Got the sad news today of the death of poet and lyricist Robert Hunter, the man responsible for the words to many of my favorite Grateful Dead songs. He was 78.
Hunter collaborated with the band on “Truckin,” “Ripple,” “China Cat Sunflower, “Dark Star,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “St. Stephen,” “Touch of Grey” and “Scarlet Begonias” among others. One of my favorite song verses comes from the latter:
“She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes
And I knew without asking she was into the blues
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls
I knew right away she was not like other girls, like other girls”
He also worked with Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and Bruce Hornsby in later years. The dude was magnificent.
For a send off, I’ll quote the final line from another fine Dead tune for which Hunter wrote the lyrics, “Box of Rain.”
“Such a long long time to be gone
And a short time to be there”
