GRATEFUL DEAD - Ripple REACTION

[@chrisdurham6517]

Ben Franklin allegedly said, "He who has never made a mistake, has never made anything." In their 30 original years, the Dead played around 2500 shows, including a catalogue of thousands of tunes. Often the mistakes were screw-ups, but often they became the door to a new tune, new jam, or a wrestling match between musicians that resolved into something awesome further down the road. There were some truly awful shows, but also some truly irreplaceable moments. Like a bad day fishing, a bad Dead show was still better than a good anything else. :) Take care - really enjoy your vids.

[@bobschenkel7921]

I was at the Cap Center in Landover, Md. on 9/3/88 when the Grateful Dead played their first electric version of Ripple in 17 years as the second encore song. When the first notes were played, after a rousing One More Saturday Night, the arena almost levitated from the reaction. The crowd roared, then went quiet to hear the lyrics, then roared again when the music started. It went back and forth like this for the whole song. At the end, the reaction from the crowd was ecstatic, lots of hugs and screams and shocked looks. "Did I really just see that!" was the most common reaction. In the parking lot afterwards people were going nuts for a couple of hours after the show, just amazing to have been there .Lucky me.

[@JGarcia77]

I was there!! An amazing moment!!!🙂

[@davebrown6877]

I was there too. A great night to say the least.

[@crowmomma9476]

Me too. My first show. I had no idea what I was seeing

[@tcanfield]

The Dead used to launch off into free form jams loosely based on the songs they were playing and since it was often made up from moment to moment the jam was vulnerable to failure or success by it’s very nature. Their hope was for magic to inject itself by being void of set form. One amazing thing they did was to start the next song by introducing hints in the midst of the free form and then seamlessly start into a new song without a break.

[@nealpierson9072]

I suggest listening to songs from the Europe '72 live album. That was the one that really made the Dead click for me. They were an unbelievable live band.

[@stevenmurano7863]

there were certainly firing on all cylinders at the time!

[@johnknight9624]

THEY ARE A GREAT BAND STILL…..

[@raenellefisher8514]

Not everyone gets the Dead. It took me 40 years to HEAR them. It's like Jerry said: The GD is like licorice. Not everybody like it, but those that do, really, really do.

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

The Grateful Dead? I could go on all day...

[@dixiechatty958]

It's not that they didn't care. They played on the fly. There was no set list. They played extended jams that played off of each other. Some nights it worked better than others. Plus, the live experience doesn't come across as well on recordings. Please don't think that they didn't care; it's simply not true.

[@stevenmurano7863]

you're kinda missing the point. not that they didn't care. ALL they cared about was the music (at least for a long time) wasn't about fame, money, image etc. they would go onstage with no setlist and see where it went. fans were always wondering where it would go...would it soar or will it crash. sometimes it would crash. i;ve witnessed it. but when it would take off , there was nothing like it.... it's certainly not for everyone, but where i used to be super impressed with 'wow...they did it note for note like the record' (and there's nothign wrong with that)...i was learned to be more into the adventure...the creation of musical themes on the spot..improvisation

[@willinghamsctt]

you havent heard Ripple until you've heard 20,000 people singing it at the same time at a show.

[@nealpierson9072]

Also just a note that the official Grateful Dead YT channel has remastered versions of this song and others from their albums. The album this song is on was just remastered this year for its 50th anniversary. So it sounds even better than it does here.

[@hannesgeiger4178]

I love the Grateful Dead they are my rolemodel for life Iam a german deadhead

[@billacikalin8108]

It's a song about the personal journey of each of us from birth thru to death. About the ripples that each of us cause in the lives of all we contact as we live out our days. Our interconnection, as well as the fact that our journey really is ours alone.

[@emilyflotilla931]

Well said my friend, keep on truckin!

[@TrojansFirst]

That’s the broadest interpretation. There is also the Ripple XRP ledger as a manifestation among many of the ever flowing stream and XRP holders are the “Fool” for holding during an Sec lawsuit but in the end they are rewarded for their leap of faith with a fortune.

[@WendyCranmer]

the dead are really a touring jam band left from the 60s. I'm still a big fan.

[@bangmon1000]

First time listing to this song. Nice suggestion.

[@emilyflotilla931]

Did it resonate with you?

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

I suppose you’ve already gotten all the background on The Dead.....but just in case: going to a Dead concert was a “happening”.....Deadheads traveled the country to go to their shows....hippie garb, dancing, smiles, blowing bubbles....weed everywhere....did I mention the smiles? Many went to their shows for the positive vibe.....the music was the soundtrack. Honestly...I don’t think The Dead was like other bands...it wasn’t so much about “performance”. It was a way to keep the counterculture alive for decades after it really died.

[@musicairplanes4884]

And the acid.

[@lisarainbow9703]

Chod-- you seem to appreciate jazz. Check out The Dead's, "Eyes of the World", from their "Without A Net" album. They've got Branford Marsalis sitting in on that one, it's stellar.

[@edprzydatek8398]

I think their song "Cassidy" gets into some jazz.

[@lisarainbow9703]

@@edprzydatek8398 I'm inclined to agree with you on that. One of my favorites to hear, and play....

[@Maine_Coast]

Thank you, Best band ever! they are awesome live.

[@danielkalat2694]

Mistakes are beautiful. The fix makes it perfect. Music is not perfect, where you go after is the journey.

[@charlesmcmurray4727]

In live they would jam and try new things with every performance… when you try to do a song differently every time .. many were good, but some didn’t work.. then sometimes the performance was absolutely amazing. That’s why people would follow them around the country seeing as many shows they could. As every show was different. Even if a same song was played, it was always a unique experience

[@markb3186]

THANK YOU YOU BRING JOY TO MANY BECAUSE OF YOUR AWESOME SENSITIVITIES AND YOUR HIGH INTELLIGENCE, HONESTY, AND TALENT FOR ARTICULATION and that affirms what many of us have lived thank you and luv to you my friend be seeing u....sorry wrote too much but music is HUGE in my life's journey since the beatles sparked it back in 63

[@panpdx8919]

Honestly, if you see it as a performance you miss it. The Music plays the band. Its a road map to the trip. If the music gets funky, it is a reflection.

[@ryanodowd2516]

Amen

[@dana-2584]

It’s the different thing , keep listening you’ll get it .

[@dbasstij512]

Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice REALLY LIKE licorice

[@SmilingMedicineEntertainment]

Thanks for giving The Dead a second try. I've seen 100 some odd Dead shows. Some nights were unforgettable magical events, and some nights they just couldn't get things together. And that's fine because they are human beings, and we all have off days. I also think that some of your criticism here, the band would probably agree with. But they took risks, they had a lot of trust between each other, and they went on musical excursions that many musicians wouldn't dare attempt to play live on stage. Try looking into Jack Straw or Cumberland Blues off Europe '72 or St Steven>the Eleven off Live Dead. Keep exploring.

[@ddickson1321]

I’ll echo what a lot of others have said. That disorganization you hear was how they’d transition between songs and maybe even get a little rest in. It would almost be a conversation between the band members as to what they’d play next. To really understand it you have to take into consideration how messed up they were on drugs, mostly psychoactive drugs like acid and mushrooms. But keep giving them chances man. Jerry is possibly the most creative a guitarist ever.

[@3DJapan]

I don't know what live song you watched but their live shows were often more of a free form jam session. For example the song Terrapin Station is different every time they played it and it always goes on for like 12 minutes.

[@nealpierson9072]

The Dead are an amazing band with so much great music.

[@emilyflotilla931]

Love the spiritual aspect of this one...gets me in the heartstrings

[@gordonfreligh1182]

I accept that they may mess up because when the improvising works the results are majestic.

[@elizabethdemerie13]

Check out Althea from the Grateful Dead please

[@raymonddhedrick9587]

32 years touring played in every concert yeah they were so so

[@mercurywoodrose]

i agree they could get a little rambly on stage. my dad made drums for them, they definitely had an anti performance groove, more about creating a mood for their audience, based on shared experiences. the lyrics are quite profound, written by a nonband member, robert hunter, and established poet in his own right. this song most definitely has very very deep roots. its melody music are nice, sweet, not their best work, more basic folk music, its the lyrics that can blow people away with multiple listenings. i missed their live shows as a kid, and saw one as an adult, it was nice, but i recall their percussionist, mickey hart, going into wild areas like recording his unborn sons heartbeat in utero, then jamming to the rhythm and playing that music back during his birth. and, if it has not been made crystal clear to you, to really understand where the dead are coming from, at all levels, having had an experience with entheogens, or a similar mind opening experience, is necessary (but not sufficient, some intense thought is also required to get where they are coming from). but so glad you got to dig this song, i like and respect your reactions, will check out some more.

[@tomboedeker8479]

It's not that they didn't care, it's that they were willing to risk it falling apart. I find it to be similar to bebop, it can go off the rails; as the audience you hold your breath because it feels like it is about to come apart and sometimes it does.

[@barbarascotto3873]

I'm a Deadhead. The Dead are unique because you either get it or you don't. If you don't, don't waste time explaining why you don't, just move on. If you DO get it, don't waste your breath to save your face, or try to get others on the bus. Just move on.

[@brianholly3555]

‘If I knew the way, I would take you home.

[@eileeneslick2415]

When you see them live that's what you got see them for...they were a jam band. They will go as long as they want & the crowd loved it. Try getting through a "Space" session. 😂

[@JaggedRecordsVa]

Jerry Garcia is the greatest musician of the past 100 years. Change my mind

[@nathanieltoby6936]

I'll admit they would get sloppy sometimes, but you have to remember that those jam sessions are almost entirely IMPROV. Just like with a freestyle rap, you have to take that into consideration when making your judgement. And just like a freestyle (or any type of improv), there is something magical about knowing that each live performance is unique. Some parts may get sloppy, while others are just fucking amazing. Either way you're seeing something that no one have ever seen before and may not ever see again. I don't necessarily want to see a group live who's gonna play the songs exactly how they are on the album. I'm paying money for an experience, and they delivered on that, every time.

[@peterjonas4971]

"No one may guide you. That path is for your steps, alone...."

[@sukie584]

I am not a Dead fan. Many people are not, but they do have an extraordinarily loyal following.. I can stand a few songs. . If you decide to swing back to them after this, the song I like best is Box of Rain. It resonates for me in a way most of their other songs don't. And it seems to be the song that most non Deadheads like.

[@mariussulla7697]

LMAO they were just high as fuck lol and kept playing.

[@nealpierson9072]

Definitely read the lyrics to this song. Don't get too hung up on the "Truckin'" performance from 1980. That was 10 years after they first started playing that song. Best performances of "Truckin'" were from early 70's.

[@nathanieltoby6936]

Truckin' is definitely not the best live song in their catalogue lol.

[@johntucker4296]

Who would have thought that the Grateful Dead would record one of the most spiritual (from/for a particular religion) songs. In my top 20, maybe 10.

[@Alewifes_Husband]

I bet you'd like King Solomon's Marbles, from the album Blues For Allah. Or Unbroken Chain, from Mars Hotel. OH and Playin' In the Band, live from a record just called Grateful Dead.

[@tommathews3964]

I must comment to refrain from commenting. I’m glad The Dead, at least somewhat, redeemed themselves to you.

[@vincentvancraig]

Studio dead is ESSENTIAL for newbies...not all, but enuf dead heads agree....and the ones that dont are so high on god knows what, they dont know their a$$es from a hole in the ground....unfortunately, unlike other more “top 40 friendly” bands theyre such true freaks that one REALLY needs to know a healthy sampling of their material/catalog before its wise to tackle the love stuff, because they dont play stuffmthe exact same way twice and can venture into some strange and extreme territory....bob dylan is the same way melodically, but not “jam-wise”, dylan live arrangement wise, yes, but he doesnt “jam out” esoterically....dylan loved the dead, they were his touring band for the entirety of 1987...they knew more of his songs than he did (they loved ones he’d long forgotten) and they got him to play stuff he’d hadnt played in years, or even never played.....the dead would open, then bob came out and,theyd play bob’s long set....theyre a really unique band in rock history, but live, theyre an acquired taste....bob loved jerry garcia so much that when he dies, bob braved going out in public to jerry’s funeral, and was photographed😬....and then dylan stole jerry’s drummer from Jerry Garcia band the next year, david kemper....he played with bob for quite a few years...jerry could pick some great musicians, he hated the dead having 2 drummers, when he was angry hed say “im sickmif that god damn popcorn machine playing behind me!”.....any way, other greats in various garcia lead bands were melvin seals the organist, Ron tutt, the drummer, amd david grisman, the greatest mandolin player in modern bluegrass history ....his work outsidemthe dead i love 500 times more than the dead stuff, but i love the dead stuff...just remember......STUDIO FIRST!!!.......lol.......great, and thoughtful reaction

[@davidlbrooking]

hey from sao paulo.... you still on..thanks scene grateful dead 20 times ...and you are cute

[@mikemaggio4979]

Dude, you come from a jazz upbringing! It's the most complicated music to understand, I know, my musical upbringing was the same. How is it so hard to understand the journey of one's life in this song? Just curious.

[@markb3186]

the china cat sunflower into i know you rider from ALPINE VALLEY WISCONSIN in 1989 then u will understand -got to know what to listen to-sometimes improve does not work live you are correct sometimes jerry's vioce is off yes but ...listen to that set from alpine valley 89 the first night i am a dead head -you have not heard ANYTHING YET i have seen led zep pink floyd the who stones all multiple times in the day-when the dead click right on all cylinders nothing comes close listen to that china rider then the 2 songs that follow from that night that is a prime example search for grateful dead 7/17/89 second set i was there it became the album called downhill from here

[@joedirt3611]

Bro this song you can literally understand it when you're trippin on LSD

[@campbell1469]

Hey man, check out shakedown street by them. Its a more up beat vibe and its great

[@rodciferri9626]

I was one of those deadheads who commented on your last reaction agreeing with you about the sloppy-ness. Thing is, no one puts themselves out into the unknown playing live than them - that makes sloppy-ness inevitable periodically. But, it also enables absolutely perfect masterpieces that would not otherwise be available. In that vein, I'd recommend "Morning Dew" live at Barton Hall, Cornell University in 1977: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH7SpZmJrreWrbc

[@muffinamy83]

China Cat Sunflower

[@TheMarshall1961]

Shakedown Street and Estimated Prophet are two Dead songs that are hard not to like.

[@robertgrosek1124]

Robert Hunter lyrics are not written to mean any one “thing” ever so if you are searching to discern what “the” meaning is, make it instead personal and what it means to you

[@jeffhannon3005]

Acid explains the appeal of their live shows. Some live shows are really good, others not so much. LSD closes the gap.

[@rebeccam439]

What you said about live Dead-I’ve seen them many times. Sometimes they were great and tight. Other times they flake out. I love them but it’s true. So anyone giving you shit for calling them out is delusional.

[@Tijuanabill]

They did a lot of drugs, and sometimes when you do a lot of drugs magic things happen, and other times it sucks. That's the facts on this band. At times they were next level 11, and at other times they were change the station. Their fans won't admit that, because they were just as fucked up.

[@chops5853]

Once more I’m gonna request it... “Broken Bones and Pocket Change” by St Paul and the Broken Bones...check out a live version. Believe me you will be blown away

[@Tijuanabill]

I refuse to conform to your emoji demands. =)

[@moondog2032]

The only bands that just stop or whatever are the bands who play the same songs every night and that gets stale

[@gabedeane414]

I have to say something about this. I've seen over 100 Grateful Dead shows. They arnt tired! It seat of your pants improv! What you don't like is just the dead being the dead. You have to listen to the entire show. There is context to all this. Trucking didn't fall apart.....it's just a long trippy improv transition

[@thastreetprophet]

No the Dead did not make a habit of screwing up on stage, The Truckin' performance was a definite screw up which you astutely pointed out when the drums lost it and that caused the rest of the band to go haywire. I noticed that one of the drummers actually split from the performance. I think what people are talking about is early on when they started as the House band for Ken Kesey and the Merry Prankster Acid Tests. They were almost a film score, improvising for a warehouse full of people tripping on LSD punch. Their jams tended to go off the rails and come back at some point, This became a part of their style but did have some cohesiveness within the song. Organized mayhem perhaps? Every once in a while they would lose it and they definitely did on that last song. later, I have heard interviews where they were very critical of their performances, especially Jerry Garcia so it is not like they just went with the flow and did not care, as some are saying. they were professional musicians at the top of the game so they had to care. Also I agree on the vocals,not great but very unique and identifiable which makes it kinda great. Enjoy your insights

[@nealpierson9072]

This guy know what he's talking about.

[@gabedeane414]

2 words Terrapin Studio

[@FolkSongsEtAl]

The dead were often really bad. But then they could be magic. My favourite band, but drugs, and constant touring, and their style of just playing in the mood of the night - not playing the same every time - means that they were always on the edge of either delivering magic or a disaster, or just mediocrity. You need to see if you can get some suggestions on live shows, because all of the audio is available, but the amount of film/video is extremely limited, and never from the best shows. A couple that I like are the Sugaree and Althea from the 1980 Rockpalast shows - also the Not fade away with Pete Townshend joining them onstage.

[@FolkSongsEtAl]

I also think you're missing the point of that stage of the music - if it was Truckin'. It definitely wasn't a great performance, but they used these improvised sections as slow transitions to the next part of the show, whether it be the drum solo, or into another slower song. I generally like them, but sometimes the improvisation just falls apart.

[@robertkramer41]

Like...you really don't get it lol. It is a great song. 75 mics and a DSO Show will set you right

[@rachelrelyea3570]

Guy u think long song..try greatful dead Drums and space for hours Lol U would have to lived it

[@thedeadsealion]

Man come on. Even just the first time through they is so much lyrically to get

[@thedeadsealion]

Hard thumbs down

[@edprzydatek8398]

With all due respect, you're not the guy to judge the Grateful Dead.

[@sukie584]

sure he is.. He's a musician and regardless of that, anyone can make a judgment about what they are listening to.

[@brianorzel1873]

I only like a few groups live. These guys are not one of them. I like a lot of their studio stuff, though.

[@TrojansFirst]

But for their style of music it wouldn’t work if they were great vocalists

[@HankLikesItDank]

You don’t understand

[@mikemaggio4979]

One other thing, the picture you post advertising your reaction to this song is very misleading! It portrays enjoyment, not disappoint ment in the song as you described! I will be unsubscribing because of this! Is this how you get people to listen to you? Bogus facial expressions? Thought you had integrity, guess I was wrong!

[@gwalbert]

stay away from that live stuff. Stick to studio albums Workingman's Dead and American Beauty

[@hippiejoe969]

Respect to you love your taste in music. Want organ madness, and great jamming, spin off Dead band from original bass player. Seriously check out PHISH 12.29.97 TUBE, I think you'll freaking love it! (Live) THANKS /PEACE

[@paulhansberry8168]

Hey the Dead were/are HARD core stoners, especially Garcia...fans weren't much better, sooo........

[@Blasserman]

Dead Heads were a devout group of psychedelic drug users, almost a cult. The Dead themselves were well known for being on LSD and out of their brains most of the time. Most likely what you experienced with your previous video. Just being real. I don't hate them, it's just a fact. I still love a lot of their music. Do some later studio stuff and you will like it.

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

Not all deadheads take psychedelics, btw

[@tcanfield]

I don’t believe the band members were playing on acid most of their career, except back in the sixties. Jerry said in an interview he never tried it again after he played at the Filmore West and imagined there was a Mafia hitman in the audience who wanted to kill him ! Acid was not known for performance enhancement on stage. David Crosby once said he didn’t like it because his guitar seemed like it was made of rubber. The mainstay was probably cocaine because it perked them up when on long tours and helped juice their playing. But then for Jerry and Brent the heroin crept in to take the edge off and it cost them their lives eventually. A bunch more paragraphs could be needed to explain the pharmacology of the band, but probably not a lot of tripping except maybe when on their vacations.

[@Blasserman]

@@tcanfield I agree. My comment was really about the early days of the band. It was a little to general.

[@brianjones8751]

Never liked them at all, never will

[@sukie584]

🙋🏻‍♀️

[@alanhembra2565]

The Dead are nothing more than heavy drug users with a couple decent songs and a huge hippie following. They have no professionalism or regard for giving their fans a good show. Most of their music is meandering and kinda boring.

[@donthomasdunigan7004]

Your opinion is noted. Now go away. You don't have to go to reactions to songs or artists that you know you dislike, and you certainly don't have to comment. Peace.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Uh, not true. They cared a great deal, which is why they had such loyal fans. They developed the best sound system for live music, powered exclusively by McIntosh Amps. They did care!

[@nealpierson9072]

Imagine saying that the Dead didn't care about giving their audience a good show. It was literally their bread and butter, and how they became one of the most successful touring acts of all time.

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

Sorry, but you're full of shit.

[@Maine_Coast]

You are wrong. I love the Dead and I am not a drug user.

[@cmzeman]

They weren't looking to fuck up the performance, it just didn't work that time.