Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!hplabs!sri-unix!GUMBY@MIT-MC.ARPA
From: GUMBY@MIT-MC.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.music.gdead
Subject: Meaning of Lyrics
Message-ID: <473@sri-arpa.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 16:51:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.473
Posted: Wed Aug  7 16:51:49 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 22:08:56 EDT
Lines: 32

From:  David Vinayak Wallace 

    Date: Wed, 31-Jul-85 08:22:55 PDT
    From: hplabs!pesnta!qumix!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc12!nm34 at UCB-Vax.ARPA (nm34)

         There has been much talk about the music of the Dead and its many
    qualities, however, even though many of us end our articles with a
    quote, there hasn't been much talk about the words and their meanings.
    As is true with all forms of artistic communication, the meaning is
    always a personal experience often independent of authors intentions.
    However, there is an intention that the author has given to his/her
    words (I think).  Many late nights I have sat with my eyes closed and
    wondered what was meant by this or that line or by an entire song.  I'm
    sure most Deaders have done the same.  Unfortunately, I was only able to
    come up with general feelings and not a complete 
    "meaning" for a song.  I am aware that part of my problem stemmed from
    the fact that there is no complete "meaning" to many of the songs.  They
    do only paint a general picture of feelings and situations.  Other songs,
    have been given a totally obsure meaning  by their authiors.  For
    example, "Dire Wolf" has been described by Hunter as an investigation of
    the death of the ego that is often aspired to by mystic philosophies
    (correct me if this is off).   I wouldn't have ever have come up with
    that in a million years. 

         In all I really dont "understand" very many of the Dead's songs,
    but maybe that is the intention, they are not to understand, but to be
    felt.  

                                  Andy Bindman


                        ...!ihnp4!sdcsvax!sdcc12!nm34