Ripple

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
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 (note 1)

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 man

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
Notes
(1) on the version on Reckoning, Jerry Garcia says "That's Otis" at this point, referring to Bob Weir's dog who had wandered onstage

Grateful Dead Recordings
     Date Album
     studio 1970 American Beauty (note 2) (note 6) (note 7)
     29 Apr 1971 Ladies And Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead
     26 Sep 1980 Reckoning
     23 Oct 1980 Reckoning (note 3)
     ?30 Oct 1980 Dead Ahead (video/DVD)

"The Dead" Concert Recordings
 
Robert Hunter Concert Recordings
     20 Jun 2004 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO 
     27 Jun 2004 Sleep Train Amphitheater, Marysville, CA 
     29 Jun 2004 USANA Amphitheater, Salt Lake City, UT 
     1 Jul 2004 Idaho Center Amphitheater, Boise, ID 
     2 Jul 2004 Columbia Meadows, Portland, OR 
     3 Jul 2004 The Gorge, George, WA 
     7 Aug 2004 Tweeter Waterfront, Camden, NJ 
     11 Aug 2004 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ 

Ratdog Live CD Series

Phil Lesh and Friends Digital Download Series
 
Jerry Garcia Recordings
     Date Album Recorded By
      Fall 1987 Almost Acoustic Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band
     31 Oct 1987 Pure Jerry 2: Lunt-Fontanne Jerry Garcia Band
 
Other Dead-related Recordings
      Dec 1990 Box Of Rain Robert Hunter
      Aug 1993 Live In Japan New Riders Of The Purple Sage (note 4)
     31 Dec 2006 Live: New Year's Eve New Riders Of The Purple Sage
 
Tribute Albums
     Date Album Recorded By
     1991 Deadicated Jane's Addiction
     1996 Long Live The Dead Billy & Terry Smith
     1997 Pickin' On The Grateful Dead David West et al
     2001 Gratefully Yours Jim Hudak
     2001 Blues Tribute To The Grateful Dead Various (Langhorne Slim)
     2001 Gifts From The Dead Gifts From The Dead
     2002 Electronic Tribute To The Grateful Dead Various (Motor Industries)
     2002 Buckdancer's Choice Wake The Dead
     2003 Ukelele Summit 5 Various (Rick Cunha)
     2003 Grateful Guitar David Cullen
     2005 Jerry Jams, Jerry Cares Gregg Cagno
 
Covers By Other Artists
     Date Album Recorded By
     1982 Morning Sky Chris Hillman
     1992 The Rock Bottom Remainders Robert Fulghum (video)
     1995 We Were All Babies Laurie McClain
     1998 What If I Told You Andru Branch
     2000 One Endless Night Jimmy Dale Gilmore
     2000 Solid Sender Sex Mob (note 5)
     2000 Times Like These Rick Danko
     2000 Dead Grass Vassar Clements
     2000 Might As Well The Persuasions
     2005 Shawangunk Rolf Sturm
     12 Nov 2005 For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball Zen Tricksters plus friends
     2006 God, Love and Angels Kristen Vigard
     2006 MTO Vol 1 Steve Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orcestra
Notes
(2) this version is also on the compilations What A Long Strange Trip and The Very Best Of The Grateful Dead, as well as on the soundtrack of The Grateful Dead Movie
(3) additional version issued as a bonus track in the box set Beyond Description (1973-1990)
(4) also on the compilation "Relix's Best Of The New Riders Of The Purple Sage"
(5) also on the compilation "Stolen Roses"
(6) the version of "Ripple" issued as a single is included as a hidden track on the remastered version of the album, first issued as part of the Rhino box set The Golden Road (1965-1973)
(7) also plays on the soundtrack of the Grateful Dead Movie
(8) also on the compilation The Best Of Jerry Garcia


Futher Information
For an online discussion of the lyrics to this song see the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For information on references in the lyrics see David Dodd's Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics
For online chords and TAB see www.rukind.com
For sheet music, see:
          Grateful Dead Anthology Volume 2 (piano arrangement)
          Grateful Dead Authentic Guitar Classics Volume 1 (guitar TAB)
          Grateful Dead Songbook Volume 1 (piano arrangement)
          Jerry Garcia Songbook (vocal line and chords)
          Very Best Of The Grateful Dead (guitar TAB)
          Garcia/Hunter Songbook (vocal line and chords/TAB)

 


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