Do Hunter's lyrics have "eras"?
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If we can identify certain periods of time that correspond to an overall "sound" the Grateful Dead put out (i.e. mid-late 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, etc.), can the evolution of Hunter's lyrics also be pigeon holed into discrete eras? If so, how can these eras be described?
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Idk but they do have words
Idk but they do have words that trigger a mind wander when high on acid or shrooms
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sigmund
IMHO I'd say that Hunters
IMHO I'd say that Hunters lyrics improved as he aged and skill for crafting songs progressed. Even the most recent Hunter songs ( That I'm aware of on Mickey's last few albums) stand up to or exceed anything he's penned before. I hope he keeps sharing his gift with us.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Billy Shears
For those with ears to hear..
For those with ears to hear...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
IMHO I'd say that Hunters
IMHO I'd say that Hunters lyrics improved as he aged and skill for crafting songs progressed. Even the most recent Hunter songs ( That I'm aware of on Mickey's last few albums) stand up to or exceed anything he's penned before. I hope he keeps sharing his gift with us.<<<
I hope so too.
It is interesting to consider how a lyricist's prowess isn't necessarily affected by age in the same way a musician who plays an instrument; in terms of both "precision and agility" as well as creativity with respect to the impact of stand alone bodies of work. Still, can't help but wonder if a lyricist has a "prime" period in their careers, maybe there's a sweet spot between innocence of youth and wisdom of age?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
There's certainly a
There's certainly a difference in volume produced, from youth to age - applies to almost everyone.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sigmund
^^^ maybe there's a sweet
^^^ maybe there's a sweet spot between innocence of youth and wisdom of age?
Great question
i love this thread, I don't understand people who don't listen to lyrics (so many of them)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
lol, I'm actually one of
lol, I'm actually one of those people who doesn't listen to lyrics ... or at least I'm unable to simultaneously pay attention all of the time to lyrics and instead process them simply as "vocals" - akin to being another instrument. I think I've probabaly always had some mild form of some sort of cognitive issue like Aspergers, but I also think not paying attention to lyrics allows my ears to be "lighter on their feet" with respect to processing the music itself.
The "iconic" phrases typically always get through as such and retain their ability to generate meaning, but there are still a huge mountain of words that are just mumbo jumbo ... kind of along the lines of when I was little, I had thought "broughttoyouby" (from tv) was a single word. Having said that, every now and again at a show, some of the songs or phrases all of sudden get illuminated in my mind in an "ah ha" moment.
Regardless, from what I can glean, I do think there are generally sweet spots re: "outlook" re: lyrcists' careers, but then again why should any given era of one's life and it's associated outlook be assigned greater importance or magnitude than any other? Or for that matter, how do we compare lyrics that are "out there" in psychedelic space vs. those that are more grounded in "reality"?
I'm thinking American Beauty might be the one where "everything comes together" ... kinda of akin to how I've heard Pet Sounds described (maybe by Julian Lennon?) as coming after all the goofy innocence and before some of the weirder spookier material.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jimbee
Comparing Dark Star to Day
Comparing Dark Star to Day Job, it's almost the same message...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Day job crashes
Day job crashes
Turning its pay into ashes
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Spidergawd
^ lol.
^ lol.
I think there's a big distinction between the Dark Star-St.S-11-chinacat, era lyrics, psychedelic, bizarre, the Workingman's-Beauty era lyrics- down home, somewhat philosophical, reflective. Late 71-72 Brown Eyed Women, Ramble On Rose, Loser, TJed..etc. timeless story telling type thing, Americana...more dealing with characters & events than the deeper 'idea&philosophical' thing abundant in Workingman's-Beauty era. 73-74 HCSunshine, Stella Blue, Scarlet, Ship of Fools, China Doll. have some kind of mystical touch more so than 71-72 era. 75-76 Help-Slip-Franklin's, Crazy Fingers, Mission in the Rain..don't really know how to describe distinguishing features of these that differ from other eras but they definitely do have their own unique thing. The later era Standing On The Moon-So Many Rd,Days Between, Lazy River Rd, I'd say are also part of a unique era of songs that come from a similar vein & instigate a certain kind of imagery & feel that is much different from the past.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Ween lyrics have eras.
Ween lyrics have eras.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
The later era Standing On The
The later era Standing On The Moon-So Many Rd,Days Between, Lazy River Rd, I'd say are also part of a unique era of songs that come from a similar vein & instigate a certain kind of imagery & feel that is much different from the past<<<
Can't help but wonder if "later era" lyrics are a product of and reflect a perspective of age? And if so, does Hunter still manage to keep his youthful eyes / aperture open at the same time?
(Happy Belated Birthday RH!)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
Early 70's was his high point
Early 70's was his high point. Lots of good stuff afterwards but this songs from '70-'73 (for the recorded versions, I know that some were written in '69) set the standard.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fish
So many black muddy lazy
So many black muddy lazy river roads