Box Of Rain - Grateful Dead Interview

[xanther97]

This Lesh interview is an excerpt of a "making of American Beauty" documentary that PBS broadcast years back--I think maybe Clinton was still president at the time.

[Skatevidcentral]

my dad died of cancer too but when i was 7 i love the song!

[threeby8887]

This song works on so many levels. It's an evocation of Lesh's feelings about/relationship with his dying father, and I've also heard this song as Hunter's and the band's farewell to the dream that began in the Haight a few years earlier.

[hinesdawg18]

If you haven't gotten a chance, you MUST read "Searching for the Sound" about Phil Lesh and his journey through life. He talks of his early classical training, and his father's resentment that he chose to take his skill to an improvisational blues rock band. Phil describes how he and his Dad found a great peace at this time and how the song reflects that. I cry now whenever I hear it, it's one of the most beautiful combinations of music, and poetry ever created.

[wichitarick]

The basics,my de-ja-vus is not so over whelming today! I celebrate LIFE! But never forget those before me! Peace in my heart is formed when I know the pain has subsided. Rest Easy The weary,Time, Love, are the great healers! I formed an inner peace with my fathers passing that has never left me,with my own mind/body I seek the truth but "it" is elusive,my Nirvana will be with Knowledge,our own skin should be a comfortable place to rest! MY happiness is for the others. R.I.P. Dad. Rick

[deadhead1065]

@poopoop119

I totally fuckin agree with you, the chords of this song could be very confusing when you read many tabs with significant differences between them, i can you send you the original tablature if you want

[GrungeHippie95]

@deadhead1065 Would it be possible to send me the original tablature too please?

[MWL4466]

Well said Phil. I went through exactly the same thing with my dad. Going up to see him for the last time listening to Box of Rain kinda put it all into perspective for me. Can't help thinking of him every time I hear it all these year's later. Thank's.

[elbo33]

You forgot Black Muddy River.

[merlotstyle]

WE LOVE YOU PHIL!!!!

[dshanehimself]

Thank you.

[2aqualady]

i related to this song since its existence

thank you for the info and thank you GD!

[nychris77]

Thanks for posting this. I remember watching this interview in the late 90's on VH1 as part of their classic albums show. It's the only part of the show I remember. My uncle had died of cancer earlier in the day, about an hour and a half after I saw him. Needless to say, it was a very moving moment.

[cudaj2]

What a tragic way to write such a special song.

[Shroomeryslearyfan]

I like how the video starts off with Jerry Garcia and Owsley Stanley.

[marcotukoff]

muito legal o vídeo, it reminds what's have the father dying... thanxs from brazil!!!

[Jesterstone]

Love Baby

[LightConduit]

I own this video, and EVERY TIME I watch it and he's singing in his car, I cry like a bitch! LOL My dad died a couple of years ago and so I guess it just touches me! Grateful dead has my heart! <3

[mindmusic90]

@LightConduit what video is this from?

[LightConduit]

Anthem to Beauty~Recounting the journey of a legendary music recording :P

[alligayda]

the recording of phil singin' in his car was quite a treat, and a face put to the mysterious Robert Hunter. Thanks for posting!

[Tron1276]

bring back the beard, phil!

[gtz1975]

@Tron1276 Bobby's got the beard going!

[Jahagree]

BIG TUNE,,,,

[desertfox202]

I as 12 or 13 when I first heard this. 90,91

The impression it had on my Mother who's father was dying I wouldn't understand until years later. This is a very special song.

[snowwake09]

unreal. long live phil

[Kayadogkw]

Almost nothing better then at a show and hearing the crowd CHANT PHIL. This one's for all our fathers'. Ernesto

[burjazz]

I loved this clip, but hell fire,play the song!

[sugarhollowdaddy]

I am reminded of how often Hunter's lyrics were right on, not only in speaking to personal experiences of band members, but also in finding oblique creases where he could lay in subtle meaning. It's a rare Hunter song that hammers you on the head; Garcia claimed that after singing some of those songs for years, he still found new meaning each night, or searched in vain for any obvious message at all. If Dead tunes are the sound of light, then Hunter lyrics were the whirr of lightspeed.

[merlotstyle]

@sugarhollowdaddy VERY well put brother.

[unputer]

this is from an excellent video called "Anthem to Beauty." i have it on VHS from a long time ago ... i'm sure it's been released on DVD at some point. there's more great interviews with Hunter, Weir, Phil, Mickey, David Crosby, etc. examines their transition from pure lysergic rock to the workingman's/american beauty period.

[KeeKeeeeee]

very moving i hope i die being rememberd that way

[deadhead0903]

phil's book searching for the sound explains this song very well. its a great read

[wyget]

tru dat im almost finished

[Resplendence6]

lmao, i love how sometimes phil looks like a complete geek and other times he looks like the smoothest member of the band xD.

[leshtricity]

I cried, too. :(

I <3 Phil.

[jbinthesky]

''love will see you through'' robert hunter

[togaroc345]

i must say, i couldn't keep the eyes dry for this one. too powerful

[mattbrem79]

Phil Lesh is my all time favorite bassist. not to mention hr looks exactly the same as he did 40 years ago!

[Gr4tefuldead]

Dude I know!

[therocker89]

Beautiful story about the origin of a beautiful song. Makes me appreciate what was always a personal favorite even more. God Bless the Grateful Dead.

[gratefulcore]

the first time I heard Phil sing this live I cried... we love you Phil... Thank you for moving us... I fear not because that light still shines

[danielaluvshercoffee]

Hi deadhead1065. I'm so grateful you posted this. For years I wanted to hear what the true meaning of the song was... from the creators of it. Bitter sweet.

[deadhead1065]

thank you ur welcome , this is a true brilliant song indeed, this album will forever be a masterful legacy for american culture

[deadhead1065]

@danielaluvshercoffee

my pleasure, thanks to you for your dedication.

peace

[mbh64]

and who can forget Phil singing Just Like Tom Thumb Blues at Stanford University's Frost Theatre in 1985???? Wow...such a vivid recollection! Just makes me smile, smile, smile...

[mbh64]

such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there...truer words were never uttered. how fondly I look back on the 100+ shows I participated in from '82 until '94...and they did so many wonderful songs about death...box of rain, he was a friend of mine, he's gone, black peter, death don't have no mercy, me & my uncle, el paso, new speedway boogie...

frost amphitheatre, berkeley greek, ventura, cal expo, oakland, berkeley community theatre, irvine meadows, it all live in my memory

[ioriorioriorio]

Well, this is the stuff that makes the dead what they are...thanks for postin deadhead1065

[racl101]

I love this song. It is one of the most heartfelt songs I've ever heard. This song has more heart packed in it than some entire albums. I envy anyone who has yet to discover it for themselves.

[irtimed]

i thought phil wrote the words about his dad

[shogunmatt2003]

lesh...bass player supreme...

hunter.....lyrics master without equal.

[vomalley]

lesh philling bass great

[charliehaa]

we want phil we want phil

[phishphreak77]

phil is my hero. i'll be a lesh lush forever!!!