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Length: 4:25
Plays (last 30 days): 2
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall, you fall alone
If you should stand, then who's to guide you
If I knew the way I would take you home
La da da da La da da da da
La da da La da La da da da
La da da da La da da da da
La da da da La da da da da
I had just, the moment before this song began playing, sent a message to a lifelong friend from New Jersey and California about going to Grateful Dead concerts in the 1970s with Bill Walton, the most famous Deadhead, and the greatest college basketball player of all-time. I love serendipity like that, which happens so often in life. "Ripple" is right up there with "Sugar Magnolia", "Box of Rain", and a few others as my favorite Grateful Dead songs ever. Songs that I never ever get tired of hearing. Especially with the variety of excellent live versions, like this one, that are out there. And kudos, Bill, on your great set list, and segues. U2s "One Tree Hill" to "Ripple" to a cover of the Dead's "I Know You Rider" to The Doors great "When the Music's Over". It doesn't get any better than that!
Walton just passed the other day (5/27/24). Another hard loss. Fuck cancer.
makes me sentimental about memories that I'm not even sure are mine
They could be mine - this was played at my wedding to a dead head who left the planet for parts unknown 16 years ago. These words and notes carry so much with them.
No. I think he got it right the first time.
You, of course, mean a loyal following of fans of their fantastic genre-spanning music. Fans that remain fans nearly 30 years after Jerry Garcia's passing AND new fans that recognized their amazing talent after that time.
He was a 61yo Deadhead in remission and I miss the conversations we had about obscure artists that play in small venues.
RIP Bob Kirst, you are missed.
I'm no music critic, but I play one on RP, and the Greatful Dead have always been a weak group musically, to me. But, they do have a loyal following of groupies.
You, of course, mean a loyal following of fans of their fantastic genre-spanning music. Fans that remain fans nearly 30 years after Jerry Garcia's passing AND new fans that recognized their amazing talent after that time.
makes me sentimental about memories that I'm not even sure are mine
This is what beautiful songs do; transmit from one speck of consciousness to another, a feeling more than a concept.
Well, Mr. Foster. the tune in question is played with questionable musical finesse. Perhaps that is the egregious error for which you're condemning both the GD and this station's programming choices.
But, that's the point: a little bit of space -- messiness -- really works in this context, this style of music. It fits the words, too. And, the lyrics are as good a whack at an avuncular mysticism as any other I've assessed. Wouldn't we all like to believe a ripple in still water is possible?
And, holy crap that's a happy clapping crowd forming the substrate of it all....
So, an emoji may have been briefer, but I give this song a smiley-clapping-happy dancing-banana 9 out of 10.
I'm so happy that I'm a music ignoramus. I read the complaints and whining about all different kinds of music and wonder "what the hell?" It must be hard to find radio which satisfies the high level listener that many seem to be. I don't think I've heard anything on RP that I didn't really enjoy.
As for the Grateful Dead, well I guess there are lovers and haters and not too many between. I'm a lover and I always get a kick out of the occasional musical mutterings of Jerry and the GD folks.
I guess ignorance really is bliss!
And off to find another station...another day of the GD making RP unlistenable...and go ahead and give me all the thumbs down, at this point its a badge of honor...
(just as a point of order, remember when we'd listen to someone's opinion and try to see what they were saying rather than smashing some computer icon to express our thoughts on their stupidity....I miss those days...)
Well, Mr. Foster. the tune in question is played with questionable musical finesse. Perhaps that is the egregious error for which you're condemning both the GD and this station's programming choices.
But, that's the point: a little bit of space -- messiness -- really works in this context, this style of music. It fits the words, too. And, the lyrics are as good a whack at an avuncular mysticism as any other I've assessed. Wouldn't we all like to believe a ripple in still water is possible?
And, holy crap that's a happy clapping crowd forming the substrate of it all....
So, an emoji may have been briefer, but I give this song a smiley-clapping-happy dancing-banana 9 out of 10.
Hyperbole much?
When will we ever see the end of this "xxx much" trend? Why not use something like standard English to express your annoyance? There exist a number of ways to express this attempted thought that avoid the muchness.
if you don't like this song, then you clearly do not like music
Hyperbole much?
(just as a point of order, remember when we'd listen to someone's opinion and try to see what they were saying rather than smashing some computer icon to express our thoughts on their stupidity....I miss those days...)
That's Otis :)
makes me sentimental about memories that I'm not even sure are mine
Because it's one of the greatest songs ever written and performed--and by a band that all in all I'm not even sure I could ever really like.
Buffet and Crosby singing the Dead? I've got something in my eye it seems.
I met Washboard Chas in New Orleans when he was a kid street musician. Guess he's a middle-aged street musician now?
Playing for Change does some beautiful stuff . One Love by them is a masterpiece also.
But if you fall, you fall alone
If you should stand, then who's to guide you
If I knew the way I would take you home
i hear ya.
Then 10 it is
I just sat down to write the same. Grew up and lived in the NYC area in the 70s. Not the same scene. Might have gone that way had I lived in CA.
Classic GD. Fills me with nostalia, tho I can't say why exactly.
Been with my spousal unit for 40 years. GD years precede.
Soldier. Not Soldier's.
Half the people in Chicago say "Soldier's". I'm used to it by now, DWK.
Soldier. Not Soldier's.
if you don't like this song, then you clearly do not like music
Whatever.
idiot_wind wrote:
if you don't like this song, then you clearly do not like music
Okay, I admit it.
if you don't like this song, then you clearly do not like music
This one time, I was sitting outside on a bench whilst the missus was in a store on Main Street in Telluride. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and a random dude comes down the street playing 'Ripple.' He was doing an amazing job on a challenging tune. It was a rather cosmic moment, just sitting there taking it all in ...
Being from Colorado and having spent much of my time in the mtns, I can readily picture this image. Images such as that is what makes me long to go back home to those mtns.
1. Grateful Dead
2. RHCP
3. Nirvana
I would like to nominate you for President of the Idiot League.
I'm just not sure that OP is up for a leadership position in that league.
I mean where are Dave Matthews Band, U2, and David Byrne?
What a day!
oh jerry
come out n play!
Twirl twirl
spin away
thank you mr deejay
1. Grateful Dead
2. RHCP
3. Nirvana
I would like to nominate you for President of the Idiot League.
1. Grateful Dead
2. RHCP
3. Nirvana
Enviable! I demand the PSD-function for web-radio devices here and now!
I second! I listen through a Raspberry Pi and can't PSD. How about PSD by text message?
Enviable! I demand the PSD-function for web-radio devices here and now!
Can be easy keeping to the tune when the audience is clapping off the beat. Great song.
This one time, I was sitting outside on a bench whilst the missus was in a store on Main Street in Telluride. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and a random dude comes down the street playing 'Ripple.' He was doing an amazing job on a challenging tune. It was a rather cosmic moment, just sitting there taking it all in ...
I'll be there. Either got lucky or they like my envelope art (probably just lucky).
Heard this a few times at Jerry or Jerry/Dog shows, but never the Dead as far as I can remember. If they decide to do an acoustic set in Chicago, I'll be in heaven.
Tickets on sale tomorrow, AT 10 AM!! (pardon my 1996 Johnny Mars of 'XRT impersonation)
And its cool.
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Best comment I've read today.
This version SUCKS.
IMO.
Country Joe McDonald - Lead Guitar, Vocals and Jerry Garcia - Guitar in Memory of Michael Bloomfield "Blues For Michael", recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, Califórnia, 1990.
A transcendent song.
No offense, but that is one of the worst covers ever.
AGREE ... thinking about that cover gives me shivers. I love both Jane's and the Dead. As for a Dead cover, I like "Stella Blue" from Ryan Adams (he played it live circa '05/'06) ... Poolside covered Neil Young's "Harvest Moon", I'd love to hear them give their take on any Dead song.
No offense, but that is one of the worst covers ever.
hysterical
I can't even handle the truth of this.
Wastoids stumbling around on stage with untuned instruments? Yeah, I've seen that ugly , disgraceful , ripoff, con artist sight.
Not (often) true. The Dead were anything but cons — they'd play hours and hours of music with a new set list every day/night.
The funny thing was that the Dead put on some of the BEST shows I've ever seen as well as a few of the WORST. I knew it was a bad show when my pals and I started hoping Bobby would "save" the show with Throwin' Stones or a Marty Robbins tune; it's not that Bobby was bad ... it was just that it was usually the Jerry songs and guitar that had magic, and Bobby's sometimes sounded like fluff in comparison. (Sorry Mr. Weir... I am truly grateful for those shows you pulled out of the muck!)
"Lift up your hand / if your cup be empty. . ."
My, now 19 year old, also enjoyed her first Dead concert like your son.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgans/1218333086/
When my daughter was a baby and couldn't sleep, we'd go for a drive and listen to the Grateful Dead... she always loved that and it always calmed her down....
Jerry Garcia by ~RussCook
Russ Cook ©2010 ~RussCook
A submission for all you deadheads floating free in deviant space. Really digging this wacom pencil thing.
hey, cut Bobby some slack...it had been a long strange trip ;)
But you took the time to call attention to yourself. What's up with that?
...and you took the time to call attention to him calling attention to himself. You're on an internet message board - if you have to ask the question...
Had to turn it off.
But you took the time to call attention to yourself. What's up with that?
Blagh.
YOU PROBABLY NEVER SAW THEM PERFORM!
Long Live Hippies!
Wastoids stumbling around on stage with untuned instruments? Yeah, I've seen that ugly , disgraceful , ripoff, con artist sight.
Had to turn it off.
Walton just passed the other day (5/27/24). Another hard loss. Fuck cancer.
Rest easy friend Walton. It is clear you were loved.