Hunter created the Grateful Dead as much as any of its musicians. Find Robert Hunter song information on AllMusic. 25 Robert Hunter Song Lyrics That Define Our Lives. Robert Hunter, the man behind the poetic and mystical words for many of the Grateful Dead's finest songs, has died at age 78 By JOHN ROGERS Associated Press September 25, … Die Todesursache ist bislang ungeklärt. These songs—"China Cat Sunflower", "St. Stephen", and "Alligator"—would become hits for the Grateful Dead. I discovered the Grateful Dead, far too late in my life, and because of Robert Hunter. A joy. They recorded and released their first album, which included only two original songs, but soon afterward beg… Robert Hunter wrote Friend of the Devil, Truckin', Bertha, Jack Straw and other songs. While on stage Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir were held together by Bill Kreutzman to avoid them floating off into space, Robert Hunter had no such restrictions on paper. “Let it be known there is a fountain / That was not made by the hands of man”. The song is the beginning of the songwriting period in which Hunter and Garcia collaborated on a series of great story songs set in an America peopled by outlaws and other vagrants. Robert Hunter. As reported by Rolling Stone Tuesday , Hunter died at his … Donna Jean Godchaux. He was 78. Robert Hunter covered Lady of Carlisle, Ripple, Stella Blue, Jack Straw and other songs. Bono, who was one of the singers, told us that he had got in touch with Robert Hunter to write the lyrics. “My name is August West / And I love my Pearly Baker best, more than my wine / More than my wine / More than my maker, though he’s no friend of mine.”. Hunter wrote lyrics to songs … Hunter contributed extensively to The Grateful Dead’s huge catalogue and stated with their album Aoxomoxoa back in 1969, working alongside Garcia until his death in 1995. Songwriter best known as the Grateful Dead's key lyricist; he also collaborated with Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Bruce Hornsby. The song was composed by Hunter and Garcia in isolated unison which provoked Hunter to proclaim it “about as close as I ever expected to get to feeling certain that we were doing what we were put here to do.”. “While the fire lights aglow, strange shadows from the flames will grow / Till things we’ve never seen will seem familiar.”, You know when a Grateful Dead tune is listed as an entire side of the record that you’re in for a mind-expanding treat. Few artists are as ubiquitous with some of rock and roll’s best yet as comparatively unknown as Robert Hunter. Hunter’s words are all around us. Jim Lauderdale and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter have been longstanding, songwriting compadres, each award-winning writer acclaimed across multiple genres.CAROLINA MOONRISE: BLUEGRASS SONGS BY ROBERT HUNTER AND JIM LAUDERDALE is their fourth collaboration and a logical follow-up to the 2011 GRAMMY nominated REASON AND RHYME.Sonically the album offers a fresh, contemporary … We've dipped into our archives so we could play back my interview with him. Robert Hunter, der für die Texte einige der größten Grateful-Dead-Lieder bekannt ist, ist im Alter von 78 Jahren verstorben. Brent Mydland. One note of particular brilliance on the band’s seminal album Workingman’s Dead was the first-person account of a man’s demise entitled ‘Black Peter’. Brent Mydland . Without Robert Hunter’s lyrics, our lives would be completely different. On this treat of a song, though it feels a bit pallid to call it such, Hunter and Garcia take us on a truly mystical journey that is certainly best enjoyed with headphones and about half a day to lose yourself in it. Vince Welnick. This track, perhaps more than most, offers the key to unlocking the wonderful talent of Robert Hunter. Another song written on the road, Hunter capitalised on what was an incredibly fruitful period for the band. On ‘Dark Star’, arguably the band’s most famous song, Hunter does just that conjuring up imagery of a fallible universe which is only every a good tug away from falling in on itself. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. Alabama Getaway. “Dark star crashes / Pouring its light into ashes / Reason tatters /The forces tear loose from the axis”. Without Robert Hunter’s lyrics, our lives would be completely different. He is known for his work with The Grateful Dead; although he never played on stage with the group he was seen as a "genuine band member". Tom Constanten. Robert Hunter, the longtime Grateful Dead lyricist, died Monday, Sept. 23 at the age of 78. While death would become a fascination of Hunter’s, the singer is far bleaker and to the point here than on his later efforts. Albums include After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80, Kerouac - Kicks Joy Darkness, and Tales of the Great Rum Runners. In 1961, Hunter met future Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, and the two played together in various bluegrass groups before Hunter chose to … Most well known for his time as the main lyricist for The Grateful Dead, Hunter was a longstanding member of the group and one of Jerry Garcia’s oldest friends. While Hunter was in New Mexico, he wrote lyrics for three songs. Perhaps the frivolity of youth made death seem a little less scary or poignant. A song about writing a song is the kind of complexity that Hunter not only thrived on but somehow made feel as natural as a song about teenage love. 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After the ambitious rock opera Amagamalin Street and the album-length poem Flight Of The … Hunter created the Grateful Dead as much as any of its musicians. They covered songs from other artists but soon began to form their own sound. Genres: Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter. Keith Godchaux. Robert Hunter, who wrote lyrics for many Grateful Dead songs, died Monday. Taken from the band’s second live album Skull and Roses, ‘Wharf Rat’ depicts and down and out man only a few steps away from desperation. I live in Ireland, and I heard a Song on the 'Late Late Show', called 'A Tribute to Ronnie Drew' . Keith Godchaux. Bob Dylan Talks About Working With Robert Hunter On ‘Together Through Life’ “Hunter is an old buddy,” Dylan says. LOCKN’ 2019 INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE. The lyric above is largely regarded as Hunter’s favourite telling Rolling Stone in 2015 it is “pretty much my favourite line I ever wrote,” adding: “And I believe it, you know?”, “See here how everything / Lead up to this day / And it’s just like any other day / That’s ever been.”. There’s always a Robert Hunter lyric that takes us back to a particular moment in time. Thirty two teeth in a jawbone Alabama cryin for none Before … Robert Hunter, who wrote some of the Grateful Dead's most vivid and poetic lyrics, has died at the age of 78. SHOP | TICKETING QUESTIONS | GENERAL INQUIRIES | MERCH INQUIRIES | SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES | PRESS INQUIRIES, LOCKN’ MUSIC FESTIVAL ©2013-2018. Robert Hunter’s top 5 Grateful Dead songs: ‘Dark Star’ “Dark star crashes / Pouring its light into ashes / Reason tatters /The forces tear loose from the axis” While on stage Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir were held together by Bill Kreutzman to avoid them floating off into space, Robert Hunter had no such restrictions on paper. Somehow that fact is what shines brightest on this song. Hunter’s words are all around us. Robert Hunter, the man behind the poetic and mystical words for many of the Grateful Dead’s finest songs, died Sept. 23 at his home in San Rafael, Calif. It meant the songwriter could allow his poetic imagery to run wild. Robert C. Hunter (born June 23, 1941, Arroyo Grande, California, USA – died September 23, 2019, San Rafael, California, USA) was an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet. Robert Hunter lyrics - Find all lyrics for songs such as Cruel White Water, Ariel, Boys In The Barroom at LyricsFreak.com Robert Hunter: Guitar, vocals Rick Meyers: Piano, vocals & Roland S50 Sound Sampler Cover art by Maureen Hunter Tracks: (All songs by Robert Hunter) "Liberty" "Cry Down the Years" "Bone Alley" "Black Shamrock" "Song Goes On" "Do Deny" "Worried Song" "Come and … John Perry Barlow. LOCKN’ 2021 INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Donna Jean Godchaux. Robert Hunter’s 5 best songs for The Grateful Dead, Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. Sometimes Hunter’s lyrics seem a little superfluous to the incredible musicianship that is usually being displayed around it. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. The Story Behind The Song: ‘Paint it Black’, The Rolling Stones ode to Brian Jones? Privacy Policy, © 2013-2020 LOCKN’ LLC. Privacy Policy. We wear them on our t-shirts, tattoo them on our bodies like badges of honor, and use them as great sources of inspiration whether we are happy or sad. While it’s hard to narrow down Hunter’s contribution to music, well over 600 songs, to just five, the below is the perfect snapshot of an artist unlike any other. Robert Hunter was born in California. Robert Hunter discography and songs: Music profile for Robert Hunter, born 23 June 1941. Hunter’s Grateful Dead songs included, “Casey Jones,” China Cat Sunflower,” “Franklin’s Tower,” “Scarlet Begonias,” “Terrapin Station” and “Truckin. Robert Hunter was more than another gear spinning within the perpetual motion machine of the Grateful Dead — his songwriting helped define the group's narratives and bloom its philosophies. We’re looking back at the late, great Hunter’s incredible career by revisiting five of his best songs for The Grateful Dead. Vince Welnick. It allows Hunter to get down and dirty in the realism of everyday life rather than taking his audience to another dimension altogether. Robert Hunter originally did Stella Blue, Scarlet Begonias, Deal, Jack Straw and other songs. In 1965, Garcia, Ron McKernan, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmannformed a band, initially called the Warlocks, but were soon known as the Grateful Dead. Robert Hunter, a poet and lyricist for the Grateful Dead who co-wrote songs like "Touch of Grey" and "Box of Rain" has died at the age of 78. Robert Hunter, who has died aged 78, wrote the lyrics for many of their best-loved songs, and his work was vital in developing the mystique that earned the … John Perry Barlow. Below, we’re giving you a crash course in some of Hunter’s finest work. We wear them on our t-shirts, tattoo them on our bodies like badges of honor, and use them as great sources of inspiration whether we are happy or sad. home > Band > robert hunter > lyrics. 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