Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead lyricist, dead at 78

his family's statement:

It is with great sadness we confirm our beloved Robert passed away yesterday night. He died peacefully at home in his bed, surrounded by love. His wife Maureen was by his side holding his hand. For his fans that have loved and supported him all these years, take comfort in knowing that his words are all around us, and in that way his is never truly gone. In this time of grief please celebrate him the way you all know how, by being together and listening to the music. Let there be songs to fill the air.

Very very sad day.

Never was a better lyricist.

I posted somewhere recently that Bob Hunter should write all lyrics for all songs, then all music would be awesome

I'm truly saddened by the news. RIP...

So sad, what a loss

A friend posted this from a Hunter obit:

"Full of dream-like, psychedelic imagery, his lyrics were a source of fascination and speculation for Grateful Dead fans.
Hunter deliberately forbade the band from publishing his words on their records, adding to the mystery.
"People could dub in their own mishearings, adding a bit of themselves to the song," he explained.
"I've generally found that the words to songs I thought I heard in the works of others were more colourful and enigmatically apt than the words I eventually discovered were intended"


So I replied: "That and Garcia and Weir were never the best at remembering lyrics."

Which brings me to this question:

How many different versions of this lyric have you heard Garcia or Weir sing?

I have heard them sing this lyric on Scarlet Begonias as:

"Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places you can look at it right."

"Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right."

"Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right."

"Once in a while you can show 'em the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right."

Ummm this belongs in the misheard lyrics thread

So true. His words will live forever.