![]() This song opened my ears to the band in a big way. And in particular the Europe ’72 recording. I mean, if I had to whittle it all down to just one song I could bring with me, this would be it. Celebrating the start of a new year seems like an appropriate occasion, so let’s look at what is probably my number one desert-island song. I wasn’t sure exactly why, but I had been saving “China Cat Sunflower” for a special occasion. (I’ll consider requests for particular songs-just private message me!) Therefore, the best part, I would hope, would not be anything in particular that I might have to say, but rather, the conversation that may happen via the comments over the course of time-and since all the posts will stay up, you can feel free to weigh in any time on any of the songs! With Grateful Dead lyrics, there’s always a new and different take on what they bring up for each listener, it seems. Listen to the River: St.Here’s the plan-each week, I will blog about a different song, focusing, usually, on the lyrics, but also on some other aspects of the song, including its overall impact-a truly subjective thing. Pacific Northwest '73-'74: Complete Recordings, 2018 Road Trips: Vol 4, Number 2: April Fool's '88, 2011Įurope '72, The Complete Recordings, 2011Īll The Years Combine: The DVD Collection, 2012 (bonus song)ĭave's Picks Vol 2: Hartford, CT, 7/31/74, 2012ĭave's Picks Vol. Road Trips: Vol 4, No 1: Big Rock Pow Wow 69, 2010 Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 4: Penn State/Cornell, 1980, 2010 Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 3: Fillmore East, 5/15/70, 2010 Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 2: Austin, Bonus CD, 2010 Taking Woodstock Soundtrack, Various Artists, 2009 Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 3: June 1974, Wall Of Sound, 2009 Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: Feb 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom Bonus CD, 2009 Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: Feb 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom, 2009 Road Trips Download: Philadelphia, Nov 5, 1979, 2008 Road Trips: Vol 1, Number 3: Summer 1971, 2008 Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings: Bonus CD, 2008 Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings, 2008 ![]() Road Trips: Vol 1, Number 1: Fall 1979 Bonus CD, 2007 Grateful Dead Download A Night At The Family Dog 2/4/70, 2005 The Grateful Dead Movie (extended DVD), 2004 Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72, July 2002 From October 1969 onward China Cat Sunflower was nearly always performed in tandem with I Know You Rider. The final Grateful Dead performance of the song was in July 1995. It then disappeared again until February 1979 when it returned to a regular position in the repertoire. After the group hiatus in 1975 China Cat did not return to the repertoire until December 1977 for a single outing. From then on it was played regularly through to October 1974. It's good that a few things in this world are clear to all of us.Ĭhina Cat Sunflower was first performed by the Grateful Dead in January 1968. People seem to know exactly what I'm talking about. In his book of lyrics, Box Of Rain Hunter's comment for China Cat Sunflower is Nobody ever asked me the meaning of this song. I'd have to admit that - before you could trace it back. I liked the idea of quick, clicky assonance and alliteration like 'See me dance the polka, said My Wag, like a bear, with my top hat and my whiskers, that tra-la-la trapped affair.' I just liked the way she put things together. It was originally inspired by Dame Edith Sitwell, who had a way with words. ![]() In an interview, with Blair Jackson, Hunter commented on the writing of the song I wrote it in different settings and added this and that to it. ![]() I wrote Alligator and China Cat Sunflower, and I knew they had a rock 'n' roll band so I mailed them up. He spoke about sending the lyrics to the group in an interview: I moved out to New Mexico to be an artist about the time the Dead really started. China Cat Sunflower was one of the first two lyrics provided by Robert Hunter for the Dead. ![]()
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