Grateful Dead – Ripple

“One of the most-loved Grateful Dead songs, Ripple was one of the many standouts on American Beauty. It was played 11 times 1970-1971, and then dropped until it returned in 1980, played as the set-closing song every night during the Dead’s acoustic sets. It made one final appearance on 9/3/88 in Landover, MD, before being retired for good.” – David Lemieux

Directed by Len Dell’Amico and co-produced by Len Dell’Amico and GDP.

“Ripple” – Single by Grateful Dead from the album American Beauty.
A-side: “Truckin'”
Released: November 1, 1970
Recorded: September 1970
Songwriters: Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter
Producers: Grateful Dead, Steve Barncard.

“Ripple” is the sixth song on the Grateful Dead album American Beauty. It was released as the B-side to the single “Truckin'”.

This song, which was recorded in a country-folk style, was written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. Hunter was not a performing member of the band, but wrote the lyrics to many of their songs. Hunter’s words were often very poetic, lending themselves to interpretation. In this song, he writes about the joy of music in the air and how we must all choose our own path.

The song’s first performance came during a show at San Francisco’s Fillmore West on August 18, 1970. It was the same night that “Brokedown Palace,” Operator,” and “Truckin'” were first played in public. “Ripple” was played during the first set, which was acoustic. It appeared between “Dark Hollow” and “Brokedown Palace.”