BACKGROUND:
"Ripple" is a Grateful Dead song Jane's covered for a Dead tribute / environmental
benefit album called Deadicated. They recorded it at Konk Studios in North
London, probably around August/September '90... very possibly the last studio
track Jane's recorded with Eric... and the only song they ever recorded outside
of the L.A. area
They had some fun with the song by incorporating some other Dead tunes into it. "That's It For The Other One" (from Anthem of the Sun) is played as a quick intro and as the outro, during which Dave also threw in some of Jerry Garcia's "Bird Song" (from Garcia).
In SPIN magazine's album review, they said Jane's version of "Ripple" was the highlight of the CD. And in an interview, Jerry Garcia himself was quick to mention it as one of his favorite Dead covers.
Though it may not be obvious in their music, everyone in Jane's was a bit of a 'dead head' for at least a little while. Eric went through a Dead phase in high school, but was out of them by the time Jane's came together. Perry and Dave went to a Dead show together during Jane's early days.
I've heard that Dave wanted to get their version of "Ripple" onto the Kettle Whistle album, but the rest of the band opted for more classic original Jane's tunes instead. In fact, "Ripple" was slated to be a b-side if the album spawned any commercial singles, which it unfortunately didn't (..not counting the "So What!" remix single that came later). However, it was recently included on Perry Farrell's greatest hits CD, Rev.
WRITTEN:
Music by Jerry Garcia, lyrics by Robert Hunter. Originally appears on the Grateful
Dead album, American Beauty, 1970.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
From Guitar Player, 1991...
You've just completed a version of the Grateful Dead's "Ripple". Is it true to the original?
DAVE: Not exactly [laughs maliciously]. It sounds like Love and Rockets meets Sonic Youth with tribal drums, a repetitive bass line, and lots of grunge guitar. There are effected single notes soaring over the top with no direction. but Perry definitely sings the original melody. And there's something Deadheads might notice: At the end, we go into another Dead song, "The Other One", and I through
in a riff from Jerry Garcia's "The Bird Song". It's a tribute to the Dead--I really like how they mix all
their songs together live.
Eric in the liner notes of Deadicated...
"This song meant a lot to me when I was too young (but trying) to grow facial hair, smoking too much pot and contemplating teen suicide. Before the glory of punk rock, I was a Grateful Dead fanatic but don't tell anyone... it might be detrimental to my image."
LIVE:
Dave often jammed "Ripple" between songs to tune up, but to my knowledge the only
time the band actually played it live was as a spontaneous encore at the Halloween
'90 show in L.A. (And even then it wasn't totally Jane's: Eric wasn't present...
and they only played about half the song.)
LYRICS:
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
Where there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
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
Ripple in still water
Where there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home