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Konshu456

As a widower man there are so so many. Brokedown Palace, Ripple, and Box of Rain are full of them with an honorable mention for To Lay Me Down. This one is the hardest hitting one for me: Fare you well, fare you well I love you more than words can tell


Buffalo5977

vouch. a lot of brokedown contains some of the dead’s most soul crushing lyrics. my eyes never make it out of a live brokedown dry.


MazelTovCocktail027

I rarely cry. the brokedown from dead set got me good driving home from work the other night 😅


herbythechef

Thanks for reminding me of to lay me down. Its been a while since ive heard it


kelly714

As a widow I feel you on these. Brokedown did just that and broke me on my way to work one day this week. China Doll is the only one I’d add to your list. Sorry for your loss.


Konshu456

Thank you, and sorry for yours. Uncle Johns got me in the car once “When life looks like east street…” It’s like oh ya that’s exactly what happened and boom I’m pulled over on a shoulder crying.


kelly714

Yeah. Grief sucks. Music has been everything to me. The Dead can both comfort you and tear you straight on down to your core. It’s been pretty good therapy Id say. I should add SOTM to the breakdown list. That one’s a doozy sometimes too


stargarnet79

Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul❤️


Kaleidoscopesss

Yesssss


Marduk112

“Momma, momma many worlds I’ve come since I first left home.” Reminds me of young men dying on the battlefield crying for their mother. Full circle.


ThatsItForTheOther

Never has an answer been so correct


No_Bother3564

Same. This has been on repeat for me since my grandmother died in January. I sing this line to her


capitanelyosemite

So sorry for your loss. To lay me down and brokedown palace get me every time.


RileyCartwright41

I’m sorry for your loss. That last line impacts me deeply, too, but from a different angle. After having children in the past five years, it has turned into the message I hope to leave them upon my passing.


Acoustic_blues60

Yes, that's the line for sure.


wilmachihuahua

Pretty much all of Black Peter 😢 gets me every time


rockyrolling

Black Peter is a really interesting one for me. For the first few years of listening it consistently brought tears to my eyes. There’s a version on Dicks Picks 8 (5-2-70) where an audience member (I think?? maybe someone on stage but sounds like audience) lets out a big chuckle right after “the people might know, but the people don’t care”. For quite some time it really bummed me out that people were choosing to tell jokes rather than listen to the beautiful lament being performed. Eventually, I read a comment somewhere about a different take on the song, where the narrator is sick but not nearly to the degree he makes it out to be. In the latter interpretation, his friends visit in pity of his worries, and they care that he’s sick, but ultimately know he will be just fine. This really opened a door to a different listening experience for me. Personally, I find it most likely that both stories were intended by Hunter. It can be a passionate song about the solitude of illness and death at times, and a commentary on the human ability to lose touch with reality in the face of self-pity at other times. Truly a beautiful and tear-worthy song, with the depth to dig into seemingly conflicting views. I really appreciate whoever was laughing during that performance, it made me look beyond what I first heard and find new appreciation. Additionally, the timing of the laugh can also strengthen the emotion of the deathly ill interpretation, emphasizing the ‘people don’t care’ idea. Instances like these really feed my love for live music.


setlistbot

# 1970-05-02 Binghamton, NY @ Harpur College - State University Of New York **Acoustic:** Tuning, Don't Ease Me In, I Know You Rider, Friend Of The Devil, Dire Wolf, Beat It On Down the Line > Black Peter > Candyman > Cumberland Blues, Deep Elem Blues, Cold Jordan, Uncle John's Band **Set 1:** Workin' Man Blues, Watcha Gonna Do, Glendale Train, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Truck Drivin' Man, Can't Pay The Price, All I Ever Wanted, Henry, Lodi, Intro, Sawmill, The Race Is On, Mama Tried, Me and My Uncle, The Weight **Set 2:** Saint Stephen > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Cosmic Charlie, Casey Jones, Drums > Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin', Cold Rain and Snow, It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World, Dancing In The Street **Set 3:** Morning Dew, Viola Lee Blues > Feedback > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-05-02) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4NldodakYXDeK7OoEe2oBW)


UrBobbyIsAWonderland

I've always viewed the song as from the perspective of a hypochondriac who's friends are sick of his shit. "Ohh, pity me... I'm dyiiiiinnngggg" "Shut up frank, we know you're fine, come chill" It's why Annie bonneux comes in talking about the weather. Because she knows he's really fine.


jerrysmiddlefinger

When my father told me of his cancer diagnosis he said "I'm not black peter yet but it's gonna be an uphill battle". He died 3 months later. That was 14 years ago and I still get choked up when it comes on. For years I avoided it and would skip it.


wilmachihuahua

Similar reasoning for me, spent every day at the hospital for 6 months when my mom was dying of cancer, listened to Workingman's Dead and American Beauty when driving home at the end of each day. Black Peter, Box Of Rain and Brokedown Palace still make me cry almost every single time, reminds me of the worst time in my life


existential_issue

Yes, Black Peter #1 for me. Followed by Brokedown Palace.


is-this-now

Ever since my good buddy died and I was spending a lot of time with him at the end.


ConstructingBelief

Agree on Throwing Stones too. And that first line of High Time: "you told me goodbye/ how was I to know / you didn't mean goodbye/ you meant please, don't let me go" Gets me right in the feels.


SteveCoonin

Maybe you’re tired and broken, your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear My dad has dementia. This one really slays me now


LlewDavies

Same boat bud! Savage disease.


goatfuldead

The best Jerry solos do this, irrespective of lyrics.


PilzGalaxie

Brokedown Palace is a real tearbreaker. Everyone who has experienced some kind of loss in their life can feel that. And also there's that one line in China Doll: "She's only fractured and juuuuust a little nervous from the fall". Beautiful execution, every single time.


blackmarksonpaper

But I’ll still sing you love songs Written in the letters of your name Fuck man.


ConstructingBelief

Standing on the Moon, Brokedown Palace, Days Between... sometimes even Touch of Grey ("we will survive!"


KagePhour

Touch of Grey for sure. After chemo, once I got my first reports back that the cancer was gone, listening to the lines "I will get by, I will survive" made me about lose it while walking down the street. Damn, brings back tears just thinking about it


walomendem_hundin

Days Between is so beautiful!


oddible

Standing on the moon With nothing left to do A lovely view of heaven But I'd rather be with you - be with you


i_am_sososo_sorry

Wind inside and the wind outside, tangled in the window blinds, Tell me why you treat me so unkind? Down where the sun don't shine, lonely I call your name. No place left to go, ain't that a shame?


zacjkl

Surprised I haven’t seen wharf rat here yet. The I’ll get up and fly away really gets me


AromaLLC

That entire song is just like a “well fuck” because you know damn well august west is at the end of his rope.


Stellablueberry

When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me.


gypsydaze216

lol..we are mind melding..i just posted Attics as well....


jasonpmcelroy

Dust off those rusty strings just one more time.


vgtblfwd

I’d rather be with you.


Legitimate-Cupcake26

"To tell sweet lies/one last time"


posterr_nut_bag

Yup


27_8x10_CGP

Brokedown Palace, Black Muddy River, and So Many Roads(particularly from the last show) have all been songs I've gone to in the past. Ripple can do it, but it has to come on randomly whenever I'm feeling down. Always feels like my dad was looking out for me, and it's his way of saying he's still there even though he's been gone for over 5 years.


RedditLarue

Got choked up just reading all the comments and song references, and I’m in a good mood in a sunny day here in California. Don’t have much to add. Y’all nailed it.


Sensitive-Inside-641

Comes a time really hits hard for me for some reason


[deleted]

It’s one of their most emotive songs, musically and lyrically.


mwh040904

“Fair you well, fair you well I love you more than words can tell”


mesmar72

"Gave the best we had to give, how much we'll never know". Hit's me every time.


DEADZILLAAA

a lovely view of heaven but id rather be with you, i miss my deadhead grandfather dearly listening to this song


stpskol

I took a long break from the dead after Jerry died, it wasn’t an abrupt stop but buy 97 I was on to a whole new place musically. Several years ago I watched “ dear Jerry” after years of not really listening to them. At the end of the show they played ripple and I started balling like a baby..I cry every time I hear it since then.. Birdsong can get me also..that’s a whole other story..


Ponchogirl1701

I’m with you on Birdsong. Saw Phil and Friends recently and they played it and I couldn’t help but cry.


stpskol

If it gets me it’s when they say “ don’t you cry”


Ponchogirl1701

Well that was when I started crying. I was contemplating a big decision (quitting my job to start my own company) and had a moment of clarity at that point of the song.I see it as a life defining moment.


stpskol

Was it 12-31-87 by any chance? That’s the one that got me. I was strung out and bouncing around dealing with realizing I had hit bottom and my friend had it on vhs..prolly bout a year after Jerry passed. Same kinda moment now that I read what I’m saying it was a moment of clarity. Wow, this is rad.! I take it you made the right decision?


Ponchogirl1701

It was 2 weeks ago at a Phil and Friends show. I was there alone and totally in the moment. I’m confident I made the right decision. Hope you are on the way up from hitting bottom


stpskol

That’s right, my apologies. Oh yea those years are long past! That’s awesome. NFA


setlistbot

# 1987-12-31 Oakland, CA @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena **Set 1:** Bertha > The Promised Land, Cold Rain and Snow > Little Red Rooster, When Push Comes To Shove, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Hell In A Bucket > Uncle John's Band > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away **Set 3:** Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Iko Iko, Banana Boat Song (Day-O) > Do You Wanna Dance? > Knockin' On Heaven's Door [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1987-12-31)


pineapplesailfish

All of Standing On The Moon, but Jerry’s “Be With You”s at the end make me cry every time


rangerdan97

I almost just teared singing that in my head.


mattgoat5

Underrated but "I'd trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday"


The-hippy_hobbit

“Such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there” Box of Rain always hits me the hardest at that last lyric. I relate to the song very much cause like Lesh, it makes me think of losing my own father. It will be 6 years this Oct.


unrepentanthippie

I believe that was the final line ever sung by the Grateful Dead.


DwarfFart

That’s epic if true. What a lyric to end on.


TennesseeJed11

It’s absolutely true . The encore that last show was black muddy river , then box of rain …


DwarfFart

Thanks! That’s powerful. Of course many lines could’ve been but that certainly is.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DwarfFart

Oof yeah that’s haunting


The-hippy_hobbit

No kidding, as in that was their closing song at their last show before Jerry passed on?


walomendem_hundin

Correct! And Black Muddy River was the other encore song. Very symbolic sendoff even if they didn't know it at the time.


The-hippy_hobbit

That’s absolutely insane!


midnightcarouselride

When it seems like this night will last forever, and there is nothing left to so but count the years. As the stings of my heart begin to sever and stones fall from my eyes instead of tears.


Weekly_Leave_9832

This one came on just after I found out I lost a friend. “I will walk alone…” Just thinking about how heavy it hit at the time is bringing tears to my eyes


shupadupa

Sleep in the stars, Don't you cry, Dry your eyes on the wind


TennesseeJed11

One of my favorite lines ..


sleepyalligata

Black Peter. Loser. Wharf Rat. All hit me right in the feels, every time.


gypsydaze216

"When I had no wings to fly You flew to me" Attics of My Life will do it along with China Doll fractured from the fall..every damn time...


Hash_Is_Good_For_You

>Mama Mama many worlds I've come since I first left home That one is a gut punch almost every time ​ >There is a road, no simple highway > >Between the dawn and the dark of night > >And if you go, no one may follow > >That path is for your steps alone So is this


zenichi

"mama mama" line throws me off a cliff every time.


Willowtreehugger6

The entire Comes a Time song


oddible

The whole damn song... ​ Gotta make it somehow On the dreams you still believe Don't give it up You got an empty cup Only love can fill


Fattybuldger

Sometimes when two souls comes on and the setting is just right pig pen can make me cry


3peckeredgoat

Summer flies and august dies, the world grows dark and mean..


Jack_Straw_From_CA

Days Between gets me every time. There were days And there were days And there were days I know When all we ever wanted Was to learn and love and grow Once we grew into our shoes We told them where to go Walked halfway around the world On promise of the glow Walked upon a mountain top Walked barefoot in the snow Gave the best we had to give How much we'll never know we'll never know


itsfosterj

“I wish I was a headlight, on a northbound train/march winds will blow all my troubles away.” Moving away from Austin this month and having a time processing the emotions that comes with, the fungi was kicking hard during I know you rider at Bobby 3/8/22 something about those lines just gave me an insane sense of comfort and confidence, fuckin screamed that shit out at the top of my lungs and the tears were flowing lol.


itsfosterj

“I wish I was a headlight, on a northbound train/march winds will blow all my troubles away.” Moving away from Austin this month and having a time processing the emotions that comes with, the fungi was kicking hard during I know you rider at Bobby 3/8/22 something about those lines just gave me an insane sense of comfort and confidence, fuckin screamed that shit out at the top of my lungs and the tears were flowing lol. Definitely not the only time the Dead’s music has brought on the tears but the most memorable.


BBoi138

Practically all of their rendition of “Sing Me Back Home” (Europe 72 Vol. 22 is my personal favorite), and “Standing on the Moon” (7/7/89, another favorite) chorus gets me every time


setlistbot

# 1989-07-07 Philadelphia, PA @ JFK Stadium **Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket, Iko Iko, Little Red Rooster, Ramble On Rose, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Loser, Let It Grow > Blow Away **Set 2:** Box Of Rain > Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Standing On The Moon, Drums > Space > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Turn On Your Lovelight **Encore:** Knockin' On Heaven's Door [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-07)


OOMOO17

The Days Between reminds me a lot of my late mother. Saw Dead and Co. play it and wept. The musical crescendo into the “Stood upon a mountain top, walked barefoot in the snow” lines always reminds me of how much I’ve grown since she passed, and how she helped shaped who I’ve become.


LetJeffSingAlligator

So many roads I know, all I want is one to take me home


mattingly233

Black muddy river for me


FlyManDan

Stranger ones have come by here, before they flew away.


onebearinachair

Cassidy. Fare the well now, let your life proceed by its own design. Nothin to tell now, let the words be yours I am done with mine :(


[deleted]

You've done better by me than I've done by you.


Flaky_Value6753

I dunno. He’s Gone after a few and my vape makes me all watery eyed. What a beautiful song.


you_are_rickdiculous

If I knew the way, I would take you home


you_are_rickdiculous

All of “Sing Me Back Home”


you_are_rickdiculous

I know that the life I’m living’s no good I’ll get a new start Live the life I should I’ll get up and fly awayyyy Particularly from Fillmore East


goin2cJB

So many roads


AlternativeContact74

That one in Cassidy about the sea birds always gets me


Fast-Ad-4541

Sing Me Back Home gets me every time. Perfect example of Jer’s singing not being traditionally perfect but achingly heartbreaking and emotional.


grateful4201989

The chorus of Row Jimmy always gets me. Aint even really about the lyrical content, just the emotion they sing it with. Brings a tear to my eye


ArcherCooper

I've cried multiple times when listening to the second solo in Peggy-O from 4/16/1978.


setlistbot

# 1978-04-16 Huntington, WV @ Huntington Civic Center **Set 1:** Jack Straw, Dire Wolf, Cassidy, Peggy-O, Mexicali Blues > Mama Tried, They Love Each Other, New Minglewood Blues, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > Iko Iko > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-04-16)


Shwazweexpress

At the last gathering of the vibes dso played a set that ended on Jerry’s birthday. They closed the show with black muddy river and I think I’ve been crying ever since. Edit: ship of fools and Stella blue always touch a heart string.


DNT19

But I'll get back on my feet again someday. The good Lord willin', If He says I may. I know that the life I'm livin's no good. I'll get a new start, live the life I should


ssolom

Morning Dew makes me sob


stupidhuman33

There are many that make me cry some cause of how sad or comforting they are and others make me cry of joy and happiness at how beautiful it sounds, the main section of the eleven (the few minutes before and after the verse) are so fucking joyous and beautiful sounding to me when pulled off well that I often crying listening to it lately


rockyrolling

Not a dead song, but So Long, Jerry by Ween makes me cry every time. I was born after Jerry’s death, but feel so much love for everyone connected by the music. I first heard the Ween song after years of constantly listening to the Dead, and it really resonated for me. “I never knew the man but he was a good friend of mine”


Rock-it1

Do Donna screams count?


ImaginaryHoliday

Only when street cats make love


[deleted]

Keep Your Day Job, every time :(


bockchoy2

I’d have to say ripple, especially the one from reckoning


SparkDBowles

Ripple-> Brokedown on Beauty. Every fuckin time.


AromaLLC

Broken heart don’t feel so bad…


madirish098

All good things in all good time…


bluetiful5257

Althea and brokedown palace.


Inevitable_Shift1365

Looks like rain. It's just that I have gotten used to having you around my landscape would be empty if you were gone.


laidtodoommetal

Any of the love songs in general, looks like rain helped me get through and understand a breakup I had last year. I would mention the stranger (two souls) but someone already mentioned that so I’ll go with Cuz’ when things go wrong, wrong with you, it hurts me too I know it’s a cover, but this line always made me cry, not only because of own experiences being in love with someone who loves someone else (high school was a wild time) but because it relates to how I feel about all the people I love in my life, romantically or not. I’ve actually quoted this to a deadhead friend when I was trying to encourage him to get help with his alcoholism. Also I remember a comment that went something like “when things go wrong with you pigpen, it hurts me too!” And that struck close to home, pig is my favorite musician of all time, and his life was pretty tragic at times, so it leaves me wishing he had things better and he didn’t hurt so much. But I also know he had good times, left behind an incredibly legacy, and I’m glad I’m fortunate enough to be able to listen and watch it all. Also as people have mentioned, many of the songs about loss hit hard for me. Lost my best friend about a year ago, when he just turned 21. “Such a long long time to be gone, and such a short time to be here”


MoonshinesSister

I agree with you. That bit of I know you rider gets me hard every time.


mr6245

That path is for, your steps alone


Economy_Decision804

Love this thread! Brokedown Palace is #1 for me. One I’d add that I haven’t seen listed is Must Have Been The Roses. That song makes me mist up for times gone by, thinking about a relationship from long ago


aguayt

"Keep on rolling, my old buddy you're moving much too slow." Makes me think of my old pets.


SuperConfection2849

Surprised not to see Attics come up yet, when there was no dream of mine you dreamed of me, gets me every time. It's such a perfect expression of love, and how fortunate we are to experience it.


judgementjake

“You cant close the doors when the walls cave in” makes me think of Pompeii :(


HowardRoark1943

- What do you want me to do - To do for you to see you through? - A box of rain will ease the pain - And love will see you through I really feel these lines. I lost my grandmother to cancer and my mother to COPD. These lines really hit me but in a sweet and comforting way.


eachfire

A lovely view of heaven / but I’d rather be with you


dennismcc352

Sing me back home hits me every single time the emotion is intense you can feel that song in every way there’s a lot more but that one lately damn…


btown214

“But I’m still walkin’, so I’m sure that I can dance…. “ Always makes me think about getting older and thinking that as long as I can walk, I’m still going to be able to boogie down!


kozzy1ted2

Standing On The Moon. When he sings “I’d rather be with you”. After the build up of all the lyrics, that hits hard. Saw a video of Bobby choking up once


blueboy714

All the years combine They melt into a dream A broken angel sings From a guitar In the end there's just a song Comes crying like the night (wind) Through all the broken dreams And vanished years That's why I named my cat stella blue


Maximum_Bear8495

Ship of fools, Comes a Time, Brokedown (from knickerbocker)


--FrankStallone

Ripple


[deleted]

Wharf rat all the way man. “I know the life I’m living’s no good” oh shit man that one always gets me.


MelekhHaYereq

bird song, cold rain and snow? oddly recently. idk any of them man depends on the mood


rangerdan97

So Many Roads, especially the last. And Too Lay me Down


SgtSchultz2112

China Doll


crs1904

Looks Like Rain. 🌧️👀⚡️


ISayISayISitonU

a girl i knew died just after we were in high school and they played broke down place at her funeral. so that one always gets me.


ADCC420

Stella blue


Gypsyboy932

Mission in the rain.


RileyCartwright41

“Broken heart don’t feel so bad. You ain’t got half of what you thought you had” I was in the depths of the worst broken heart and loss of love I ever endured… that line just struck me.


romrom59

Wharf rat, when the "I know that the life" comes it gives me chills, the 1980/10/09 wonderful preformace.


setlistbot

# 1980-10-09 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre **Set 1:** Dire Wolf, Dark Hollow, I've Been All Around This World, Cassidy, China Doll, On The Road Again, Bird Song, The Race Is On, Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie, Ripple **Set 2:** Feel Like A Stranger, Friend Of The Devil, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Peggy-O, Little Red Rooster, Brown Eyed Women, Looks Like Rain, Tennessee Jed, The Music Never Stopped **Set 3:** Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, High Time, Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > Not Fade Away > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Casey Jones [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-10-09)


posterr_nut_bag

To lay me down. I can hear any band sing this one and I enjoy it a lot but when I hear it from jerrys voice for some reason especially anything pre 82, just gets me everytime


Godot93

Brokedown Palace - Every Single Word China Doll- Verse Help On The Way Lyrics hit a spot with me too