 American Beauty (1970) [ larger cover art ] |
Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
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
When 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
When 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
La da da da La da da da da
La da da La da La da da da
La da da da La da da da da
La da da da La da da da da
| The_Enemy (...is within) | Posted: May 17, 2013 - 09:27 ah, Ripple. Like Chateau Thunderbird, a great wine that goes along with most of what one finds in a dumpster. I remember once in an alley behind a French restaurant... wait... did he say "Ripple in still water" ? Never mind. |
| Sweet_Virginia | Posted: May 17, 2013 - 09:26 scrubbrush wrote: I'm not a huge Dead fan... in fact, i've got a tendency to be overly critical/sarcastic about them and their followers... however, this is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful song. Totally agree, it puts me in a good place- a nice warm smile... |
| scrubbrush (All lost in the supermarket) | Posted: May 17, 2013 - 09:24 I'm not a huge Dead fan... in fact, i've got a tendency to be overly critical/sarcastic about them and their followers... however, this is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful song. |
| Ghiaap (Haarlo, The Netherlands) | Posted: Apr 16, 2013 - 01:58 What an utterly goofy, boring tune! It's drawing the blood under my nails. The Dead is certainly NOT my cup of tea, but I think I'm the only one here at RP. |
| d-don (Oregon) | Posted: Feb 27, 2013 - 11:19 Poetry from the soul. Thank you, Robert Hunter. 10 |
| Mystery Guest (somewhere else) | Posted: Feb 21, 2013 - 15:19 boober wrote: I remember when my sister brought this album home and played it(just like "Almost Famous"-Cameron Crowe's sister) It stoned me! I am a middle child....I received.....and I also passed on my musical influences.Keep your ears open kiddies! love |
| Peace0fmind (somewhere in time...) | Posted: Feb 12, 2013 - 06:10 Completely agree  kingart wrote:One of the few GD songs I genuinely admire and that won't wear out its welcome. (The Wheel being another.) Moving and thoughtful. But I could live the rest of my days quite happily without ever again hearing Truckin or Casey Jones. |
| boober (KC,Mo) | Posted: Jan 21, 2013 - 07:37 I remember when my sister brought this album home and played it(just like "Almost Famous"-Cameron Crowe's sister) It stoned me! I am a middle child....I received.....and I also passed on my musical influences.Keep your ears open kiddies! |
| boober (KC,Mo) | Posted: Jan 21, 2013 - 07:34 Average rating 8 Interesting,half the comments are negative.....Boober's rating-8 Simple song with good harmonies.Not a deadhead.....just like this song! |
| ziakut (Slightly North of Obvlivion) | Posted: Jan 21, 2013 - 07:32 Reliably mediocré. |
| Centabor | Posted: Dec 11, 2012 - 12:51 joelbb wrote: "Ripple" is an acid-religious band's apotheosis. ah.. yeah...I'm kinda into religious ripple too... cheers to tomorrow's Dead.... |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Nov 25, 2012 - 10:59 One of the few GD songs I genuinely admire and that won't wear out its welcome. (The Wheel being another.) Moving and thoughtful. But I could live the rest of my days quite happily without ever again hearing Truckin or Casey Jones. |
| buddy | Posted: Nov 19, 2012 - 14:32 caregiver wrote: All rise ...               |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Nov 19, 2012 - 14:29 TFF PSD! |
| caregiver (near contentment now) | Posted: Oct 19, 2012 - 06:06 All rise ... |
| rockpommel16 (rockpommel´s land...dreaming of netherlands) | Posted: Sep 23, 2012 - 13:55 neuticle wrote: One of the only Dead songs I can tolerate.. .......one of the only dead songs I can NOT tolerate.. |
| joelbb | Posted: Sep 17, 2012 - 16:41 "Ripple" is an acid-religious band's apotheosis. |
| Ghiaap (Haarlo, The Netherlands) | Posted: Aug 23, 2012 - 02:01 When I was 10 years old I used to think that the Grateful Dead was a metal band like Black Sabath...never been so wrong! |
| afd | Posted: Aug 23, 2012 - 02:01 Fantastic song, one of my favorites! |
| chris_the_man (amsterdam netherlands) | Posted: Jul 16, 2012 - 18:30 Theme from little house on the prairie?
|
| plaid (Tech nexxus o' my house) | Posted: Jun 05, 2012 - 13:11 I don't think anything could ever make me like the Grateful Dead. Bland and listless. |
| stackarukk | Posted: May 14, 2012 - 09:08 this song is stuck in an unending loop - to paraphrase - Let there be songs left un sung... |
| Stingray ("ANONYMOUS INTERNET") | Posted: May 14, 2012 - 09:03 SUPER-SUCKO!!!! |
| Bobert_ParkCity (Park City Utah) | Posted: May 04, 2012 - 19:20 Wow - people don't like this? Crazy. Ten. |
| Tippster (Washington, DC) | Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 15:58 bokey wrote: If McDonalds made music... This band was one of the greatest marketing tools in history. Just souless and empty crap.  |
| Geecheeboy (under a crescent moon and palmetto tree) | Posted: Mar 02, 2012 - 09:49 Man, somebody needs a HUG. Bokey, it's not the music... what's really the matter? |
| bokey | Posted: Feb 09, 2012 - 06:11 If McDonalds made music... This band was one of the greatest marketing tools in history. Just souless and empty crap. |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: Jan 30, 2012 - 17:34 One song that is not on the "Wake the Dead" album I listened to this morning. |
| capandjudy (Huntington, WV) | Posted: Jan 14, 2012 - 11:16 caregiver wrote: At this time it was probably a two pickup Gibson EB-3 he modified by adding a Guild pickup and placing preamps inside. An external power supply or a battery powered the preamps. Stereooutputs were also added. I have seen pictures of Phil Lesh with that bass. He gets a huge tone with a nice snap on the top end. |
| Stingray (NWO reloaded) | Posted: Jan 14, 2012 - 10:35 The more I hear this - the more I dislike it (to say the least)!! |
| neuticle (fog fog fog) | Posted: Jan 14, 2012 - 10:34 One of the only Dead songs I can tolerate.. |
| caregiver (near contentment now) | Posted: Jan 08, 2012 - 11:19 ThePoose wrote: What kind of bass is this? Monster double bass? At this time it was probably a two pickup Gibson EB-3 he modified by adding a Guild pickup and placing preamps inside. An external power supply or a battery powered the preamps. Stereooutputs were also added. |
| BoulderKevin (Boulder, CO) | Posted: Jan 08, 2012 - 11:01 One of my best friends from high school, who unfortunately is no longer with us, had his family play this at his memorial. It'll forever have a place in my heart because of that... |
| hencini | Posted: Jan 08, 2012 - 10:56 This is a tremendous song. 9—>10 |
| Byronape (Snorkeling in the River Styx) | Posted: Nov 11, 2011 - 23:24 johnjconn wrote: How else does one hit LSD? I didn't mean it literally... like saying someone is hitting the bottle or hitting the sack. |
| ThePoose | Posted: Oct 11, 2011 - 10:00 What kind of bass is this? Monster double bass? |
| Sleepytyme (When in doubt, twirl) | Posted: Oct 05, 2011 - 11:03 d-don wrote: The Deadhead National Anthem...on your feet, please. Or, stand on your head with a bong in yer mouth (thank you a.bourdain) |
| SmileOnADog (Arizona) | Posted: Oct 05, 2011 - 11:01 DaMoGan wrote: Sorry RP, you had me for a while, then you played this... ...and I had to go listen to the full album.  Maybe that's the desired effect? |
| d-don (Oregon) | Posted: Oct 05, 2011 - 10:57 Let there be songs to fill the air...  |
| Alexandra (Here and Now) | Posted: Oct 05, 2011 - 10:56  |
| parttime (Kona Hawaii) | Posted: Oct 02, 2011 - 11:29 Word... Trite and obtuse... sad.. h8rhater wrote: SirLars wrote: The best of Garcia/Hunter and probably the Dead's finest studio recording. How can anyone not like this song? Webfoot wrote: Would you like my answers alphabetical or in order of importance? It's just an instant mute for me. Enjoy.  Let me try for you (in order of importance) 1. I Love American Idol and these guys couldn't win a singing competition 2. I like to poke people with sticks 3. I'm a Jonas fan and Jerry G is not cute enough for me 4. Great American Traditionals performed by legends are not my bag 5. Anything acoustic sucks 6. I have no taste Have a nice day. |
| scrubbrush (Sea of Calm) | Posted: Aug 25, 2011 - 14:07 Hooray for hippies!!! |
| neuticle (fog fog fog) | Posted: Aug 09, 2011 - 17:23  |
| caregiver (near contentment now) | Posted: Aug 09, 2011 - 14:47 horstman wrote: Ripple would make a wonderful song to sing to your kids at bedtime. Wished I knew this 10 years ago as it would have been perfect for my kids, but alas, they are teenagers now and just getting them to sleep is just as much a challenge now as then. Unfortunately, they want nothing of my input in getting them to sleep. The Grateful Dead were masters at painting pictures of American life, of tranquility, peace. Jerry may be gone, but his feelings and thoughts will live on. And that is the beauty of music in general, and recorded music in particular. Peace. Sing it to 'em anyway man. They're still listening ... just may be awhile before they realise it. |
| johnjconn (chicago land) | Posted: Aug 03, 2011 - 15:03 never been much of a Dead fan. Hearing this, I'm warming up! Thanks again, Bill |
| DoofusGeezer (Pilvimaa) | Posted: Jul 25, 2011 - 05:04 treatment_bound wrote: Play it, Dawg.  Now that's what you call an American Beauty |
| bokey (Left of Centerfield) | Posted: Jul 09, 2011 - 06:04 Jelani wrote: One of three good Dead songs. Maybe four. bam23 wrote: Ah, you're too ignorant for your own good. Yeah seriously, there's only 2.Friend Of the Devil and some other one. |
| LongGoneDaddy | Posted: Jun 24, 2011 - 09:23 Happy 70th Birthday, Robert Hunter!!! (better late than never) |
| horstman (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Jun 23, 2011 - 16:29 Ripple would make a wonderful song to sing to your kids at bedtime. Wished I knew this 10 years ago as it would have been perfect for my kids, but alas, they are teenagers now and just getting them to sleep is just as much a challenge now as then. Unfortunately, they want nothing of my input in getting them to sleep. The Grateful Dead were masters at painting pictures of American life, of tranquility, peace. Jerry may be gone, but his feelings and thoughts will live on. And that is the beauty of music in general, and recorded music in particular. Peace. |
| rowgal | Posted: Jun 07, 2011 - 14:30 Always brings a huge smile to my face! |