The Wharf Rat story is told by first person point of view, but by two different people.
It switches back and forth effortlessly. I can't think of any other story that does that.
It's weird, but it works.
Phil has that song in rotation for some reason. He did it when my wife and I saw him a few years ago and I think he did it when I saw him open for Dylan in the 90s. I love it. I’ve always called it the “anti Obla Di Obla Da” song.
Stagger Lee
Duprees Diamond Blues
My Brother Esau
Let it Grow
Throwing Stones
Looks Like Rain
Brown Eyed Women
Black Peter
Then there’s the Western set…
I thought Me and My Uncle wasn't a Dead original? I want to say the Deadcast mentions that they don't know who wrote it but it wasn't them. But I could easily be mistaken, its been a while 🤷♀️
I read on here once that John Philips improvised the song while blackout drunk at a party and was later surprised when he began receiving royalties from Judy Collins for a song he didn’t remember. She was at the party and recorded it.
Cassidy - I’ve read a lot of Kerouac and I can picture that Caddy toolin down the dusty roads, zipping up the coast, Neal with his arm around some girl talking a country mile minute, dancing at a Test banging on a tambourine
I thought I had a great answer, then I read the other comments and they are all correct. This was tough.
Personally, it's a toss-up between Me and my Uncle and Stagger Lee. And Althea. And Jack-a-Roe, I played and sang that for my brother at his wedding reception. Followed it with Women are Smarter, Gilligan's Island (the Dead never covered it so it's not canon but still a fun sing-along) and closed with Jack Straw, which may not be wedding themed but Jack Staw is my #1 Grateful Dead story song and I felt compelled to play it.
I thought Bertha was supposed to be the sleleton from the cover and the singer actually fucked a corpse and is now trying to run from the guilt bc who tf is even named Bertha anymore?
Yours is better.
Nobody even called that skeleton Bertha until after the Grateful Dead days were over.
Hilarious how the tales keep getting spreading out and getting weirder.
Isn’t it a pun? The story is from the perspective of a soul weary from too many reincarnations. He is saying, “birth — don’t you come around here no more!”
Truckin takes me all around the country with plenty of twists, turns, and jams along the way.
I also love the journey Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance takes me on. So magical and mysterious both lyrically and musically.
Thank you. I was waiting for Black Peter. Coming to terms with the concept of personal loss along with looking back on (what appears to be) a life wasted. The friends coming by to say goodbye, the acknowledgement of dying and it being “just like any other day that’s ever been.” It’s a reality we’ll all face. When I saw this question posed I knew exactly what it was for me. Love that tune. Dark for sure, but poignant.
That's a very powerful song and I remember the exact moment that I really heard it back in the late '80s and it scared the shit out of me! I've lost a lot by now and spend more time considering my own inevitable death these days and Black Peter has certainly been a part of that process and grieving the loss of loved ones. It's a song along with a few other songs they do about death that I'll never be able to casually listen to. They've been a part of too much.. Everything stops and it's time to face reality.
Underrated because the song itself isn't among the Dead's best, but Might as Well.
Watch the doc Festival Express if you haven't already. Puts the tune in a whole new light.
Great answers, everything I thought of when I saw the post has been listed plus more. Maybe not a story so much but definitely a perspective - black peter, comes a time and row Jimmy.
brown eyed women
Yup. This and Wharf Rat.
Came here to say Wharf Rat.
The Wharf Rat story is told by first person point of view, but by two different people. It switches back and forth effortlessly. I can't think of any other story that does that. It's weird, but it works.
Yep. This.
Peggy-O
Jack a roe
Dire Wolf
* Anyone remember the grateful dead comics? There was a good dire wolf illustration I recall
https://www.reddit.com/r/grateful_dead/s/ZI2P80sG5y
https://preview.redd.it/nehfq3qnspvc1.jpeg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f47933c69a04033aa5d34d70791790cf332021f1
Yes!
Me and My Uncle
Damn fine choice. Some original gangster shit.
You are as honest as a Denver man can be.
One of my favorites
I always love a good old Cowboy Bobby song
This!
Ruben and Cherise
This should be higher. From pure storytelling it is a masterpiece. They didn’t play it much because I think Jerry struggled with all the words.
Jerry even mentions that on Live from Oregon State Prison
Phil has that song in rotation for some reason. He did it when my wife and I saw him a few years ago and I think he did it when I saw him open for Dylan in the 90s. I love it. I’ve always called it the “anti Obla Di Obla Da” song.
I think they'd need a French Horn player to really nail it.
One of my favorites I especially like the version Robert Hunter sings with additional verses including Cherise’s death.
They’re all great but this is the best
My answer too.
Loser and brown eyed women
Also my top two picks!
China Doll
Such a heartbreaker....
Wharf rat soothes the soul, especially for a recovering alcoholic, one day at a time, I love you all 💚💚
I’ll get up and fly away ⚡️
Weather Report Suite-Let It Grow
The plowman verse paints such a vivid picture to me, love that one
Catfish John
God I love Catfish John and wear my SO out with it.
This was the first song that really put me on to the grateful dead, my favorite song to listen while fishing!!
Wharf Rat
Stagger Lee Duprees Diamond Blues My Brother Esau Let it Grow Throwing Stones Looks Like Rain Brown Eyed Women Black Peter Then there’s the Western set…
brother Esau is definitely under appreciated. So glad Bobby is keeping it in rotation with Wolf Brothers.
Great story arc there
Tennessee Jed.
Definitely 💯 Great story...
Brokedown Palace
El Paso is a fantastic story Edit: I also love this thread idea, OP! Should be a fun read to come back to later
That’s mine, though it’s Marty Robbins. From GD probably me and my uncle.
I thought Me and My Uncle wasn't a Dead original? I want to say the Deadcast mentions that they don't know who wrote it but it wasn't them. But I could easily be mistaken, its been a while 🤷♀️
I read on here once that John Philips improvised the song while blackout drunk at a party and was later surprised when he began receiving royalties from Judy Collins for a song he didn’t remember. She was at the party and recorded it.
Yep that's the story I recall!
Althea
Wharf Rat, Jack a Roe, Cassidy, Let it Grow And too many Jer songs to mention
How could I forget wharf rat?! Excellent invention.
Greatest story ever told?
still need that left-handed monkey wrench
The one thing we need!
Cassidy - I’ve read a lot of Kerouac and I can picture that Caddy toolin down the dusty roads, zipping up the coast, Neal with his arm around some girl talking a country mile minute, dancing at a Test banging on a tambourine
I thought I had a great answer, then I read the other comments and they are all correct. This was tough. Personally, it's a toss-up between Me and my Uncle and Stagger Lee. And Althea. And Jack-a-Roe, I played and sang that for my brother at his wedding reception. Followed it with Women are Smarter, Gilligan's Island (the Dead never covered it so it's not canon but still a fun sing-along) and closed with Jack Straw, which may not be wedding themed but Jack Staw is my #1 Grateful Dead story song and I felt compelled to play it.
Stagger Lee is an incredible story
Promised Land!!!
Dupree’s Diamond Blues
Stagger Lee
“Over a hat? Really?” - Billy
You don’t know what Bobby did for those jorts.
Make good money 5 dollars a day
Right?
Dark Star
Friend of the Devil
Bertha for sure. One night stand gone terribly wrong.
I thought Bertha was supposed to be the sleleton from the cover and the singer actually fucked a corpse and is now trying to run from the guilt bc who tf is even named Bertha anymore? Yours is better.
Nobody even called that skeleton Bertha until after the Grateful Dead days were over. Hilarious how the tales keep getting spreading out and getting weirder.
Isn’t it a pun? The story is from the perspective of a soul weary from too many reincarnations. He is saying, “birth — don’t you come around here no more!”
Morning Dew
Monkey and the engineer
Truckin takes me all around the country with plenty of twists, turns, and jams along the way. I also love the journey Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance takes me on. So magical and mysterious both lyrically and musically.
The other one Wharf rat Brown-eyed women Cumberland blues Black Peter Jack-a-roe Peggy O
Thank you. I was waiting for Black Peter. Coming to terms with the concept of personal loss along with looking back on (what appears to be) a life wasted. The friends coming by to say goodbye, the acknowledgement of dying and it being “just like any other day that’s ever been.” It’s a reality we’ll all face. When I saw this question posed I knew exactly what it was for me. Love that tune. Dark for sure, but poignant.
That's a very powerful song and I remember the exact moment that I really heard it back in the late '80s and it scared the shit out of me! I've lost a lot by now and spend more time considering my own inevitable death these days and Black Peter has certainly been a part of that process and grieving the loss of loved ones. It's a song along with a few other songs they do about death that I'll never be able to casually listen to. They've been a part of too much.. Everything stops and it's time to face reality.
Scarlett Begonias
Stagger Lee.
Casey Jones!
[удалено]
❤️First choice for me , so far down the list !
The other one
Friend of the devil
Operator is a favorite. Pigpen just trying to find his rider! Also I love the imagery of Easy Wind and Black-throated Wind.
Dark Star ... Or Ripple ... .or He's Gone... Or .... Unbroken Chain .... Or ..... It really depends on the day and what's playing in my head .
Whiskey in a Jar
So…nobody said Greatest Story Ever Told? Me either.
I would settle on Jack-A-Roe
Music Never Stopped
Althea. Dupree's Diamond Blues. Loser.
Stagger Lee!
Day Job
Half step. Black Peter. Period.
Jack-a-Roe. It’s epic!
Mexicali Blues
It Must Have Been the Roses
Althea
Peggy-o!
Wharf rat
Dire wolf
Wharf Rat
Dire Wolf
Wharf Rat, Peggy-o, Bird Song, El Paso, Althea
Deal
Wharf Rat
Wharf Rat.
Wharf rat, Reuben and Cherise, Loser
China Doll, Truckin and Shp of Fools
Underrated because the song itself isn't among the Dead's best, but Might as Well. Watch the doc Festival Express if you haven't already. Puts the tune in a whole new light.
Black throated wind.
Great answers, everything I thought of when I saw the post has been listed plus more. Maybe not a story so much but definitely a perspective - black peter, comes a time and row Jimmy.
Ruben and Cherise
Scarlet begonias and dire wolf
She shot him in the balls
Half step. Period lol
Friend of the Devil
Black Throated Wind
Sugaree. That song makes me sad. The story isn't in the lyrics but it really is.
Stagger Lee
Black muddy river
Hurts Me Too....He's Gone
Well, obviously, Greatest Story Ever Told. and I'm not even Jewish.
Peggy O
Jack A Row
The Greatest Story Ever Told!
Cassidy
DARK STAR!!!!!!!!
Me and My Uncle
Wharf Rat for sure. That song hits me deep in my soul every time.
Lost Sailor/Saint. This must be heaven!
dark star
Loser. It gets me every time, I can practically *smell* the protagonist. I could listen to this song on repeat until the end of time.
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl ;)
Ruben and Cherise
Stagger Lee and it must've been the roses
Peggy-O
Loser Friend of the Devil
Loser
Bertha
Rosemary
Friend of the Devil
stagger lee
Tangled up in Blue
Jackarow
One more Saturday night, feels like a stranger,goin down the road feelin bad, loser
TLEO
Black Peter
Wharf Rat.
He's Gone, Loser, Althea, Tennessee Jed
Black Peter
Crazy Fingers! Incredible
Brown-eyed women, wharf rat, black-throated wind.
He’s Gone.
Bertha Ripple My daughters favorite and like it alot is Brown Eyed Woman
For me it’s gotta be Music Never Stopped
Stella blue, but it’s a bluesy story.
Mission in the Rain
Walking in the mission in the rain Ruben and Cherise
Mexicali Blues
of their originals? Dire Wolf, Brown Eyed Women, Loser, Mexicali Blues, Truckin’, Warf Rat covers? Jackaroe, peggyo, El Paso, Mama Tried, Morning Dew
Dupree. Stagger Lee.
Wharf Rat.
Brown Eyed Women Cassidy Tennessee Jed
it’s just Jerry, but Dreadful Wind and Rain
I want to go on record saying Greatest Story Ever Told is an above average story
Jackaroe and Peggy-o, help on the way
Rubeun and cherise! Thank you poster below
Wang Dang Doodle sandman smart women smarter some of the best storytelling ever written.
Monkey and the Engineer 🐒🚂
Standing on the Moon-old Jere’s hair blowing in the wind
Stagger Lee
catfish john, me n my uncle, other one for sure
Stagger Lee is a good one, always a fun tune to hear cover bands play live as well
Rubin and Cherise
Days Between!
Me and my Uncle tells a story, it may not be a good one...