Ripple

To me this song means:

That every individual is on a “path” of their own as they go through life; and every individual must interpret life and its meaning for themselves. No choice.

The chorus:

Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow

…means life’s meaning will come out of nowhere, in your mind and consciousness, in other words from the fountain not made by the hands of man.

The songwriter is saying he/she would like to define life’s meaning and path, but he/she cannot, and it’s best you figure it out on your own, and in the end, that’s how it will happen anyhow…with the help of the fountain and the ripple without a cause.

It’s like a parent or significant other squaring with you and saying that they love you, but…for the deep stuff…you have to figure it out for yourself.

The song also says if someone thinks they have the answer or answers for others as a leader, well, they only have the answers for themselves.

The song is about the deep personal stuff.

I love the clarity of this song.

Incredible song. Jerry really helps bring the lyrics to life. Long live the king.

"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"

This part of the song is incredible; the whole song gives a freedom of choice, walk your own path, existentialist kind of feel, and I think this part is one of the most interesting and accurate interpritations of life in a lyric form. Genius.

while its tough to pull a direct meaning out of the song, i believe this song is about death in a round-about way. its more about passing from life to the after life. in this verse:

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

he talks of a road between light and dark and the road is not one that anyone can follow you on.

in the chorus:

Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow

he omens to what i would call an 'otherwolrdly' presence, a ripple in still water, with no stone thrown or wind blowing.

just my thoughts, as previously stated, this would be a wonderful song to have played at a funeral, a great way to remember a loved one, a ripple in still water.

there's a link from Annotated Dead to a 1988 sermon by Elizabeth Greene regarding this song. It's here: http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/greene.html

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?

Hypothetical question could words be magical glowing with...gold and power of the sun and you can't get that tune out of your head or the words that get stuck in your head and soon it is like the words are 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

The words are not yours they break your own thought maybe it is better if this wasn't sung but he doesn't know or care so do as though wilt

(Chorus)

Ripple in still water When there is no pebble tossed Nor wind to blow

there is a dead body in the water sinking air bubbles floating to the top don't need wind or pebbles for that

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 men

This is the sacrifice for nothing is for free in the world. But the fountain of wealth you fill your cup from does not come from 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

There are certain steps you must take to part the veil of dark and light no one can do it for you for it must be of your own freewill

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

when you make that choice of your own freewill then you must follow the lead of the one who guides you If you fail you will die alone If it was up the writer they would guide you but they do not have that knowledge nor ability

hmmm maybe I should make my comments rhyme?

The song to me means, First verse: if you saw the words to a song. Would you hear his voice and sing from memory. Second verse: of stories handed down from generation to generation. Third verse: bad stories of past events that may have happened in a family back in the day but it's over now so maybe it shouldn't be spoke of anymore. Fourth verse:if you lack knowledge of the higher power seek it. If you have knowledge keep going God has more for you. Fifth verse: your on your own road. What you choose is what it will be.sixth verse:you will be lead by darkness or light. He wishes he knew the right way to guide you. But your on your own... totally love this song. It means so much to me..

Every time I see film footage of Grateful Dead playing this song and hear it, I feel we are One in the One That Is---very calming in flow and waves, eddies and currents, drifting along...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsfcjJNWErY (opinion, not mine---fb54: GREATEST VERSION EVER!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT8zLTaKxeE (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

May all of our journeys be safe and loving to our Father-Mother Creator some call God, Whoever and/or Whatever you might or might not conceive that One to be or not be; our fellow brothers and sisters travelers here; and, in balance, guided by the Spirit of Love within and without us, ourselves, individually AND collectively.---fb54 in patience, and trust, in the One Who Loves us best.

this song was played at a funeral for my friend. well it wasn't his funeral, it was just a kindof rememberance ceremony. He was a great musician, and so are his friends, so they played this song in his honor. It was really fitting, and it makes me remember being in that white church with the whole town. I miss him a whole lot Rave to the Grave J.V.

The first line asks questions about what is it about music ( and the strange attraction of the Dead) that reaches people- it's not superficial or obvious,not the singer ,or the instrument, But what makes it seem alive? Why does it touch someone ?The 2nd line It'sa hand me down,the thoughts are broken Means there is something the singer ,and listeners recieve that's been passed down,and the source is unknown. The singer questions wether he shoudl even pass this on ,but loves the music and so throws caution to the wind. The chorus says that there is something invisible that moves through the water,the song life,This seem sto suggest spiritual force. Reach out your hand if your cup is empty-ask and it shall be added unto you,if your cup is full may it be again,The singer wishes well to all but takes no responsibility-the fountain of life and abundance was not made by humans There is a road...between the dark and the dark of night-Between birth and death we each have our own path ,our own life. If you lead ,must follow,among other things implies that the leader is dependent on the followers,and should serve them. if you should fall,your followers will abandon you, I fyou shoudl stand-how will you know where to lead-It suggests caution abotu being willing to play the role of leader. The last line ,If I knew the way ,I wold take you home,says.among other thinsg the singer is not playing the role of leader,doesn't claim to have knowlegde about these mysterires ,but does express good will toward the listener. Garica in a nut shell. He wishes all well ,he shares the beauty and abundance he finds He makes no claim to mastery,wishes all well on their personal journey of life. The chorus sugessts the experience of spiritual forces as the source of life beauty and abundance.But the singer seems to say-there's mystery here the ripple in still ater -What will you make of it?

I diagrammed this song at one point. The lyrics are from Robert Hunter not Jerry Garcia who wrote the music.

i think Garcia came to Hunter with the tune and then Hunter began writing the lyrics.

He had a fragment of a verse he had written before and used it here.

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

The previous verse is the hand me down. And he doesn't remember what they were meant for. But that is OK.

Because what is important is the music, not the forgotten meaning of the previous verse.

In other words he was melding the lyrics from a previous song or poem unto this song.

With beautiful results