First listen to The Grateful Dead - Box of Rain (REACTION)

Beautiful lyricism.
Original Video: • Box of Rain (2013 Rema...
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[@keef7224]

The lyrics were written by Hunter for bassist Phil Lesh, whose father was dying in the hospital at the time- words of comfort to a grieving son. I interpret the box of rain is the earth, and the song seems to reference how short our time here is. “Such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there”. As with most Dead songs, the lyrics are ambiguous yet universal- malleable enough so that any listener can apply their own interpretation and derive their own meaning and value from the song.

[@Jeff-S]

Hunter rarely eludes to the meaning of his songs but he did say that a Box of Rain is the Earth and that Ball of Rain just didn't sound as musical as "box". Phil didn't have his father in mind when he wrote the music and melody but Hunter new that Phil Lesh did listen to his wordless version of this song in his car on his way to see his father before he died.

[@bobszejk9620]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5DJdq2iarhjnqc

[@jonahbrian174]

Sorry to be off topic but does anybody know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I somehow lost my account password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me

[@bensonmiguel7047]

@Jonah Brian instablaster ;)

[@jonahbrian174]

@Benson Miguel i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@axandio]

Very diverse music. Never judge the Dead by one song. They touch so many genres. Strangely the bass player Phil sang this one and he sings very few of their songs, but Robert Hunter wrote it about Phil's father who was passing away. Hunter was a poet and writes all sorts of cool Americana songs. “We're like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.” ― Jerry Garcia

[@dyanalynn6698]

How did I miss the fact that Phil sings this song....😳

[@benringenberg6265]

@@dyanalynn6698 the grateful dead are perfect in so many ways. Most of the songs are Jerry or Bob written, but then Phil steps up and hits a fucking grand slam home run with box of rain. Box of Rain is as much a part of grateful dead folklore as Ripple, Attics, or Brokedown Palace, and anytime anyone of those tunes is played, the world seems beautiful and life full of wonders and bliss. I give thanks everyday for being blessed by having the grateful dead in my life.

[@brianfisher6165]

36,086 Songs, 2,317 Concerts, 298 Cities, all Genres of music from country to acid rock and anything and everything in between, Millions of fans from all around the world, from all generations and job descriptions, 30Years 1965-1995, 11 Members, 1 Band The Grateful Dead I’ve seen them with Jerry 150 times, no where near enough!!!

[@bobmessier5215]

Try a live version of "Eyes of the World". It's a colorful Dead masterpiece on a palette of sound.

[@kathleenmclean2141]

My favorite Dead song

[@nealpierson9072]

The Dead were a very diverse band musically. They emerged from the remnants of a San Francisco jug band, Mother McRee's Uptown Jug Champions, in the mid-60's. The original seven members of the band each had different musical backgrounds, such as jazz, classical, folk/bluegrass, and the blues. They were basically a blues/psychedelic rock band through the late 60's, then had a folk/country rock period starting around 1969/70, and from there went on a long strange trip throughout various genres of music until the death of guitarist/singer Jerry Garcia in 1995. The spirit of the band has been kept alive throughout the last 25 years by the various side projects of the band's surviving members, the release of archival live material, and their Dead-icated fanbase on the internet. There are more live recordings of this band available on the internet than probably any other band ever.

[@rustycamaro]

I saw them like 15 times, and every show was different.

[@matthewhoag2609]

Nice, and shoutout to the person who suggested this one! This could totally open a new avenue for you. So many good ones, but I will say do the epic Terrapin Station. Did I mention it’s epic? Cheers!

[@weirdomachine]

hey, if you're a bit of a terrapin nerd like me then check out the terrapin from 78/01/11, absolutely balls to the wall ending jam

[@matthewhoag2609]

Riley m you were right about that one - it was fire! I’ve heard a 5-6 live recordings of Terrapin, but not this one. Thanks for the suggestion! Loved it.

[@neonpark1874]

Absolutely love Terrapin Station (and not just because I went to University of Maryland, you know - the Terrapins!). I was always happy when they chose to do part of it live, but just once, I'd have loved for them to do the whole thing (when I was at a show).

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Robert Hunter wrote very interesting and beautiful lyrics. The Dead’s music and songs were generally indirect in their meanings. They would allude to something or point towards something, creating a kind of relationship with the songs that unfolds over time. This is true of the music too, many genres in odd combinations but yet defying description, like Box of Rain. Is it folk or pop or rock or country? or a unique hybrid? Try listening to their song Unbroken Chain also sung by Phil Lesh.

[@neonpark1874]

Unbroken Chain is another one that I would have killed to see live.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Neon Park they rarely played any Phil songs live.

[@weirdomachine]

'oh that's beautiful' - always nice to see someone hop on the bus in real time. you seemed pretty stoked on the solo which makes me think you should check out more of their live stuff. This album in particular is way more tight and concise than most stuff that came after, hence the instrumental repetition. Over cited for sure, but check out Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain from the Cornell 77 live album. It's probably the best example song you could give someone to get them into the dead. Also would recommend checking out One from the Vault and Europe 72. Those 3 live albums are some of their most definitive work! enjoy my dude

[@nealpierson9072]

Another great one is the Sunshine Daydream Concert from Veneta, OR 8/27/72.

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

The solo is by David Nelson.

[@floydwaight5699]

Live recordings will blow his hair back and "China cat sunflower/ Rider " will make him dance. Smiles. PeaceOrElse

[@mikephalen3162]

This has always been my favorite song on my favorite Dead LP.

[@steveullrich7737]

Glad you found and enjoyed this song as I was going to recommend it for it's lyrics. Also the title of the American Beauty album title is scripted as a text ambigram as it can also be read as "American Reality". You'll have to look at the album cover. Anyway the Dead have a lot more songs to explore and as recommended earlier start with American Beauty and Workingman's Dead then live performances. They were known for their live performances with long instrumental jams and changing set lists. They have the record for the total number of live shows by any group >2300 and for audience attendance at 25 million (count me there). The Dead allowed fans to tape their shows and most of their concerts (~2200) were taped by fans so their musical output is well preserved.

[@paigeherrin29]

How did I not know this???? Thank you for the gem!

[@Dooklawz]

this Grateful Dead track ALWAYS helps me with rinsing my eyes out. And yep, dang it, just happened again ...

[@toshibautoob]

Lyrics written by Robert Hunter, not a musician in the band but friend of the band their entire run something like Bernie Taupin for Elton John.

[@kidpoker007]

Jerry Garcia was an incredibly unique guitarist in rock music

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

true for sure, but he doesn't play guitar on this track.

[@kidpoker007]

Ron Dickenson ok I’m not a dead head, who plays guitar on this track?

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

@@kidpoker007 my bad I put it on a bunch of other comments, even deadheads don't all know that it's David Nelson playing guitar and Garcia is playing piano on this number

[@kidpoker007]

Ron Dickenson cool never knew Garcia played piano on some tracks

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

@@kidpoker007 not very many, and I believe this is the only Grateful Dead song, but for instance on his first album he plays all the instruments except drums

[@StringHead92]

Beautiful song. This album is one of the best by the Dead imo, and this is one of my favourite songs by them. The lyrics and music convey so much emotion and feel good vibes. Great reaction and commentary as always, Daniel!

[@antivaushistscheaktion1148]

On this tune, lead guitarist Jerry Garcia plays piano, and the lead guitar is by David Nelson, of the New Riders of the Purple Sage.

[@stevenmurano7863]

suggestion for a new dead listener....i would suggest China Cat Sunflower/I know You Rider from the Europe '72 album. that band was firing on ALL cylinders then

[@submandave1125]

My favorite Dead song, thx. As others have written, this is about Phil's dad dying of cancer. "What do you want me to do, to watch for you while you are sleeping?" Sitting with a dying loved one as they fade in and out of consciousness, occasionally dropping off yourself. "Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear," directly referencing the haze of the mind on pain medicines. I think the "box of rain" could refer to the syringe of morphine, summing up his whole life with that final box that will see him through. This album ("American Beauty") and the previous one, "Workingman's Dead," were decidedly a return to roots music and Americana, with a lot of acoustic and traditional instrumentation and some of the most complex and interesting harmonies ever recorded in rock. As others have said, there is no more eclectic band ever. If you're really interesting in experiencing "everybody soloing at the same time," you need to rouse up some live videos and dig their extended jams, especially the truly free form section they had in every show that was simply called "Space."

[@dixiechatty958]

I have been a Deadhead for 50+ years. I just came across this video this evening. It's interesting that you happened across this song as your first because it is fairly unique. It's not a typical song for them. In fact, when they were recording this, Phil Lesh said that he didn't want this to sound like a typical Dead song. So, Jerry Garcia, their lead guitarist, said, "OK, I'll play piano". There are three guitars, two played by folks not in the band. Robert Hunter rarely talked about the meaning of his lyrics preferring to let the listener draw their own meaning. However, he did discuss the meaning he had in mind for the title Box of Rain. He intended it to mean the world. He was going to use globe but decided that would be too literal and thought box sounded better. I'm going to check out your other Dead videos over the next few days and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[@lylechipperson3407]

I love how if you just read the lyrics of this song without ever hearing it or knowing what it is it sounds so sad and dark and confusing but put those words to a tune and it becomes an infinite number of new messages/feelings to people. Wild how music can change how the mind sees things.

[@zachadelic8110]

Man....welcome to the Dead dude!!! Let Jerry drift your soul thru time and space to that place! They have like the biggest stash of music as well. Literally can spend years listening to different live shows! Never fall, just keep trippin!

[@floydwaight5699]

Yeah.. The Grateful Dead archive APP has every show ever. Next best thing to a time machine. I check out "This day in history" and hunt each show for a "China/Rider" for my daily dose of Dead. I love hearing how the songs evolved over time. What other band can boast that gift." Here ya go every show their yours anyway" PeaceOrElse

[@gnpahdc]

Sugar Magnoiia, Scarlet Begonias, Deal, One More Saturday Night, Brown Eyed Women, Tennessee Jed, Estimated Prophet, Truckin', Touch of Grey, US Blues.

[@dinkharmon2419]

Great intro song for them. Listen to this album (American Beauty) and Workingman's Dead then work your way into some live stuff. That's where you'll get the 4 player's playing melodies more. Enjoying your videos and your understanding.

[@brianholly3555]

Europe 72 is a great introduction.

[@emanonfox1709]

don't know how I missed this... fantastic

[@freddylubin]

Great to see a "reaction video" without stopping in the middle.

[@ericfestvog2873]

The Grateful Dead: "Dire Wolf" is a song written by Phil Lesh - (Bass Player) when he was walking home from the studio while the Zodiac Killer was killing people in San Francisco. Phil also wrote & sang Box of Rain.

[@KarynJustice]

Welcome aboard, fellow traveler. You are, as we say, "on the bus" now. Enjoy the ride! (~);}

[@Blasserman]

Yes, "Dead Heads" were / are a thing.

[@cojaysea]

Two fabulous albums by the Dead , workingman’s Dead And American Beauty , truly classic Americana . You also need to hear Dark Star from the live/ Dead album a 30 minute pice of musical excellence

[@orkneyrd]

Thanks, it was entertaining to watch you casually leap headlong into the deep end of the dead from the 10 meter board and free fall alongside the wind and water of Gravity's Rainbow, to your splashdown immersion in a Box of Rain. Holy Tripping Balls, Batman! ;-)

[@WendyCranmer]

thank you for reaction to this song. love it

[@Yaktahbay]

Two Grateful Dead songs you might really enjoy dissecting are The Attics Of My Life (not on every Dead fan's Top 50 but I like it) and Brown-Eyed Women (from the Europe '72 live album). Anything from American Beauty or Workingman's Dead is recommended also.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

Welcome to the jam band genre 😉. The dead notoriously struggled to get their stage energy in a studio but american beauty and workingman's dead, released in the same year, were the two notable exceptions. I saw the dead on a football field when I was 16 ('73). Four hour show with musicians coming and going... A self-contained festival. Jerry Garcia, not quite a prophet but very much a spokesman for the hippie generation. He left quite a body of jazzy bluegrass work as well with jazz mandolinist David Grissom... Great stuff. Truckin' is my favorite dead song.

[@preachervideo]

“They say life’s a tune you whistle in the dark. When you get it right, you get a little spark, then the sun comes up and it all dawns on you.” - Guy Clark from Bag of Bones. Check him out.

[@TheSchuyler75]

For this is a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago 🦋

[@CryptoCopilots]

great video! welcome to the world of grateful dead !

[@TheSchuyler75]

this song is like a big hug

[@Castironcarnivore]

“Uncle John’s Band” “Friend of the Devil” “Touch of Grey” are the first 3 songs that come to my mind when I think of The Dead... enjoy!

[@lehooper]

The Dead the only band that you could bet the playlist in Vegas. Different every show.

[@seanryan5591]

The box of rain is planet Earth.. The song is phils trying to ease his dying father to his end.. Its deep but fathom able.. Beautiful..

[@sjw5797]

"Truckin'" is their most iconic song. You should give it a listen.

[@zappafan-eu4wp]

The Dead are one of a kind. A Large volume of work but studio albums were not their strong suit. Live is the best way to consume them. There are recordings of almost every show they ever played. Enjoy

[@Montuckz]

imagine stumbling upon a rabbit whole to an endless library of life lessons and having no idea what you have found. welcome home kid

[@paigeherrin29]

Muhahahahaha

[@joshuabalko1907]

The Dead....., seems most either love or doesn’t. I am one of the huge fans and one of the greatest 4 days I ever can’t remember (lol) 4 nights at Irvine Medows (Orange County, Ca)

[@danwebb1756]

Nobody ever plans to be a Deadhead, yet here we are!!! 🤣

[@MrDeadhead1952]

When listening to the Grateful Dead is needs to be borne in mind that the album tracks are the groundwork and that the full edifice can only be appreciated by listening being performed live.

[@robertvien5693]

I think everyone in hospice should hear it. On either side of the bed.... or should I say in or out?

[@vadave311]

I always interpreted the song as a acid trip. The line about "don't be surprised if you find me dreaming too" to me meant someone ask him to be with them while they tripped on acid and he took some too. "A long long time to be gone and a short time to be there". An acid trip can last around 12 hours. Just my opinion from many decades ago from when I was experimenting with physcadelics and would listen yo Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and the Dead.

[@AnyangU]

To me, it is about the impermanence of life. The box of rain is a bout of sadness that you can hold on to, even enjoy, or you can let it go. Everything is impermanence, even sadness, even mourning. But, there is something so psychedelic about the song, it has the feeling of tripping, it sort of has more than one life, theme, to it, if you want, if you want...

[@vgizen]

Nothing about the Grateful Dead is easy, except to dismiss them. The Grateful Dead is a band that encompasses folk, bluegrass, country, jazz, soul, R&B, rock and roll. Their were master musicians, and they wrote some of the deepest and most heartfelt lyrics you'll ever hear. Their studio albums American Beauty, Workingman's Dead the music on these albums, were done to 'conform' to broader tastes, but the lyrics on these albums were some of their best. They built their audience by touring relentlessly and playing everywhere they could. Another song from American Beauty you should check out is Ripple kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXelgoaulN2WaNE In order to 'get' the Dead you need to listen to their live recordings, and it's not a simple process, most of their live songs are usually 7+ minutes long, some as long as 30 minutes, it doesn't really work for the KZbin sound bite crowd. A great easy introduction to the live Grateful Dead, is Loser from 1989 the last concert at Philadelphia's JFK stadium, it's only 7 minutes, and it gives you and glimpse into what they were like live. Every time the Grateful Dead played a song it was played differently, and the solos/jams were made up on the spot as they played. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5qQlmOagMitgMU Another song from that same concert is Warf Rat, written in 71 about the homeless. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5qQlmOagMitgMU

[@nancyaugustine9000]

no two dead shows were ever the same,,,,ty

[@danwebb1756]

Gotta listen to their live shows. Listen to Cornell 5.8.77 Morning Dew… life changing

[@donehogua9713]

OK, when you got the vol maxed, you became an official deadhead.

[@TheSchuyler75]

live it written by Robert Hunter ❤️🙏🦋🌈🌞🌻✌🏻😇😇 Jerry Garcia died around this time of year and I always listen to them anyway but especially in august

[@unki3259]

love the dead, favs are the wheel, and what'll you raise...

[@spindletopcenter]

A box of rain is the Earth!

[@rtwbikerider]

A local DJ, an avowed Dead-head, often says that the Dead aren’t the best at what they do; they’re the only ones that do what they do.

[@peterquinones3522]

The Dead is the only rock band in history who managed to become a lifestyle brand. Nike just came out with Grateful Dead sneakers. What other band could swing that?!

[@neonpark1874]

A while back (maybe early 2000's?) I think it was K2 who put out some skis with GD themed artwork on them. Snowboards too.

[@kevincosta9228]

Yes, they toured a lot, over 3,000 shows. They are by far the most interesting band I've ever seen. Early-mid sixties, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir met in San Francisco and started a jug band. Then, a band called the Warlocks, later renamed the Grateful Dead. These guys were at the VERY beginning of the psychedelic culture, being the band that played at the Electric Kool Aid Acid tests. Their music includes influences, or flat out done in the style of, virtually every form of music in the world, including acid rock, psychedelic pop, blues, country, bluegrass, dixieland, Middle Eastern music (using quarter tones), Russian music, disco, fusion rock (Terrapin Station, which Jerry co-wrote with a classical composer, executed with a full orchestra) and more. Most Dead heads will say the live recordings are where it's at. I disagree. They put out a phenomenal run of studio albums, both as a group and solo efforts. Live recordings from the seventies capture the sparkle, but no recording has ever captured for me the sonic experience of being there. I used to see them in the mid-late seventies and they were ridiculously good. They had a massive sound system which would fill a venue with virtually no distortion. You could hear everything in the music, which was always quite a bit.

[@rustycamaro]

You will need to hear studio as well as live songs, to get the fullest experience of them. Watch live videos too, maybe not for your reviews, but for yourself.

[@neonpark1874]

Yes. A typical song on a particular album might be 3 - 7 minutes long, but live, it might end up being 15 minutes or longer with lots of jamming (improvisation/soloing). They also might transition into a different song and then transition back to the first one again.

[@estavillo2112]

In Hunter’s own words: “I guess that was written for a young man whose father was dying.”

[@tomcanham9218]

you're doing ok, son. Grateful Dead is a good pole star.

[@davenunyabusiness4893]

ah kid I envy you...the journey is just beginning. Check out Throwing Stones.

[@xXROSEXx200level]

Try more like around 10 chords. Also, you really shouldd Listen to a live version by Robert Hunter, who wrote it and performs it alone on stage. Check it out. Its not the same. This waa the Grareful Dead's interpretation of Hunter's. Hunter never played with the GD. Not that I know of. I dare you to play this song on guitar and get all the chords, and in the proper order.

[@TheSchuyler75]

i never saw a single fight at a dead show.

[@NebulizerChi]

Seventy-eight minutes all about Box of Rain.... www.dead.net/deadcast/american-beauty-50-episode-1-box-rain Jerry Garcia on piano (for friggin' real!); Phil Lesh on acoustic guitar; David Nelson on electric; Dave Torbert on bass

[@alansilverman8500]

Dreams that didn't come true...

[@kidpoker007]

Check Help on the Way by the Dead... you’ll love it!!!!

[@axandio]

and play it together with Slipknot and Franklin's Tower, they are rarely played without each other, one of those medly's.

[@kidpoker007]

John T yes I agree, it’s my favorite Dead album

[@jameshenry8629]

Such a long time to be gone and a short time to be gone...that's exactly what happens to you when you've taken some LSD ...it can be bliz pure blitz ..but it can also be hell...

[@TheSchuyler75]

maybe a box of rain when opened is letting yourself cry

[@LoveBandit1000]

Robert Hunter was a first class POET!!!

[@juanpapworthgrau6034]

This could be the beginning of a very long trip. You decide - choose any song and then another. You will love it or leave it. Hang on if you like it

[@paigeherrin29]

Hunter wrote all the songs I love the most. I intend to be interred while brokedown palace is playing.

[@scarlettohara5030]

This is my favorite GD song besides Ripple, Truckin, and Uncle John's Band. American Beauty is their best album imo. xo

[@jimclark5454]

A little late to this party, but regarding the Grateful Dead, if given the choice between a studio and live version, always pick the live version. They are a live band.

[@grahamkemble3917]

Please react to Ripple. It is a beautiful song with very touching lyrics. I know you will love it.

[@kirkmcgee1]

Try: Deep Purple Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1969 Full Concert

[@spindletopcenter]

I see that you saw it as repetitive, but given what they ere doing before, the band must've considered it a blessing

[@kaleocambra1643]

While even the band hates their studio efforts I actually kinda enjoy studio Rain

[@billrehberg9271]

I believe this was written by the base player while his father lay dying.

[@Lebowski55]

GD was the original drone music

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

1. Always review live Grateful Dead. 2. It’s lsd

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

It is lsd I promise. Long time to be gone. I promise

[@NeverEndingFolklore]

It’s a well known deadhead lingo. LSD came in sugar cubes. Window pain was the type of paper acid then also

[@rhlang11]

Box of rain ie slice of life?

[@tim741b3]

Now go listen to st stephan, the eleven from 1969

[@stevenmurano7863]

dude...you're a guitar player ! 2 or three chords ? ahhahaahahhah get out ,yer guitar and play along. sad song...and one of the rare times phil lesh sings lead. this is the dead at their most polished...bt you would have to listen for weeks to get an idea what they were about...because they were about EVERYTHING....okl...maybe not metal ;O). amazing band, and has been said over the years ;'there is NOTHING like a grateful dead show'

[@pamhunter-to4xs]

LIVE! Dead albums suck. They're the first to admit it. The Dead are all about live shows. Can't read your on screen lyrics cuz too small.... and Deadheads already know them. LIVE VERSIONS, LIVE VERSIONS, LIVE VERSIONS. Otherwise welcome to the rabbit hole!

[@tonyallen4265]

Very repetitive. Not good to my ears.