Sad Dave Tunes

[Captainnumber36]

Do you find them depressing, or is there always a sense of hope in them?

Exhibit A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsNL_2mw0I

I personally always find hope in his music. Or perhaps better put, he isn't depressed, but has a deep acceptance of the hardships of life.

[seanbrutus]

Originally Posted by Captainnumber36

Do you find them depressing, or is there always a sense of hope in them?

Exhibit A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsNL_2mw0I

I personally always find hope in his music. Or perhaps better put, he isn't depressed, but has a deep acceptance of the hardships of life.

LWS is full of songs with little to no hope.

Early Home as well.
Gravedigger

[Captainnumber36]

Originally Posted by seanbrutus

LWS is full of songs with little to no hope.

Early Home as well.
Gravedigger

I can definitely see that perspective. However, Dave never makes me feel at the end of it all.

It's either a chord change, or a vocal fluctuation or execution of the song that brings back hope in my ears.

[#41#36#40]

Of course he has sad songs.. but the majority of his best writing is finding hope and continuing to live fully.. I think even his darkest material is more cathartic than hopeless.. it’s an outlet .. not a place to dwell..

I’m a huge Deadhead.. and by comparison.. for as fun loving happy go lucky branding they have to the outside.. their songs are some of the darkest out there.. they can leave you quite heavy if you pay attention..

My most favorite thing about Dave is his ability to
Leave me feeling full of Joy, light, lifted.. without too much cheese.. it’s a difficult task as an artist to make someone experience joy..

[#41#36#40]

I think Grace is Gone is a lament… another drink and I’ll move on or another drink and I’ll be gone.. guy could be drinking it away.. or literally drinking himself to death.. or getting blasted.. or gone could mean change.. he’s losing this part of himself with the loss of his partner..

Cold hand lay in mine.. could mean death.. or could me the relationship has gone cold..

Probably one of his saddest songs no doubt.. but it’s damn beautiful

[#41#36#40]

Originally Posted by Captainnumber36

Do you find them depressing, or is there always a sense of hope in them?

Exhibit A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsNL_2mw0I

I personally always find hope in his music. Or perhaps better put, he isn't depressed, but has a deep acceptance of the hardships of life.

It’s obvious he uses music to help that acceptance

[Captainnumber36]

Originally Posted by #41#36#40

It’s obvious he uses music to help that acceptance

Indeed. What brought up this thread is that I don't consider myself to be depressed, I do get sad sometimes but not a dwelling in the dark.

And I love the music of DMB and Phish so much, it speaks to me on such a spiritual level that I pondered if ppl see depression in their music.

[Captainnumber36]

Originally Posted by #41#36#40

Of course he has sad songs.. but the majority of his best writing is finding hope and continuing to live fully.. I think even his darkest material is more cathartic than hopeless.. it’s an outlet .. not a place to dwell..

I’m a huge Deadhead.. and by comparison.. for as fun loving happy go lucky branding they have to the outside.. their songs are some of the darkest out there.. they can leave you quite heavy if you pay attention..

My most favorite thing about Dave is his ability to
Leave me feeling full of Joy, light, lifted.. without too much cheese.. it’s a difficult task as an artist to make someone experience joy..

1. We agree then.
2. I'm not huge on the Dead, but respect them. They just don't write the most interesting grooves imho. I do love Shakedown Street though.
3. I'd say it's hard for any Artist to get someone to feel something period. Do you think Joy is harder in particular?

[bowa36]

Help Myself
Dancing Nancies
Rhyme & Reason
The Dreaming Tree
Gravedigger
Digging a Ditch
Sleep to Dream Her
Time Bomb
Grace Is Gone
Shotgun
Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd
Pay for What You Get
The Riff
Dive In
Out of My Hands
Seek Up
A Dream So Real
Typical Situation
Blue Water Baboon Farm
Let You Down
Big Eyed Fish
Some Devil
Baby Blue
Raven
Mercy
Mother Father

[JimmyJB22]

I am paraphrasing a quote here, but he said something like, 'Why don't we (humans) talk more about death? Death is something that is always happening and people should want to talk about it.' I think you're right that it's not about "The End" it's just about death because death is something that happens.

[TypicalBilly14]

Sister has made some to shed tears and no, not because some don't like the song (although I'm sure some don't).

[TSTJL40]

Busted Stuff

[Gaijin86]

The Fly

[Cscottrun]

Early Home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL9PVosLnIE

[spider-man]

LWS Captain -- in my view this is the one that reaches the saddest levels. One of my biggest disappointments as a DMB fan over the years is this song transitioning from the LWS version to the BS version. For me, the tone (and emotional power of the song) changed completely -- the LWS Captain was a masterpiece and the other version is meh.

[bigeyedpigs]

Originally Posted by Gaijin86

The Fly

The fly might be the darkest song Dave has done. I always hoped it would have popped up at show. Actually the debut of vitr, I got really excited and thought that's what he was sitting down at the keys to play.