It’s never too late to get on the bus.

[@cosmonaut9942]

Probably my favorite song of all time. I want it played at my funeral.

[@alpetrocelli4465]

Hunter wrote this song on the same afternoon as “Ripple” and “To Lay Me Down,” with the aid of a half bottle of retsina, in London in 1970. What s creative afternoon. ✌️❤️🎶

[@WildwoodSon]

Having David Crosby as a vocal coach during the making of American Beauty and Workingman's Dead was transformative to their sound.

[@tommathews3964]

Absolutely the quietest I ever heard Grateful Dead crowds were during the playing of “Brokedown Palace” and “China Doll”. Just beautiful! Keep digging this album! “ Friend of The Devil”, “Ripple”, “Box of Rain”…

[@lisarainbow9703]

Love the live version of this from , "Dead Set".....Brent's vocal harmonies in the mix make it absolutely beautiful ...

[@melvinroebuck1160]

Yes. And a beautiful guitar solo.

[@bobschenkel7921]

"Brokedown Palace" was the closing number at my first Grateful Dead concert, 9/6/80 in Lewiston, Maine. When it was over we went to Old Orchard Beach and finally went to sleep, with about 100 other Dead Heads. Soooo much fun.

[@submandave1125]

I don’t remember how many times in a row I listened to this song the day Jerry died.

[@steveullrich7737]

One of my favorite Dead songs and Bob Hunter's amazing lyrics. “In a bed, in a bed, By the waterside I will lay my head, Listen to the river sing sweet songs, To rock my soul” are words that evoke peace and happiness and epitomize the essence of the Dead's music. Many Deadheads have this song played at their funeral.

[@floorticket]

Fun facts with Grateful Dead stats: Brokedown Palace was played live two-hundred and fourteen times. It debuted on 8-18-70 (Fillmore West, San Francisco), and was last played on 6-25-95 (RFK Stadium, Washington DC). The band played ~1726 shows between August 18th, 1970 and June 25th 1995. That works out to one "Brokedown" every 8.07 shows.

[@randomperson-dy6kj]

That RFK show was the last one I saw and I am glad the last thing I heard Jerry sing in person was Brokedown Palace. It was sad though. Lots of folks, including myself, were crying. It was obvious he wasn’t doing well.

[@tenjed4224]

​@randomperson-dy6kj I left that tour feeling weird about Jerry, too. He did not look too good and I hoped he could get help for whatever was screwing up his body and soul. Then, on 8 - 9 - 95 we heard the news.

[@rachelpsmith3129]

I feel nostalgic for a life I never lived, listening to this. Deep as anything ever made by the human race.

[@mattreynolds612]

These are the best of lyrics.👍🎶🎶🎸

[@shemanic1]

Superb Album & track. American Beauty is a treasured album.

[@Dr3amtime]

If you squint your eyes right, the album cover also says American Reality.

[@Dr3amtime]

There's been a popular type of rose called American Beauty since 1875. I think it may have helped to inspire the name of the album and the movie. But the phrase may be older than that.

[@mikehutton3187]

The Dead always puts a smile on my face. 😊😊

[@hitchhikemike1]

Thanx again! Powerful beautiful song! The album cover can also read American reality! Optical illusion!

[@waltercrain2910]

"american beauty" and "workingman's dead" are 2 studio albums i won't give you shit for playing. those are gems. so clean. jerry's voice was fresh and perfect. everything is mixed so well. those 2 albums were my intro to the dead. a friend made a tape for me (which i played using dolby noise reduction!) with one on each side. played them on my coal-fired tape deck....

[@WilliamEdwards-ko8sc]

Working man's dead and American beauty are basically one album split up into two.

[@L33Reacts]

Well that explains two amazing and highly regarded albums in one year. Thank you.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Lee the Terrapin to do is from Feb 26, 1977 at Swing Auditorium San Bernardino. It the very first performance and they opened the show with it. It’s pretty perfect and the Band was focused and ready. This full concert was released as Dave’s picks 29. It’s on KZbin. Good audio too

[@bobschenkel7921]

I will back up Jeff Martin that the best version of "Terrapin Station" is on the studio album of the same name. Saw "Terrapin" quite a few times live, but the band never played the whole suite, until an unscheduled appearance after a show in Camden, N.J.. The Dead played an impromptu show at The Electric Factory, across the river in Philly, with Rusted Root, and did a full on "Terrapin Station", with the "Terrapin Flyer" and "At A Siding", etc. As I said at the time, "Dare to dream".

[@JB-Deadskins]

Noooooooo. Stick with live Dead especially on Terrapin. Here's a live version for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n57WmmNjiL98ntEsi=FDanZtQWMqi5OpaP

[@bobschenkel7921]

@@JB-Deadskins All live versions are excellent, just not the complete suite, like the album. Terrapin is one of my favorite Dead songs, but I like the whole thing, not just the first part. Saw about 10 of them at Dead shows, but never a complete one.

[@JB-Deadskins]

@@bobschenkel7921 the whole orchestral part was done without their knowledge or consent. They really hated it. Robert Hunter wrote several other songs in the Terrapin story that he included in his book Box of Rain. Here are his comments: Terrapin Station INTRODUCTION I wrote Terrapin, Part One, at a single sitting in an unfurnished house with a picture window overlooking San Francisco Bay during a flamboyant lightning storm. I typed the first thing that came into my mind at the top of the page, the title: Terrapin Station Not knowing what it was to be about, I began my writing with an invocation to the muse and kept typing as the story began to unfold. On the same day, driving to the city, Garcia was struck by a singular inspiration. He turned his car around and hurried home to set down some music that popped into his head, demanding immediate attention. When we met the next day, I showed him the words and he said, "I've got the music." They dovetailed perfectly and Terrapin edged into this dimension. Part One was for free. A good deal of Part Two, the essential idea, was contained in the first writing, but was too irregular to be easily set. I went through many approaches and versions over the years, having lost the original typescript, attempting to recapture the initial spark and place it in a lyric context. "Jack O'Roses" and "Ivory Wheels/Rosewood Track" are examples of subsequent attempts to complete the cycle. They are included here as part of the suite since they do have pieces of the resolution within them, but they did not really satisfy the initial inspiration. I've omitted or changed a few lines from "Ivory Wheels/Rosewood Tracks," as I originally recorded it, feeling that they do not serve the rest of the work well. Several years ago, I discovered the original typescript of Terrapin Station in one of the "files" of miscellaneous papers scooped off my desk and stashed away in trunks, at the completion of an album, to make way for new material. It is incorporated into this version, which I offer as reasonably complete. -February 28, 1990 PREFACE TO THE NEW TERRAPIN MATERIAL It is notoriously difficult to return to the peculiar space of a spontaneous vision-but 1 wasn't content with my earlier attempt to complete the Terrapin cycle. Cycle is the key word. The piece seemed to demand a legitimate return to its starting place but just how to accomplish this evaded me. The problem was that I was looking outside the song for clues when the solution, implicit in Lady With a Fan, lay With the following revision, I feel as near as I'm likely to get to the initiating flash. in plain sight the whole time this far removed in time, It's a moot point whether my continuing engagement with the suite is symptomatic of my own attempt to Return to Terrapin, but a feeling of deep relief comes with the sense of finally getting it closer to heart's desire-concluding and adding this annotation just as a good hard storm breaks. -February 15, 1993

[@JB-Deadskins]

Also, DeadBase says they only played the Electric Factory 5 times, the last of which was 2/15/69, 8 years before Terrapin was written.

[@bobschenkel7921]

JB, the exact date was 6/27/03, and it was members of The Dead, NOT the Grateful Dead. I was there. It was really cool, an unannounced show AFTER their big show at the Tweeter Center, with Willie Nelson and Family with Joan Osbourne opening, in Camden, N.J.. Many of us went to The new Electric Factory in Philly, in a not so great part of town, and hung out for an hour or so, and then Bobby, Phil, Billy and Mickey all came out with Rusted Root, who are from Pittsburgh, Pa. and they played for almost an hour, including the full on Terrapin Station Suite. I have two versions of Dead Base, including the X or Tenth Edition, with all of 1995 in it, but it does not go beyond the shows in Chicago in 1995. Trust me, this show happened, and it was special. But overall, I would STILL go with the original LP version, for a first listen.

[@Lexwell_Lavers]

American Beauty and Workingman's Dead are amazing studio albums. Their best. You should do them both in their entirety.

[@jmcc199]

Robert Hunter was a Master Lyricist. L33 you seem like a truly cool guy - it's a pleasure to accompany you on your newfound music journey. These were the tunes of my youth. It was quite a time to be a kid

[@jamesbassett1484]

My belated take is that the deeper meaning of "brokedown palace" is one'sown body, ie. dying. With that premise, the lyrics hold together conceptually.

[@freddylubin]

A beautiful hymn to dying.

[@Scottracine68]

I don't know but seems Dave was spot on with this considering the difficulties you mentioned, this isn't about just you anymore and you will roll on. The river is a metaphor and ironic at the same time, calming and soothing to us but also the relentless power to carve the Grand Canyon as it "rolls on". Then add children "Going to plant a weeping willow On the banks green edge it will grow, grow, grow Sing a lullaby beside the water Lovers come and go, the river roll, roll, roll" Best of luck and keep rolling

[@timcardona9962]

Great to see this warm your soul. Hang in there.. Terrapin should **always** be studio first

[@deechatterton5828]

I love the studio version of Terrapin Station as a starting point for you to be introduced to the song. Most, if not all, of the live versions are not complete. Yes, it's a little bit much with all the orchestration behind it but it is a grandiose song even without it.

[@edhorton2766]

Robert Hunter had the best words.

[@brotherbob3569]

I find myself playing this & Atticks of My Life when everyone's went to bed & I'm nursing my last beer by the fire in my backyard.

[@smithpm81]

we are here with you mate, stay strong

[@kevinhennessey3189]

Always loved JErry's Pedal Steel playing on this track.

[@memorylen1]

I’ve been a Deadhead since 1972. They are the greatest band of all time. I envy your journey of discovering them as I and millions have. Everyone says listen to the live stuff but I disagree. Always listen to the albums. Whether they are studio or live. They are the iconic versions that you MUST hear. Here are some suggestions. Eyes of the world from Wake of the flood. Anything from Europe’72 but specifically Brown Eyed Women, Jack Straw and Mr. Charlie. Dire Wolf and New Speedway Boogie from Workingman’s Dead. Box of Rain from American Beauty. St Stephen from Live Dead. What’s Rat and The Other One and Not Fade Away from Skull and Roses. Unbroken Chain and Ship of fools from Mars Hotel. Throwing Stones from In the Dark and I’ll stop with Fire on the Mountain from Shakedown Street. There are literally 100 more songs that are just as good. Also there are solo albums by Jerry and Bob that are magical too!

[@dougj7295]

American Beauty probably many deadheads favorite studio album, they hit their songwriting and harmony groove here brilliantly without a doubt - no jams needed. Makes you think of them all sitting on their back porch playing this acoustically, just hanging out with friends and family. So many classics, Brokedown Place is just a beautiful song. And the opener Box of Rain, written by Phil Lesh about his father dying of cancer who he was trying to comfort on his path to the other side. F--k

[@brotherbob3569]

Composed by Phil, lyrics by Robert Hunter.

[@dougj7295]

​@@brotherbob3569 Surely Hunter wrote a large # of the Dead songs - in collaboration with the band members because he was a master lyricist. That's how it works. This was written "in collaboration" with Phil - for and to his father who was dying...

[@michaelwalker5257]

Ever notice that "American Beauty' as designed on the cover can also be read, "American Reality"?

[@KeithMcbride-fy3hy]

An absolute favourite since the day I bought it

[@freddylubin]

To be played at my funeral.

[@tdgallagher218]

Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul. Just the words alone are soothing. I've always loved the easy feel of this album. I'm glad to see this song sparked your spirit with a shot of positivity. There are plenty of GD songs where this came from. I would suggest Sugar Magnolia, if you haven't already. One interesting note about the artwork on the cover. If you look at it just right, you will see the word 'beauty' appears to resemble the word 'reality.' This known as an ambigram, where one word is designed to look like two words. This was created courtesy of Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley (aka, Mouse and Kelley) who teamed up together in the mid 60s to do album cover artwork, predominantly for the Grateful Dead and Journey. I gotta to say, I found it rather ironic that you commented on how much you love nature right after you squished that bug. That made me laugh.

[@destinyreelly2974]

I heard this at too many funerals in my teens and 20s. It’s more of a life lived song. A letting the River carry your soul away kind of song, imo. The spirit will always eventually soar.

[@krypticalenvelopment]

By the 1980's "Brokedown" became a defacto encore many nights - here's another encore they used to do "And We Bid You Goodnight" kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2nKf5qfeLyfj8ksi=QFB6U3eLYKbBUwDD enjoy

[@jeffmartin1026]

The best Terrapin is the studio version. As much as Terrapin live was a treat, it's best to listen to the LP first.

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

American Beauty is a type of rose.

[@smithpm81]

i bet you cannot listen to 'so many roads' from their last ever concert without crying

[@smithpm81]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKSpqoWHhdeUgJo

[@melvinroebuck1160]

Regarding Terrapin, I’d just say that if you do the album version, know that it’s highly orchestrated and had nothing to do with what they were as a live performing band, which is where their heart and the magic really lived - and also do a live version. Someone posted a link to a live video of a good one in a reply to a comment, the version from 7/4/89. We’d be happy to join you for both. And on this theme, I encourage you to listen to the live version of Brokedown Palace from the live album Dead Set.

[@smithpm81]

their best song is Wharf Rat from skull and roses 1971

[@jmcc199]

Start with the studio. It is a song very complicated for live because of all the added strings and orchestra. When we first head this it was like Wha?????? But the same reaction was for Blues for Allah and Shakedown Street

[@ShiverHinge]

A grateful tune. Like an invisible Ripple on the surface of cheap whine tsunami.

[@ShiverHinge]

Wha?

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Jerry was 29 when he recorded this

[@robertgrosek1124]

A bit more somber by my interpretation of the lyrics. End of life stuff but in a positive light Reflecting on life. Realization of the bigger universe than one’s own little existence

[@JB-Deadskins]

Audience video/soundboard audio of Brokedown Palace kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2q1lpykicZ_g8ksi=MWepHkP9YOVWtmzo

[@romanbianco5909]

Hello friend, I recommend "You and Your friend" by dire strait, I'm sure you will enjoy it, it has a very captivating atmosphere

[@Jeff-yc2js]

Some may disagree but for Terrapin Station I would do the studio version. Full Orchestra and the second half of the song they never performed live as far as I know. Don't listen to people who say it always has to be a live version. Some songs I prefer live recording some songs I prefer studio. TS is a preferred studio track for me.

[@stephenfoley1479]

IMHO, there are only three Grateful Dead songs where the studio versions are the best I’ve heard - Ripple, Brokedown Palace and Terrapin Station. I have heard a full length live version of Terrapin Station, so it does exist (I don’t know if there’s more than one), but it didn’t compare to the studio version. Everything else - better live.

[@Jeff-yc2js]

@@stephenfoley1479 for me I prefer studio version for songs that aren't really jam vehicles but more just straight up songs, especial if lyrics are strong because vocals are more clear and better on studio versions. So yeah ripple, Broken Palace I'd also throw in songs like Dire Wolf, Box of Rain, Candyman, New Speedway Boogie, Ship of Fools. But yeah live is always better for Jam tracks or solo intensive tracks.

[@genegarrett3372]

Never was a dead head. They all played well, but........

[@NoahFentz976]

Coincidentally I was enjoying this band but was wondering to myself "Gee, I wonder if Gene Garrett is much of a deadhead?"

[@mikelind8607]

​@@NoahFentz976 lol

[@L33Reacts]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@genegarrett3372]

@@NoahFentz976 Glad I was able to answer your question

[@fishingusa1314]

Another music reactionist profiting from the Dead and Deadheads. Kinda late to the game.

[@michaelbettonville5085]

It would be kind of hard for a twenty-year-old to not be "late to the game" so to speak. One thing most fans will tell you is that they like the music because it seems timeless. It's a big boat. There's plenty of room!

[@lisarainbow9703]

I think it's awesome that the torch is getting passed along to a younger generation!! 💜

[@tdgallagher218]

As evident by way of encouraging fans to tape their live performances, the GD obviously could care less if others made a profit from their music. It was all about sharing, and that's precisely what Lee is doing. Personally, I love it when I witness music from my generation putting a smile on younger faces.

[@gr8fulded]

Grateful Dead music is timeless