What Grateful Dead song moved you the most and why?

Question

The Dead as a group was not a band, they were a presence...a force.
Never before nor since has there been such an ectasy within music, that can come close to what a Deadshow could be.

Answer 1

Beautiful answers to a GREAT question.

I have been moved by different GD songs at different points or phases of my life.

The one that first got me was "ripple"

but currently songs that give me chills are "So Many Roads" and "Standing on the Moon"- the way that both these songs are written is incredible!!!

Just recently as well "China Doll"- made me cry (hate to admit, but it's true) when all the pieces fell together and I realized that it was about suicide, and a conversation with a higher power (God).

I have been moved by sooooo many other dead songs in one way or another though, throughout my life. They have always been my favorite, since i was 13. And will always be my favorite

Answer 2

I used to only listen to classic rock.

I was at a friends room, in a college dorm. We were doing what college kids do on a Saturday afternoon, not studying. Without a Net got put in the cd player.

After the Slipknot! part of Help on the Way>Slipknot!>Franklin's Tower. I just said, without thinking, "holy ****!". I had never experienced music in that way. That was a big break through in actually HEARING music, for me. This partly describes why I think that the Dead were alchemists. I also heard Ken Keasy say that he thought they were alchemists, after this experience.

From one fan to another, I figure that I should let you know that there was a small group of musicians who dropped out of the popular high paying traditional jazz scene, so that they could create and explore their own way of playing music. Rebels from the norm, like the Dead.


Here are some of the music from that scene...
Andrew Hill-Point of Departure
Booker Ervin-Freedom Book
Grachan Moncur III-Evolution
Eric Dolphy-Out There
Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons-Firebirds
Bobby Hutcherson-Components
Tony Williams-Lifetime.
Roland Kirk-The Inflated Tear.
Sam Rivers-Contours.

PS-Its a documented fact that Roland Kirk visited and partied with Ken Keasy and the Merry Pranksters. Also his album, The Inflated Tear, was on the Further" bus. This means that the guys in the Dead heard that album.
I mention this because there is a song on Kirk's album called Fingers in the Wind. The Dead's song, Sage and Spirit, sounds a whole lot like it was inspired by Kirk's fingers in the Wind. If you get to hear Fingers in the Wind, do take notice. It seems almost impossible to dismiss the similarities.
Fingers in the Wind-1967.
Sage and Spirit-1974.

Answer 3

Eyes of the World and Cold Rain and Snow are a couple of my faves. Beautiful words and music. The Dead reminds of my much younger days I was naive and carefree back then. Sure do miss those days.

Answer 4

I can't pick a favorite and I wouldn't trust anyone who could. Really, in one way or another they all move me. Even basic songs that I've heard 1000's of times like Me And My Uncle can move you with the right version and frame of mind.

Answer 5

When I was 14 I was listening to the radio, and this song came on that I just thought was great. I didn't know it so I asked my step-father who I figured would know.

I asked him, "What's this song? It's something about "ridin' that train high on cocaine"

He beemed, "Honey, that's the Dead." Then told me it was "Casey Jones." I still think that's one of his prouder moments. :)

Answer 6

i love almost every gr8ful dead song but my mama wont let me listen 2 uncle johns band cuz it says GD but ne wayz i love touch of grey and it moves me the most cuz i waz going through a really bad time and then i heard that song and thought that sooner or later everything will b okay...no body else but me @ my skool listens 2 them but me so actually i feel sortta priveleged... i do agree w/ u on the presence thing...theyre 1 of my fav. bands ever...good question!!!!!!

Answer 7

its between New Potato Caboose and Eyes of the World,New potato caboose because it reminds me of simpler innocent times and Eyes of the world ,because in a strong way we are the eyes of the world we have alot of control and resources to make it a better planet,we literally see whats going on,sometimes we chose to do nothing at all.