Grateful Dead's Ripple is As Relevant Now As Ever Before

I love blues and I love rock. Combine the two, and you have the Grateful Dead. 

An American band that was the incarnation of the improvisational psychedelic music that flowered in and around San Francisco, California in the mid-1960s. They were one of the most successful touring bands in rock history despite having had virtually no radio hits. 

Anyway, Grateful Dead’s “Ripple” is one of my favorite numbers and which became a kind of cosmic spiritual after its debut 50 years ago. Since then, the universal appeal of Robert Hunter’s serene prose and the band’s heartfelt performance have made the song a popular choice at everything from weddings to funerals.

 

As relevant now as ever before, the enduring optimism of “Ripple” is a welcome reminder of better days ahead, when songs will, once again, fill the air. 

For sure, especially today, we must learn to see the world through rose-colored glasses.

Phew, what a big relief! Liverpool ended a five-game winless run in the Premier League, which had yielded only three points and one goal to move back into the top four with a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Thursday. 

Sadio Mane was central to the Reds’ first and second goals – scored by Roberto Firmino (45+4) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (47) – and, after Spurs had raised the prospect of a comeback in the 49th minute, Mané got the third himself in the sixty-fifth minute to secure 3 points for Liverpool. 

Finally. At last. At. Last. 

Liverpool travel to West Ham – the team they leapfrogged in the table because of this timely victory – on Sunday.