When it comes to The Grateful Dead I definitely feel the Jerry vibe more than the Bobby vibe. If I have to explain what I’m talking about you may want to move on to a different post (or keep reading). But when I start to think about what I consider to be the most epic Dead tunes, many of them are Bobby tunes. In honor of the epic force of nature that is Bob Weir, here’s my top 10 (in no particular order). I believe that in 1,000 years heads will still be singing the following (among others):
1) Playing in the Band. “Some folks trust reason, others trust in might. I don’t trust nothing, but I know it comes out right.” It doesn’t get much better than this.
2) The Music Never Stopped. “People joining hand in hand while the music plays the band.” Taking music to its appropriate metaphysical status. Word.
3) Black Throated Wind. “You ain’t gonna learn what you don’t wanna know.” Dig that and you’ve got a PhD in education and another one in psychology.
4) Cassidy. “Fare you thee well now, let your life proceed by its own design. Nothing to tell now, let the words be yours I am done with mine.” Know when to cut someone loose. Know when to shut your trap. That’s wisdom.
5) Lost Sailor. “There’s a price for being free.” Truth meets irony.
6) Weather Report Suite/ Let it Grow. “We’ll see summer come again.” Comfort. “Listen to the thunder shout: I am!” Trying to deny nature is a fools errand.
7) Estimated Prophet. “My time coming any day, don’t worry bout me no.” Death never grooved so hard. And as a native Californian it’s nice to have a state anthem in such an awesome key signature.
8) Truckin. “Sometimes the light’s all shining on me, other times I can barely see.” So this one’s surely a group composition, but Bobby’s still out in front on this, the greatest journeyman’s tune of all time.
9) Jack Straw. “We used to play for silver, now we play for life.” If you’re still playing for silver, GET A LIFE. Still hoping to meet Shannon one of these days!
10) One More Saturday Night. “God way up in heaven, for whatever it was worth, thought he’d have a big old party, thought he’d call it planet earth.” A much needed addition to the age old debate between creationism and evolution wouldn’t you say.
Bob Weir: poet, rocker, bard, guitarist extraordinaire and so much more! ROCK ON!!