This song is about people who interpret the Grateful Dead's music as divine and see themselves a "prophet" for said divinity. The Dead have (or at least had) a great many fans who take their music a bit too seriously. You could, perhaps, call them zealots. Members of the band were often a little freaked out by this crazy type of fan. Bob Weir and John Barlow decided to pen a song about it. However in typical Grateful Dead fashion the song is highly nuanced. So much so that most people who hear the song don't understand its meaning. This is great example of the way lyrics to Grateful Dead songs operate on such a sophisticated level. While lots of fans write songs about crazy fans the song meaning is rarely veiled.
Lets contrast Weezer's 'Freak Me Out' which is somewhat thematically similar. Freak Me Out is not subtle. Even the title pretty much says all you need to know. Also, Freak Me Out is told from the point-of-view of the band. It is an ok song but is thematically rather shallow.
Estimated Prophet, on the other hand, expresses itself through as religious rant through the eyes of the crazy fan. It is a brilliant and mostly misunderstood song.
This song is about people who interpret the Grateful Dead's music as divine and see themselves a "prophet" for said divinity. The Dead have (or at least had) a great many fans who take their music a bit too seriously. You could, perhaps, call them zealots. Members of the band were often a little freaked out by this crazy type of fan. Bob Weir and John Barlow decided to pen a song about it. However in typical Grateful Dead fashion the song is highly nuanced. So much so that most people who hear the song don't understand its meaning. This is great example of the way lyrics to Grateful Dead songs operate on such a sophisticated level. While lots of fans write songs about crazy fans the song meaning is rarely veiled.
Lets contrast Weezer's 'Freak Me Out' which is somewhat thematically similar. Freak Me Out is not subtle. Even the title pretty much says all you need to know. Also, Freak Me Out is told from the point-of-view of the band. It is an ok song but is thematically rather shallow.
Estimated Prophet, on the other hand, expresses itself through as religious rant through the eyes of the crazy fan. It is a brilliant and mostly misunderstood song.
@zombywoof33 EDIT Lots of band write songs about crazy fans.
@zombywoof33 EDIT Lots of band write songs about crazy fans.
This site should allow for edits. Boo.
This site should allow for edits. Boo.