Grateful Dead - Mason's Children (12-28-69)

Mason's Children performed by the Grateful Dead on December 28, 1969.

[@GlobalTubeTruth]

Uploaded 10 years ago today by special request. Thanks Sarah. Wherever you are these days.

[@gregrichards5757]

This is probably their best unreleased song and this is probably the best version of it.

[@cathycrago2722]

I was give a tape of this show by a friend in April 1984 after a Hampton show I listened to this song over and over like it was on vinyl❤ And here I am again 40 years later🎶

[@Deadeye26]

This was performed at the Hollywood Pop Festival at the International Speedway in Hollywood, Florida for those interested. One of the better versions in existence. I have 11 of the 15 live versions known to exist. Such an underrated song.

[@maxragno9881]

My dad was there! He wasn’t a Deadhead (still isn’t sadly) but he was present at that festival overall.

[@rupertpicante2079]

I think it is a terrible song.

[@raybestos5457]

@@rupertpicante2079 do you know what its about?

[@raybestos5457]

I absolutely love the song and the performance... and how much audio is there of Pig just talking? Not much I've found

[@rupertpicante2079]

@@raybestos5457 It is about Altamont and is not a good song.

[@daviddravneek5191]

This will always be one of my FAVORITE songs

[@hollywoodjoe8750]

My parents asked me when I was gonna grow outta being a Deadhead I told them you don't grow outta being a Deadhead u grow into them

[@hobgoblin6659]

13 is proper

[@hollywoodjoe8750]

@@hobgoblin6659 bro the 13 point bolt that's so insane 😍❤❤❤❤

[@amandapetty3978]

Perfectly said! Once aHead, you are never behind. Peace brothers and sisters

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

never more than a truth been said about the Dead. I always kinda dug Skeletons from the Closet though.. that one took no "getting used to" at all. Then I bought "Garcia" and it was all begun.

[@sideshowbob]

My mom asked me, at Age 55: "When are you going to grow out of this "Going to Concerts" phase of your life?" (my 1st show was in 1974 at Age 14). Sorry, Ma

[@popbottle2645]

my favorite Grateful Dead song is whichever one i'm listening to. And this one is my favorite.

[@popbottle2645]

say, that guitarist is really good!

[@brandenharned7004]

I have been playing this one on the street....haven't gotten any recognition - even on the corner of Ashbury and Haight!!

[@grecorobert97]

Ok. Well on that certain corner. I'm saddened by the way people are today. But man, that corner couldn't have been a better place for you to play.

[@paddymcgibson8939]

Branden, do you have any clips of your work?

[@hobgoblin6659]

Tenderloin peeps infiltration, stay strong but kind.

[@giftbearer]

hehe, not surprised. pity, that...

[@Stonecrow25]

Was at a show back in 80s in the lot pre show.. My buddy jamming it on guitar. Kid says “cool song, but can you play some dead”.

[@michaelleone4233]

So glad Furthur/Phil n friends brought this one back to life. Great tune. C'mon Ratdog! break it out!

[@grecorobert97]

Who else goes through the comments on Grateful Dead videos just liking everything??!!

[@sammyboy7163]

Robert Greco mostly cuz I'm usually pretty high when I'm on a dead video

[@hobgoblin6659]

@@sammyboy7163 If you have really been kind of high you would too?

[@scrappydoohasbeenfounddead937]

sammy boy cheers bro

[@ChefTareck]

Had this on cassette back in the day. This is one of my all time favorite dead tunes and my favorite era. Jerry's solo is epic. Cosmic

[@bryanmeekins835]

Hearing this is always a joy. Seeing the words, "Grateful Dead Forever" makes it even better.

[@Golfmann]

They filmed this too, in Panavision! I wonder where it all went. Good festival!

[@taw99]

Best Mason's Children ever.

[@ltomolo]

No other version even comes close!

[@evilmale2612]

Damn, this recording is crackling with energy! FUCK. Good ol' Grateful Dead.

[@Masons4Liberty]

I never had any children, but I have had plants. This song mentions them.

[@floridasoldat]

One of the more jammin dead recordings out there. Thanks for sharing this gem.

[@chriswilson2989]

Just shared this with my son Mason ;-) Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@karriemichelle3844]

I had a cat named Mason. He always fought my other cat named Trooper.

[@MarkMasters...]

Smokin' version. Much obliged for the upload. 👍🙏🕺

[@Willyspujim]

And it still sounds great! 🙂The music never stops.

[@johnm3152]

Holy cow - this is a groove. First impressions of M.C. reminded me of Poe's "the Cask of the Amontillado". That has intial impression has long since morphed - why it never even made its it's way into the (seldom played songs) list has baffled me. Thanks

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Nice.poe reference..cask. Yes I Jah Herb Jah love Jah Jerry Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️

[@thomasmantellwilliam]

Smokin' version, Miss LST! Many thanks from Richmond, Va.

[@NoRosesForMe]

this song was going to be included on WOrkingman's Dead but they thought it was too "rock n roll" for that album. It is however included as a bonus track on the CD. (latest release) :)

[@bluesriot2]

too bad too, would have given it the recognition it definitely deserves

[@Pun2404]

Mason's Children is such a dark / creepy song when you read the lyrics. Something about the the father of these children die and they brick him in a wall,dug him up a day later by which he has hardly aged a day (cheeky), taught them all they ever knew, Mason was mighty said not to weep for him when he's dead and gone, the wall fell down they chalked up to fate, children ran in fear, thursday becomes friday, buyers tall and bright, mason's children "cooked the strew" (was Mason in the stew)? Such a weird esoteric song.

[@davidwolf5829]

Freemasons

[@davidwolf5829]

The stew and feast is the masons catering to the workers on payday to regain the wealth

[@WolfDaddy420]

Supposedly an allegorical tale about Kesey who was known to be a Freemason of sorts like his daddy Fred and also the Pranksters who were the adopted children of the aforementioned mason in question on so many different levels of psychedelic wisdom and experience depending on whoever happens to be deconstructing the story within the story because nothing lasts, folks...✌

[@jamesk3068]

@@WolfDaddy420 Bravo , yes and yes !

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Very creepy

[@darkstar2117]

one of my favs! ♥

[@toniaugusta]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@johnsarcone4789]

The best GD sing Jam ever! When did they ever play this song in the last 3 decades in concert?

[@pepperidgedave]

Opened up 2nd set 7/3/15 with this one

[@tomtallman305]

20 years later

[@Zzsmuf]

Once a deadhead always a deadhead.

[@hollywoodjoe8750]

Luke Donnelly I caught the bus late cause I born late but I am proud to say I'm the first generation Deadhead in my family

[@grecorobert97]

Hollywood Joe87 2nd over here my man

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Afro viking here Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️

[@tham5102]

You know they seemingly started around 1966, and by this, 1969, they are running on all 8 cylinders.

[@michaeld2708]

Rest In Peace Robert hunter

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Shakespeare

[@popbottle2645]

god love these kids!

[@laurenceschwartz8606]

Does anyone else suspect that 'Mason's' is really a stand-in lyric for 'Manson's'?

[@07rubiconman]

Love when tribute bands play this. Grate live song

[@slayme3]

love it!

[@stacyblue1980]

my main man Pigpen speaking firstly.. ya might get smashed..... ah well forget it just do what ya want!

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Janice. Whiskey. Yes I Jah Herb Jah love Jah Jerry Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️

[@stacyblue1980]

@@stephanlarsen8169 Um..okay...?

[@Golfmann]

Yep, I was there... North of Miami.

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Nice

[@threeinitiates8260]

Seems they also played it on the 29th on Boston?

[@starfeather7899]

"masons" children like free masons

[@josephcaldwell2822]

this gets me goin

[@ColorfulBoxOfCrayons]

Man! Some prime Jerry!! Shit was wild!!!

[@Pianoscript]

Mason's children are R-M167. At least this one is. Mr Garcia as well.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

Mason died on Monday, we bricked him in the wall All his children grew and grew, they ain't never grown so tall before They may never grow so tall again We dug him up on Tuesday, he hardly aged a day Taught us all we ever knew, we ain't never known so much before We may never know so much again The wall collapsed on Wednesday, we chalked it up to fate Mason's children ran and flew, they ain't never run so fast before Swore they'd never show their face again Mason was a mighty man, a mighty man was he Always said when I'm dead I'm gone, don't you weep for me Thursday came then Friday, with buyers tall and bright Mason's children cooked the stew and cleaned up when the feast was through Take me to the repo-man to pay back what is owed If he's in some other land write it off as stole (i just copied this from the googler, so lots of the words are different, let's see who's got a pair of ears on 'em and can "correct them" )

[@ArodOwnsU1313]

pigpen banter.... better than any song they ever did... dont argue with me

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Stop you're internal debate no. Your wrong I'm right. But,? No shut up. Jah Herb Jah love Jah Jerry Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️ Jah sisters Jah Trey Jah Duane Africa Ethiopia Addis Ababa Selassie I Jah Creation

[@KurtKnutsen]

happy 50 th.

[@philipshirk2228]

The faster we go the rounder we get

[@tarheel387]

Just do what ya want!

[@NoRosesForMe]

Oh I for one will certainly not argue with ya! ♥ Matter of fact- Im adding this to my 'Pigpen List'. ...just cuz of the cute bantering. hehe! He's my main man. Sweet Ronny. Have a good'un! ~"Jen"

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Love you

[@claymationwaves]

the drumming goooooogghgghghhhgg

[@Tyler-ku4bu]

Wow

[@chrismaloney7073]

pig doth any need say mo,1st heard this fillmore in 70s lov phil over doin ittt greatful/ thx boyz in band from otto xx an more hugggsss jerry

[@jlwaddey9579]

Hollywood, FLA... McIntyre told me that!

[@theopenroad9639]

Just do what you want

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Free

[@AC-eu6gn]

wow

[@monopolymike1]

I read somewhere the reason they stopped doing this was because it was too hard to play.

[@nagesha1111]

pretty much. It was doing the harmonies live that was tough.

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️

[@giacomodead3370]

SUPERBO...

[@DouglasF68]

classic Pigpen: just forget it. do what you want.

[@bluesriot2]

the dead in 69, sha-zamm

[@kewlbreez77]

A question for everyone: when was your first show...?!

[@kewlbreez77]

and/or: what first turned you on to the Dead... which song or segue?!

[@charlielewis8858]

I remember listening to my dad play St Stephen when I was young and about 3 years back I finally heard it again, the dead have never stopped being the most nostalgic band in my life. My first show was dead and company Saratoga springs 6/20/17

[@charlielewis8858]

Pigpen makes my favorite music he speaks to me, I was named Mr Charlie

[@gadwah]

10-22-67 first "official" show.

[@xRubberNinjax]

who's the guy singing way up high at 2:46

[@jackstraw61]

+793--9383__98mjp{0} The high part of their harmonies is Phil.

[@xRubberNinjax]

awesome, thanks

[@kendrickpayton3416]

phil lesh haha!!

[@mackb909]

Question if anyone knows: Pigpen or T.C. on organ?

[@jmccullough]

+mackb909 I'm gonna say Pig.

[@hollywoodjoe8750]

mackb909 the pig

[@zeussierraalex]

Oink oink 🐷🐽🐖

[@retardbird689]

It was T.C. Pigpen only played percussion after Tom joined in ‘68

[@mackb909]

@@retardbird689 Not true; during T.C.'s tenure with GD (approx. fall '68 to Jan. '70, not counting studio work on "Anthem of the Sun" before he was a full-fledged member), Pig still played organ live on some of GD's signature live repertoire in that era, including "Morning Dew" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy." As for his "only playing percussion," he also played harmonica on a number of songs.

[@user-xj7yn2fm4k]

wop woop

[@tham5102]

DO you al hear a little I know you rider around 9:21 and beyond???

[@justicesomeday]

🙃✈️

[@stephanlarsen8169]

A very different song.

[@Slumber_Jack]

Definitely has some strange ritualistic vibes. With his "Children" entombing him, "Mason", in a wall. Seems to be a reference to stone masons Aka freemasons. Then once they bring him out of being entombed he gives them knowledge, kinda reminiscent of Jesus' resurrection, and then eating his flesh and having a feast. Also, like communion. Very strange lyrics is all I am saying

[@ArodOwnsU1313]

ya might get smashed.... from a guy who was always smashed...

[@james-yy1jo]

Has anyone ever noticed the Stones ripped this song off and turned it into brown Sugar play it at a little slower tempo.75

[@jeannekoopman1450]

Pigpen on organ

[@stacyblue1980]

♥ love Pig always ♥

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Rodney mckeirnan

[@Hgiordano7]

i wrote a song for ronny called The Pig, we should be playing by the summer "The Promised Land Revival" just found my drummer a month ago so get ready for us its on!!!!! God bless and Peace

[@stephanlarsen8169]

Chuck Berry I Jah Herb Jah love Jah Jerry Jah rastafari praises blessings respectfully Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🏜️

[@masonderr7079]

my name is Mason

[@james-yy1jo]

Gold coast Slave ships bound for cotton fields WHATT