Just an absolutely beautiful, haunting, sad, retrospective, visual and gripping song. There aren't many "good" versions of this song because Jerry's shot voice and generally poor and failing health kept him from doing a lot to the song's potential, it also ironically made the song that much more gripping and powerful. Jerry sounded like the
"headless horsemen vanish(ing)
with wild and lonely cries".
I saw the Dead do this song four times in Eugene ('93 & '94), Portland and Vegas (both '95). Jerry sounded grim each time and the first time I heard the song it nearly brought tears to my eyes and effected me that way every other time I heard it, too. It'll stick with you. Even the lyrics alone on the page are some heavy stuff.
Just an absolutely beautiful, haunting, sad, retrospective, visual and gripping song. There aren't many "good" versions of this song because Jerry's shot voice and generally poor and failing health kept him from doing a lot to the song's potential, it also ironically made the song that much more gripping and powerful. Jerry sounded like the "headless horsemen vanish(ing) with wild and lonely cries".
I saw the Dead do this song four times in Eugene ('93 & '94), Portland and Vegas (both '95). Jerry sounded grim each time and the first time I heard the song it nearly brought tears to my eyes and effected me that way every other time I heard it, too. It'll stick with you. Even the lyrics alone on the page are some heavy stuff.