Robert Hunter, lyricist for perhaps most of the Grateful Dead's best remembered songs, died Sept 23 at age 78. He and Jerry Garcia had formed a duo called Bob and Jerry in 1960, but he had moved from the Bay Area to New Mexico by the time Garcia formed the Grateful Dead. Garcia reached out to him to write lyrics for the new group, with Garcia's writing the melodies. uinter never performed on stage with the Dead (although he was a talented musician), but he toured with the group from backstage and out in the crowds. His lyrics were often mystical or oblique, a far cry from the basic lyrics of most rock songs. In tribute, I'd like to re-post one of his songs that I posted before:
As you wrote in one of your biggest hits, Truckin', "What a long, strange trip it's been." Indeed, and you provided an important part of its soundtrack. Thank you, sir. Your lyrics will continue to "ripple" through the lives of all who heard them.