Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Ripple"

Features

February 27, 2013
https://www.dead.net/features/greatest-stories-ever-told/greatest-stories-ever-told-ripple

Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Ripple"

By David Dodd

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.

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!

Robert Hunter wrote the lyric for “Ripple” in London in 1970—a prolific period for him. 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 1970 and 1971, “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. 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. “Ripple” closed the show, and was played electric for the first time since 1971. An interesting performance history, no?

-->
After all these years of thinking about the song, even now, when I put my mind to it, new things surface. I realized, just now, that despite the song’s American folk song quality, I think of it as something from the Far East. Something inherently Asian, and I think that’s because of a couple of things. Early on, I read somewhere a description of “Ripple” as having a gentle, Taoist bent. And then there’s the fact that the chorus is a haiku. Vaguely Buddhist / Asian imagery is conjured by Hunter in a number of his early songs, especially. Think of “China Cat Sunflower,” with its copperdome bodhi. 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. 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.

But the poetic allusions in the song are not entirely from the East. 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. 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. 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. Each of us has our individual path, for our steps alone. That might seem like a frightening thought, but I find the universality of it a comfort: we’re all in the same boat.

There are lessons about leadership in this song that I wish everyone who aspires to that role would take to heart: “You who choose to lead must follow, and if you fall, you fall alone.”

I had the honor and pleasure of being in the backing chorus for the First Fusion concerts Bob Weir collaborated on with the Marin Symphony Orchestra a couple of years ago, and got to sing “Ripple” with him in a small group as part of the encore set, followed by “Attics of My Life.” I love to play the melody and changes on the piano, and on banjo. It’s part of my small repertoire of songs I think I could play in my sleep.

What place has “Ripple” had in your life? Has it helped you through anything? Have you sung it to your children as a lullaby? Have you played it around a campfire? These are just a few ways the song has lived in my life.

There are mysteries in the song. I’ve had emails from many people over the years, proposing ideas about the ripple of the title—where does it come from? How can a song be played on a harp without strings? (And I don’t think it was actually a harmonica…) What is the fountain? Who made it? (A girlfriend once joked with me that clearly, since it wasn’t made by the hands of men, it must have been made by women.)

Your thoughts? Feel free to offer some interpretative speculation! It doesn’t matter if your thoughts are broken—let there be stories to fill the air!

https://www.dead.net/features/greatest-stories-ever-told/greatest-stories-ever-told-ripple

Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Ripple"

By David Dodd

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.

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!

Robert Hunter wrote the lyric for “Ripple” in London in 1970—a prolific period for him. 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 1970 and 1971, “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. 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. “Ripple” closed the show, and was played electric for the first time since 1971. An interesting performance history, no?

-->

After all these years of thinking about the song, even now, when I put my mind to it, new things surface. I realized, just now, that despite the song’s American folk song quality, I think of it as something from the Far East. Something inherently Asian, and I think that’s because of a couple of things. Early on, I read somewhere a description of “Ripple” as having a gentle, Taoist bent. And then there’s the fact that the chorus is a haiku. Vaguely Buddhist / Asian imagery is conjured by Hunter in a number of his early songs, especially. Think of “China Cat Sunflower,” with its copperdome bodhi. 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. 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.

But the poetic allusions in the song are not entirely from the East. 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. 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. 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. Each of us has our individual path, for our steps alone. That might seem like a frightening thought, but I find the universality of it a comfort: we’re all in the same boat.

There are lessons about leadership in this song that I wish everyone who aspires to that role would take to heart: “You who choose to lead must follow, and if you fall, you fall alone.”

I had the honor and pleasure of being in the backing chorus for the First Fusion concerts Bob Weir collaborated on with the Marin Symphony Orchestra a couple of years ago, and got to sing “Ripple” with him in a small group as part of the encore set, followed by “Attics of My Life.” I love to play the melody and changes on the piano, and on banjo. It’s part of my small repertoire of songs I think I could play in my sleep.

What place has “Ripple” had in your life? Has it helped you through anything? Have you sung it to your children as a lullaby? Have you played it around a campfire? These are just a few ways the song has lived in my life.

There are mysteries in the song. I’ve had emails from many people over the years, proposing ideas about the ripple of the title—where does it come from? How can a song be played on a harp without strings? (And I don’t think it was actually a harmonica…) What is the fountain? Who made it? (A girlfriend once joked with me that clearly, since it wasn’t made by the hands of men, it must have been made by women.)

Your thoughts? Feel free to offer some interpretative speculation! It doesn’t matter if your thoughts are broken—let there be stories to fill the air!

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Scoobamang

4 years 11 months ago

My Interpretation
It seems to me that Ripple is a contemplation of life's greatest mysteries, condensed to their pure and essential essence and translated into simple and universally understandable language.

The singer seems to be addressing a loved one in the first chorus, asking whether they could determine that the source of some impossible, angelic song was the singer in some other inaccessible plane, such as beyond the grave.

In the second chorus he admits that the song is an imperfect cobbling together of older and incomplete songs presented in the best manner of which he, an inherently flawed mortal, is capable. And though not perfect, certainly it is better to have this than no music at all.

I've read 'Morals and Dogma', essentially the bible of freemasonry, and I always remember a specific line in which Albert Pike emphasizes that every action creates infinite and eternal reactions, such as the ripples sent out by the tiniest of pebbles tossed into still water which then have their own effects on all of the water they pass through, and on and on.

In it's simplest and most direct sense I believe the ripple which comes without wind or pebble is life itself, begun by the inconceivable fingertip of God (let's just call it for simplicity's sake) reaching into our mortal world. As we all know scientists have made leaps and bounds but now, the same as thousands of years ago, no human has been able to crack the mystery of taking inanimate matter and transforming it into something that lives. Humanity itself is a ripple originating from a mysterious and unknown source.

The next chorus regarding the cups seems to indicate to everyone, no matter their current fortunes or misfortunes, that the original source of whatever their cup ultimately contains is a divine and unknowable fountain which, again for simplicity's sake, I'll call God. And this is a fact of which we should remind ourselves constantly, particularly in the current state of the world which emphasizes posessions and acquisitiveness.

The road from dawn to night (or in other words a journey lasting a single day) represents, to me, a single human lifetime. Even though we all traverse this road of life openly and in full and well lit view of one another, the specific path, down to the atoms disturbed by our feet, will be totally unique in each and every case. 20,000 people can watch the same 1 Dead concert and be affected differently, and react uniquely and differently. Shoot, that's what happens every single time!

There is however a great comfort in this; because even though you may find yourself in some new and frightening and overwhelming situation, and the urge to look to those who you trust and love and plead "Tell me! What should I do?" is irresistible, this is a situation in which we all have found and will find ourselves again. The people to who you plead for an answer will not have one for you. This does not mean that IF they were somehow capable of knowing the answer of how to find your way home for you, they would not tell you openly and happily. Every fiber of every one of our being's cries out to the person next to us 'Please! I will do anything at all! Just tell me how to help!' And even if it is impossible to express to them exactly what it is you need or want, the knowledge that you are surrounded by others willing to help is an immense comfort and a key idea that keeps us all going.

If I knew the way brother then believe me, please, I would take you right on home. But since I don't, and this is the irreversible situation in which we find ourselves, then what CAN I do to help? Just let me know.
zozoe29

5 years 8 months ago

CALLING DAVID DODD!! Here's what 'IT'S all about~~🕉
PORTAL ENTRY #7 RIPPLE

Though "I'll Take A Melody" was penned by Allen Toussaint, he certainly followed Jerry's musical lead, while Hunter did his dirty work, tying it all together~
---------------------
"Would you here my voice?"/"If my words did glow"

"I HEAR YOU TALKING about your troubles"
                   ------------------------
"It's a 'hand me down' "

I'll take a simple C and G and feel 'BRAND NEW' about it!"
                     -------------------
(from Ripple)
"DA DA DA DA,,,,,, DA DA DA DA DAA DA,
DAA DA DA DA DA,,,DAAA DAAA DAAA"
SUNG WITH>>>>
"I'll take a melody and see what I can do about it.
I'll take a simple C and G and feel brand new about it."
                     -------------------
(bridges)
"Ripple in still water, when there is no pebble tossed nor wind to blow,"
                                &
"I understand why the old fisherman sail along, sail along, sail along!"

in composite, becomes:
"I understand why the old fisherman, sail along, sail along, sail along, & (the) Ripple in still water, when there is no pebble tossed nor wind to blow!"
                     ----------------------
"And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone!"

"Someday he'll be gone!"
-------------------------
"DA DA DA DAAAA"

FROM 'MY G.D. FRIENDS PORTAL' ON FB.
Come visit & stay a while & poke around!!
Any comments, thoughts? Just checking for a pulse~~
kenny kslewitt@gmail.com
🕉
===============================
garciafan

6 years ago

Thinking of you mom
My mom LOVED this song! When playing acoustic guitar while having friends over, during a beach day, or a family picnic, my mom would eventually and inevitably request 'play Ripple honey, play Ripple', and I of course complied. This song always reminds me of my mom first. When she died in 2010, we incorporated her favorite Grateful Dead song on her headstone reading 'ripple in still water'. Forever in my heart mom, I love you!

By David Dodd

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.

There are lessons about leadership in this song that I wish everyone who aspires to that role would take to heart: “You who choose to lead must follow, and if you fall, you fall alone.”

Your thoughts? Feel free to offer some interpretative speculation! It doesn’t matter if your thoughts are broken—let there be stories to fill the air!

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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.

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Greatest Stories Ever Told

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the photo...

maybe it's cause i was just skimming the article, but why is that photo reversed, like everyone is a lefty???

8/17/70 Fillmore West was probably the first performance

Actually the first recording of "Ripple" is August 18, 1970 Fillmore West, not the 19th. However my guess is that it made its live debut on August 17, 1970, the first show of the run. Unfortunately, no recording of the show on the 17th exists, so we will never know for sure.

Woodstock movie contains "Ripple"

If you watch the movie WOODSTOCK (1970) about the famout festival, you might find the possible inspiration of the song. In the footage montage before the Richie Havens segment, there is a shot of the crowd, and you can see a red "peace symbol" flag with the word "Ripple" on it! Take a look at the scene on your DVD or vhs tape, and see for yourself. I've always wondered what that flag meant. Possibly Robert Hunter noticed the image when he saw the movie and eventually used it as the title. I know I am just speculating but who knows.

Factoids and weirdness...

Thanks, Cryptical70, for the correction! And that is an odd picture to go with this post, anyway, even if it were right-handed...trying to figure it out myself. Hmmm. I will ask.

The most beautiful allusion to...

Ripple in still waterwhen there is no pebble tossed No wind to blow... psychedelia, ever. Every word and note of Ripple is... pure beautiful

memory

...many years ago hiking up a mountain in the Presidential range in NH, my friends and I finally reached the AMC hut we were going to bunk in( after trying to out race a fierce thunder and lightning storm sweeping over the mountains from the west and being forced to hunker down in rock crevices to present a less vulnerable target) to be greeted by the refrains of an acoustic Ripple played and sung by some of the AMC hut staff who were spending the season working in the hut system for the Appalachian Mountain Club. After what we had just been through it was the perfect song to hear at that moment.

Best Dead song EVER

This song made me a Deadhead for life. My license plate says it all: http://s23.postimage.org/grse7j3mj/Ripple.jpg

East/West

I read Siddhartha in high school, right when I was turning on to the Dead. I've always associated Ripple and Siddhartha - gentle, peaceful, searching...(I also associate J.J. Cale's "The Old Man and Me" with both of these - God I love that song). Of course, this is one of the songs that is played to parents and Dead rejectors when attempting to explain one's Dead obsession - better than say, Caution or Barbed Wire Whipping party, right? My mom for so long wanted no part in this band, thought they amounted to a bad influence. When Jerry died, she was a captive audience to the outpouring of grief and love for the man, and the band, and listened to the various NPR pieces throughout the week. She called me during that period and was really kind about the way she spoke about Jerry, his spirit, and spirituality, musical diversity that she'd heard pouring from the radio, and she said "they played this one song, Ripple I think it was called, and it really gave me the shivers it was so beautiful...I never knew." On a side note and to pile on, I love Bob Dylan (right OR left handed), but the thought of him singing Ripple with the Dead backing him is excruciating! Tell me this never happened during their various shared performances! Silvio I can handle, but sheesh!

A stream of Paradox

Worthy of a zen master. A string of koans to answer! Hunter at his most excellent best.

Robert Hunter

Brain therapist extraordinaire.

Early guitar lesson

Ripple is one of the first songs I ever learned to play on guitar 16 years ago. To me, it defines the essence of the band. Simple chords-moving lyrics-very pure music and very accessible. A total campfire tune. Cheers. Jay

Your words Do glow, Mr. Hunter, not if...

...and we will always hold it near as if it were our own. Recently, my sister had twins and I quickly found out some Dead songs make great lullabies. I often play Ripple, Bird Song, & It must have been the roses for them. The words are colorful and the melody so sweet, they just eat it up. Why do I have no idea what picture you are talking about?

Picture...gone

Ah yes, the photo has been removed--maybe something more apt will be located and posted. Meanwhile, here's the URL for a cool photo showing the original single "Ripple." http://www.dead.net/sites/default/files/images/197011xx_0418.jpg Nice anecdote, sailbystars--and yes--it does seem like Ripple is a good one for introducing people to the band. I don't think I would ever play Barbed Wire Whipping Party for anyone, much less a newbie. Only at an academic conference...where I did, in fact, give a paper on that particular piece of madness.

sailbystars' mom

LOVE that story about your mom, sailbystars!

ripple

During the mid to late eighties there was a popular street performer in harvard square, luke, who used to play ripple. It always got everyone dancing. My brother and his friends who were "new wave" always loved it and referred to it as the dancing hippie tune. Some things are universal. Does anyone out there remember luke?

Robert Hunter

**I have posted this in the GL1 thread, but feel it may also have some relevance in David’s blog.** I have been extremely busy lately, moving my stuff into a new-old place. New in that I’m leaving my current abode, yet old in that it is the house I grew up in. It’s a homecoming of sorts, tempered with a bittersweet sense of coming full circle. So much to do! Stuff is everywhere, I’ve already made a million trips, my arms feel like they’re gonna fall off, and I’m still not done- I am truly amazed at the vast amount of dusty crap I have accumulated in just 20+ years! I swear, the next time I move it will be to the cemetery down the street! Because of my hectic schedule, I haven’t had a chance to listen to all of GarciaLive1. Sunday morning proved to be the perfect opportunity to play catch up. So, armed with my one hitter and a nice hot cup of coffee, I went straight to disc 3 and cherry picked the two songs with Robert Hunter. And I could not stop smiling- not just at his wonderful performance, but also in marvel of the sheer beauty and genius that is Robert Hunter. God bless you, sir- I feel as if I owe you a debt of gratitude- I sincerely hope that someday that I may be able to do something for you, to repay you for the many kind favors you have bestowed upon me- especially with all those wonderful lyrics to that sweet music that keeps my sanity intact (somewhat), and helps guide me on this journey of life.

ripple

i got married to iti names my dog after it words to live by!

'Ripple' Sung to a Different Tune

Now this may well strike people here as sacrilege, but I have occasionally found myself singing the lyrics to 'Ripple' to the tune of 'Wayfaring Stranger'. The verses fit nicely, but I had to twiddle a bit with the chorus, which I sing after each verse, to make it fit, thus: Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Ripple in still water When there is no wind to blow I'm not sure how or why I first thought of matching the lyrics with the music, it wasn't a conscious thing, but, having done it, I rather like it. Have a try, and see what you make of it.

Thoughts on Ripple

upon my spiritual journey, Ripple has had a very special place. As a devout Christian the "ripple" in the still water is caused by a fish for me..and to state the obvious...the fish is an international symbol of Jesus Christ. An earlier commenter mentioned the Tao (or The Way) what a great observation. The poster who mentioned the 23rd Psalm references gets a hug and a song from me whenever weshall meet ...either on the street or at His feet. For me, Christ is The LIght, The Life and The way..... home....YES I did find someone to follow...and it has been a superior way to lead. Notice how the story teller speaks,,,,sheds light....but leaves you,,,the listener to make the choice. Thank you Brother David Frankie Lee Forevery Family Forever Grateful Unity is possible.

Thoughts on Ripple

That song has gone through so many changes for me in my life. Before I was a parent it was liberating: That path is for [my] steps alone. After my daughter was born, I used to sing it to her as a lullabye (before she was old enough to realize her father can't sing worth a damn) and that same lyric took on an overtone of sadness -- for her path is for her steps alone, and I won't necessarily be able to be there to share it with her, help her along, etc. And now, of course, the song always brings to mind our loss of Jerry.Pretty deep for such a superficially simple tune.

barbed wire whipping party

hey there...thanks for the interesting discussion topic stuff.i think there is something at the core of the song ripple that has caused a lot of people to be dead heads.hunter really captured something with those lyrics.he is a very underrated lyricist and deserves more attention outside of dead circles.i'm very interested in the recent collaborations he has done with dylan and sort of confused as to why he is not being talked about more and why he hasn't been interviewed about his contributions. as to barbed wire whipping party you really got my interest when you mentioned that "song" ha!it's been one of my fav. moments of dead weirdness for a long time.i listened to a hunter show on the internet archive where he talks about that piece and he said something about not being comfortable with it being released because of the part where he "talks to god" and "everything's dead"..any how please tell me more about this paper of yours. thanks again.

In Still Water

The verses "Ripple in Still water where no pebble is tossed nor wind to blow" -- I just love -- because what then caused the ripple in the still water? If one wanted to be buzz killer, one might say some other type of almost infinite tangible obljects -- a wrench, a televeision, a brick, etc. -- but, no, this is not what the verse is alluding to -- it's alluding to (or at least this is they way I see it) that amorphus, intangible, ungraspable force of energy that moves through the universe and every being in it including you and me that causes the ripple in still water -- the pebble represents any one of those almost infinite tangible objects noted above, so w/out that and w/out the wind (i.e. the only other thing that could cause the ripple) what caused the ripple? . . . oh, Hunter, you are a Master poet indeed. Folks will be reading and listening to your words for centuries, long after were all gone. I could go on and on about every single verse, image etc., but I'll spare ya'll -- and yes it's in top 5 Dead tunes (actually top 5 tunes of all time) if not on the very top. More than Beautiful -- indescribable. The song must be left to speak for itself and it does so well . . . .

Underrated vs. not being in the spotlight

I used to think Robert Hunter was very underrated too until I realized how things kind of work. I personally think Robert Hunter is the greatest lyricist of of of the 20th century...barely beating Bob Dylan. Only beating Bob Dylan because even Bob Dylan has turned to him for help on several occasions. Take in mind, I have every single Bob Dylan release but I'm still just speculating. Robert Hunter may not be widely known by the masses because he not front man, but he is widely known by Los Lobos, Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale, and many other people who have added great music to his great lyrics. His job is to be in the background and keep that genius perspective, it takes another kind of person to spread the word around the world.

Robert Hunter

I also think that Robert Hunter is one of the greatest. Coupled with Jerry's music (mostly) one of the most-enduring bodies of contemporary music has been created. I know it has given me endless hours of enjoyment. It has caused me to exercise the old grey matter in efforts to parse the meaning behind the words. It has created a type of ethos or philosophy and it has served as a subtle commentary on the society around us and the experiences we all face. Hey, all that and endlessly entertaining-what more could you ask for?

Ripple Moment

Ripple has always been a favorite and I have found both comfort and joy in the music and lyrics. I came across a version with Bobby singing the tune with the Perkins School for the Blind Secondary Chorus and was really moved. It was just a great example of how powerful a song it is, at least to me. The link is below. Cheers - Dennis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCYqiEmMJg

Lest we forget.......

Ripple was also Fred G. Sanford's alcoholic beverage of choice. The "G" stands for "grateful".

Deadhead Moment

It was Ripple that made me a Deadhead. I guess you could say because of my age I'm a "Dead again Deadhead" but listening to Ripple on YouTube a few years ago brought me back to the Dead and opened my eyes for real LOL.

another biblical connection

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Ripple

Gods speaks with sunshineShe is silent Can you hear her in the music? Gods message is yours God gave this song to mr hunter He wonders if its best to pass it along Not sure but ok Let it be known God is a ripple in still water Nothing happens Yet there is god Should you be empty or full? Yes Gods fountain will fill you up It is nowhere and everywhere at once We all lead and follow We all have our path to make You can't get lost When only you know your way

More ripples

Bobby Burns is the mind of the dead and jerry was the soul and bob weir is the love and all the rest are the hearts of a many hearted band. Sometimes the soul leads and sometimes love leads and usually the heart follows and the mind stays backstage. The soul passed on and the music lives on as the mind had in mind all along

Mysticism

The fountain not made by the hands of man refers to a yogic technique for ambrosia the nectar of the gods often alluded to as a well not made by human hands, The same can be said for the harp, this also refers to a yogic technique for hearing the music of the spheres. They are also spoken of in various scriptures using this language.Ripple in still water without the touch of pebble or wind, for me, points to the abstract, the spirit, that mystery that pulls one from zero. Something particular, creation, from emptiness.

It's been said

Still waters run deep. From the depth comes wisdom, understanding and meaning, in my opinion.

"Ripple in Still Water"

Just a thought The idea of water remaining still while something momentous is happening right in it is part of the oral Mahamudra teaching lineage of the Gelugpa (Tibetan) tradition. It's a set of instructions for doing introspective meditations. The idea is that your mind is made very still and stable first. Then you work on developing "pliability", the ability to investigate the mind's own nature without disturbing the stable platform you've built. The metaphor used is that of a minnow swimming around in perfectly still water without causing any disturbance. Yeah, this is a bit different I know; here it's as if the water spontaneously knows what to do without the minnow --- or the water itself is like the minnow, since the minnow is clearly moving, but they're both manifestation of higher consciousness. There's something momentous swimming/moving around in the mind unsupported by conscious thought/elaboration

On My Dad's Gravestone

My dad passed away suddenly at the age of 28. This was back on October 28, 1990. He was a huge Dead Head and had seen them play several times. My mom, who was only 25 at the time, decided to have lyrics from "Ripple" engraved on the back of my dad's gravestone. These are the words she chose: 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 To this day, "Ripple" has always been a song that's held special meaning to me. My son, who is only three months old, is named after my dad... and has already heard several Dead songs (the actual versions and the Rock-a-bye Lullaby versions) I know he will grow up to know his grandfather and one of his great loves-- The Grateful Dead.

etched in stone

Cuse-thanks for sharing that personal story with us all. The GD were more than a band, they were a large family extending love and acceptance as a mantra. Ripple is one of those foundational songs we can carry with us forever and then some. Peace to you and yours.

Thinking of you mom

My mom LOVED this song! When playing acoustic guitar while having friends over, during a beach day, or a family picnic, my mom would eventually and inevitably request 'play Ripple honey, play Ripple', and I of course complied. This song always reminds me of my mom first. When she died in 2010, we incorporated her favorite Grateful Dead song on her headstone reading 'ripple in still water'. Forever in my heart mom, I love you!

CALLING DAVID DODD!! Here's what 'IT'S all about~~🕉

PORTAL ENTRY #7 RIPPLE

Though "I'll Take A Melody" was penned by Allen Toussaint, he certainly followed Jerry's musical lead, while Hunter did his dirty work, tying it all together~
---------------------
"Would you here my voice?"/"If my words did glow"

"I HEAR YOU TALKING about your troubles"
------------------------
"It's a 'hand me down' "

I'll take a simple C and G and feel 'BRAND NEW' about it!"
                     -------------------
(from Ripple)
"DA DA DA DA,,,,,, DA DA DA DA DAA DA,
DAA DA DA DA DA,,,DAAA DAAA DAAA"
SUNG WITH>>>>
"I'll take a melody and see what I can do about it.
I'll take a simple C and G and feel brand new about it."
                     -------------------
(bridges)
"Ripple in still water, when there is no pebble tossed nor wind to blow,"
                                &
"I understand why the old fisherman sail along, sail along, sail along!"

in composite, becomes:
"I understand why the old fisherman, sail along, sail along, sail along, & (the) Ripple in still water, when there is no pebble tossed nor wind to blow!"
                     ----------------------
"And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone!"

"Someday he'll be gone!"
-------------------------
"DA DA DA DAAAA"

FROM 'MY G.D. FRIENDS PORTAL' ON FB.
Come visit & stay a while & poke around!!
Any comments, thoughts? Just checking for a pulse~~
kenny kslewitt@gmail.com
🕉
===============================

My Interpretation

It seems to me that Ripple is a contemplation of life's greatest mysteries, condensed to their pure and essential essence and translated into simple and universally understandable language.

The singer seems to be addressing a loved one in the first chorus, asking whether they could determine that the source of some impossible, angelic song was the singer in some other inaccessible plane, such as beyond the grave.

In the second chorus he admits that the song is an imperfect cobbling together of older and incomplete songs presented in the best manner of which he, an inherently flawed mortal, is capable. And though not perfect, certainly it is better to have this than no music at all.

I've read 'Morals and Dogma', essentially the bible of freemasonry, and I always remember a specific line in which Albert Pike emphasizes that every action creates infinite and eternal reactions, such as the ripples sent out by the tiniest of pebbles tossed into still water which then have their own effects on all of the water they pass through, and on and on.

In it's simplest and most direct sense I believe the ripple which comes without wind or pebble is life itself, begun by the inconceivable fingertip of God (let's just call it for simplicity's sake) reaching into our mortal world. As we all know scientists have made leaps and bounds but now, the same as thousands of years ago, no human has been able to crack the mystery of taking inanimate matter and transforming it into something that lives. Humanity itself is a ripple originating from a mysterious and unknown source.

The next chorus regarding the cups seems to indicate to everyone, no matter their current fortunes or misfortunes, that the original source of whatever their cup ultimately contains is a divine and unknowable fountain which, again for simplicity's sake, I'll call God. And this is a fact of which we should remind ourselves constantly, particularly in the current state of the world which emphasizes posessions and acquisitiveness.

The road from dawn to night (or in other words a journey lasting a single day) represents, to me, a single human lifetime. Even though we all traverse this road of life openly and in full and well lit view of one another, the specific path, down to the atoms disturbed by our feet, will be totally unique in each and every case. 20,000 people can watch the same 1 Dead concert and be affected differently, and react uniquely and differently. Shoot, that's what happens every single time!

There is however a great comfort in this; because even though you may find yourself in some new and frightening and overwhelming situation, and the urge to look to those who you trust and love and plead "Tell me! What should I do?" is irresistible, this is a situation in which we all have found and will find ourselves again. The people to who you plead for an answer will not have one for you. This does not mean that IF they were somehow capable of knowing the answer of how to find your way home for you, they would not tell you openly and happily. Every fiber of every one of our being's cries out to the person next to us 'Please! I will do anything at all! Just tell me how to help!' And even if it is impossible to express to them exactly what it is you need or want, the knowledge that you are surrounded by others willing to help is an immense comfort and a key idea that keeps us all going.

If I knew the way brother then believe me, please, I would take you right on home. But since I don't, and this is the irreversible situation in which we find ourselves, then what CAN I do to help? Just let me know.

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Now... Where Were We?

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