2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Sunrise Lyrics
Gazing at the fire, burning by the water
Before he speaks the world around us quiets.
With eyes as sharp as arrows and turning to the fire
He clears the air and cuts it with a feather.
Many in a circle slowly 'round the fire
When he is gone I want to know him better.
No one is forsaken, no one is a liar,
He plants the tree of life on our foreheads with water.
He hums, there are drums, four winds, rising suns,
We are singing and playing, I hear him saying.
I remember breezes from winds inside your body
Keep me high, like I told you, I'll sing to them this story and know why.
Before he speaks the world around us quiets.
He clears the air and cuts it with a feather.
When he is gone I want to know him better.
He plants the tree of life on our foreheads with water.
We are singing and playing, I hear him saying.
Keep me high, like I told you, I'll sing to them this story and know why.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I just love the terrapin station album so much. This is a great song. It's got a big drum that plays at the end. It has a female singing vocals also.
But all that Grateful Dead music toegether makes this a great song to enjoy for a long time.
I knew a former deadhead who traveled around passing out flyers about how satanic the Grateful Dead really was and now (as a Christian) he had learned to burn all his Grateful Dead albums. (Oh, the pain!) The most interesting part was that he had the lyrics all written out and it showed how many of the songs were biblical ripoffs that were twisted into pseudo satanic anthems (like Sampson and Delilah).
Although there are many songs that have a plethora of biblical references and there’s a little doubt that the Grateful Dead was obsessed with Biblical themes and metaphors (some very in your face, like “Friend of the Devil”), this particular song is rather evangelical. There is no tangent implying drug use or free sex, just forgiveness and love for love’s sake.
“No one is forsaken, no one is a liar, he plants the tree of life on our foreheads with water.” (I.e., baptism).
Maybe the dead lyrics were at times Satanic, and maybe their lyrics were at other times Atheist or agnostic. But if any of those other instances were accurate, than it is also safe to say that at other times their lyrics were actually Christian. (And keep in mind that much of the Bible is encouraging the belief of Satan (to scaring readers into wanting to avoid hell).)
Either way, you gotta hand it to them that they have very poetic lyrics that make you pause and think. Perhaps it’s the lack of a preachy voice that makes it so effective in making you really consider the possibilities. Like a good Shakespeare play, it allows many different interpretations.
@monsterwax This song specifically is about a Native American sunrise ceremony. It was written by the band's backup vocalist, who did not write most of the GD's songs. This sunrise ceremony in particular celebrated the life of one of the band's roadies, who had recently died. So it was basically a funeral. The ceremony was held by a Native American shaman who was tight with the band.
@monsterwax This song specifically is about a Native American sunrise ceremony. It was written by the band's backup vocalist, who did not write most of the GD's songs. This sunrise ceremony in particular celebrated the life of one of the band's roadies, who had recently died. So it was basically a funeral. The ceremony was held by a Native American shaman who was tight with the band.
Most Grateful Dead lyrics, however, were written by Robert Hunter, who once said, "I have very strong religious impulses. I've just never found a religion that can go one to...
Most Grateful Dead lyrics, however, were written by Robert Hunter, who once said, "I have very strong religious impulses. I've just never found a religion that can go one to one with that." His songs are replete with references and allusions to many religions and religious stories, imagery, and ideas, including everything from Christianity to Taoism, Zen Buddhism, Greek and Roman mythology, and many, many more.
A lot of his songs are about outlaws and undesirable characters in mid-Century Americana in the tradition of Appalachia and middle English folklore within the larger framework of these deep religious impulses. And there's of course a dash of psychedelia. All in all, a well-rounded and well-sourced catalog.
He was also a semiotician who translated the works of Rilke and others, so his literary credentials are enormous when compared with your average rock and roll song writers.
This isn't just some hippie-dippie sunshine and rainbows band like many believe. In fact, much of the repertoire is very dark. The band was obsessive about death (it's even in the name) and with the darkness and evil that is a necessary prerequisite for good and light. In fact, good and evil are one in the same, is the greater message here.