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.
The first stanza is to pretty it up, the second stanza-when you trip your thoughts are broken, another words you steal your face, your mind is emptied of bad thoughts, its a reset button for the mind. Then, ripple in still water when there is no pebble tossed-sometimes when tripping someone speaks with love or a profound statement, it ripples, but it doesnt do damage to the minds of everyone involved, the pebble would be hatred or lack of zeal for the moment in other words. The fountain is quite obvious-the fountain of youth, which tripping does-until you are six...
The first stanza is to pretty it up, the second stanza-when you trip your thoughts are broken, another words you steal your face, your mind is emptied of bad thoughts, its a reset button for the mind. Then, ripple in still water when there is no pebble tossed-sometimes when tripping someone speaks with love or a profound statement, it ripples, but it doesnt do damage to the minds of everyone involved, the pebble would be hatred or lack of zeal for the moment in other words. The fountain is quite obvious-the fountain of youth, which tripping does-until you are six years old you are tripping using both sides of your mind gobbling up information. The rest of the lyrics are kinda vague so you can make the song your own, like many dead songs they are written to interpret many ways and differently as your experiences and views change.
May I suggest an additional meaning: As I posted about Brokendown Palace, Ripple is about enlightenment, or the path to it...it has to be one one follows alone, that place beyond words or time--not that it's a lonely experience, but that it's so deeply personal and universal it cannot be spoken--hence the paradox all over the beautiful lyrics.
May I suggest an additional meaning: As I posted about Brokendown Palace, Ripple is about enlightenment, or the path to it...it has to be one one follows alone, that place beyond words or time--not that it's a lonely experience, but that it's so deeply personal and universal it cannot be spoken--hence the paradox all over the beautiful lyrics.
@davidj420 interesting take... But I think a lot gets summed up as "this part is about tripping" with the Dead. Robert Hunters lyrics are so profound, I think most of the time when he talks about psychedelics, he's using multiple meanings. Like, the obvious answers are usually just trippy lyrics... But, he's too good of writer to be so basic lol. Anyways, interesting take. Kind of what I always thought too. But always feel like I'm always a step behind Hunter... And that's what he intended lol
@davidj420 interesting take... But I think a lot gets summed up as "this part is about tripping" with the Dead. Robert Hunters lyrics are so profound, I think most of the time when he talks about psychedelics, he's using multiple meanings. Like, the obvious answers are usually just trippy lyrics... But, he's too good of writer to be so basic lol. Anyways, interesting take. Kind of what I always thought too. But always feel like I'm always a step behind Hunter... And that's what he intended lol
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.
The first stanza is to pretty it up, the second stanza-when you trip your thoughts are broken, another words you steal your face, your mind is emptied of bad thoughts, its a reset button for the mind. Then, ripple in still water when there is no pebble tossed-sometimes when tripping someone speaks with love or a profound statement, it ripples, but it doesnt do damage to the minds of everyone involved, the pebble would be hatred or lack of zeal for the moment in other words. The fountain is quite obvious-the fountain of youth, which tripping does-until you are six...
The first stanza is to pretty it up, the second stanza-when you trip your thoughts are broken, another words you steal your face, your mind is emptied of bad thoughts, its a reset button for the mind. Then, ripple in still water when there is no pebble tossed-sometimes when tripping someone speaks with love or a profound statement, it ripples, but it doesnt do damage to the minds of everyone involved, the pebble would be hatred or lack of zeal for the moment in other words. The fountain is quite obvious-the fountain of youth, which tripping does-until you are six years old you are tripping using both sides of your mind gobbling up information. The rest of the lyrics are kinda vague so you can make the song your own, like many dead songs they are written to interpret many ways and differently as your experiences and views change.
May I suggest an additional meaning: As I posted about Brokendown Palace, Ripple is about enlightenment, or the path to it...it has to be one one follows alone, that place beyond words or time--not that it's a lonely experience, but that it's so deeply personal and universal it cannot be spoken--hence the paradox all over the beautiful lyrics.
May I suggest an additional meaning: As I posted about Brokendown Palace, Ripple is about enlightenment, or the path to it...it has to be one one follows alone, that place beyond words or time--not that it's a lonely experience, but that it's so deeply personal and universal it cannot be spoken--hence the paradox all over the beautiful lyrics.
@davidj420 interesting take... But I think a lot gets summed up as "this part is about tripping" with the Dead. Robert Hunters lyrics are so profound, I think most of the time when he talks about psychedelics, he's using multiple meanings. Like, the obvious answers are usually just trippy lyrics... But, he's too good of writer to be so basic lol. Anyways, interesting take. Kind of what I always thought too. But always feel like I'm always a step behind Hunter... And that's what he intended lol
@davidj420 interesting take... But I think a lot gets summed up as "this part is about tripping" with the Dead. Robert Hunters lyrics are so profound, I think most of the time when he talks about psychedelics, he's using multiple meanings. Like, the obvious answers are usually just trippy lyrics... But, he's too good of writer to be so basic lol. Anyways, interesting take. Kind of what I always thought too. But always feel like I'm always a step behind Hunter... And that's what he intended lol