This song, which was recorded in a country-folk style, was written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. Hunter was not a performing member of the band, but wrote the lyrics to many of their songs. Hunter's words were often very poetic, lending themselves to interpretation. In this song, he writes about the joy of music in the air and how we must all choose our own path.
The Dead performed an electric version of "Ripple" at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, on September 3, 1988. It was the first they'd done so since 1971. According to Dennis McNally's A Long Strange Trip (p. 571), this came after Bob Weir got the request from a young man who was dying of an unidentified illness. Upon getting the request, Weir bet Garcia $10 that he wouldn't be able to remember the lyrics. Garcia took the bet and won. Weir, however, never paid up.
Dead chroniclers and fans have noted multiple connections between "Ripple" and the Old Testament's Psalm 23. The harp mentioned at the beginning suggest the musical instrument that traditionally accompanied the psalms. The still water, the cup, the road at night, and some other subtle pieces all suggest a connection. Dennis McNally also notes that about 30 friends and neighbors, all untrained singers, were brought in to sing the final chorus, "just like a church service almost anywhere."
See your Spotify stats (with number of plays and minutes listened) and discover new music.
Music data, artist images, album covers, and song previews are provided by Spotify. Spotify is a trademark of Spotify AB.