autographed grateful dead dancing bear posters

Autographed grateful dead dancing bear posters full#

Each of us has our individual path, for our steps alone.

This song has comforted me through the death of both my parents, with its lines about the road between dawn and dark being no simple highway. The deceptively simple language of the song leads us to contemplate sources beyond our immediate knowing-whether human or “not made by the hands of men”-as well as the interplay of life and death.

Autographed grateful dead dancing bear posters full#

Perhaps the primary source for the song comes from the 23rd Psalm, with its reference to “still water,” and to a cup that may be full or empty. Same with haiku-I have written dozens of haiku over the years, and without “Ripple,” my experience with the form might have remained at the third-grade level.īut the poetic allusions in the song are not entirely from the East. That simple reference to Taoism long ago sent me looking for information about the Tao, and it has proven to be a very rich vein indeed. Think of “China Cat Sunflower,” with its copperdome bodhi.

Vaguely Buddhist / Asian imagery is conjured by Hunter in a number of his early songs, especially. And then there’s the fact that the chorus is a haiku. Early on, I read somewhere a description of “Ripple” as having a gentle, Taoist bent. Something inherently Asian, and I think that’s because of a couple of things. I realized, just now, that despite the song’s American folk song quality, I think of it as something from the Far East. An interesting performance history, no? ->Īfter all these years of thinking about the song, even now, when I put my mind to it, new things surface. “Ripple” closed the show, and was played electric for the first time since 1971. After that, it was only played twice more in performance by the Dead, with the final “Ripple” played at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, on September 3, 1988. The Dead first performed it in an acoustic set at the Fillmore West on August 19, 1970, along with first performances of “Brokedown Palace,” “ Operator,” and “Truckin’.” (Yes, “Truckin’” was played in the acoustic set.) Following an initial period of not too frequent performances in 19, “Ripple” disappeared from shows until the shows in 1980 commencing at the Warfield on September 25, and continuing for a run of 25 shows, during which it was played every show at the conclusion of the first (acoustic) set.

Robert Hunter wrote the lyric for “Ripple” in London in 1970-a prolific period for him. Garcia was quoted once, when talking about “American Beauty,” as saying something approximating: “Yep-every song on that album is a winner.” Side two (and I will always think of albums as having two sides) starts with “Ripple.” Side one starts with “Box of Rain.” What a nice pair of opening songs for album sides those two are! The posters are hand printed by Masthay using his reduction block printing process, with each print more like a piece of fine art instead of a mere poster.Is it possible that “Ripple” might be in every Deadhead’s top five favorite Dead songs list? It is definitely on mine, when push comes to shove. This masterpiece was created by artist AJ Masthay, who has worked extensively with the Grateful Dead. This officially licensed poster is limited to just 250 pieces and includes a sketch of the Dead's iconic McIntosh-powered Wall of Sound. Image Gallery Discuss Remotely Add Image Add Similar ArtĪrtists Masthay, AJ Bands Grateful Dead Manufacturer Masthay Studios Edition Details Year:ĮB Awards Nominate Now Comments Read 2 Comments Add Comment View Release Discussion The Trip Goes On Our decades long friendship with the Grateful Dead continues with this exclusive, limited edition 18' x 24' poster that features Bertha and Uncle Sam enjoying their favorite Dead album on a McIntosh audio system.