Box of Rain
Grateful Dead
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Look out of any window Any morning, any evening, any day Maybe the sun is shining Birds are winging or Rain is falling from a heavy sky, What do you want me to do, To do for you to see you through? For this is all a dream we dreamed One afternoon long ago Walk out of any doorway Feel your way, feel your way Like the day before Maybe you'll find direction Around some corner Where it's been waiting to meet you, What do you want me to do, To watch for you while you're sleeping? Well please don't be surprised When you find me dreaming too Look into any eyes You find by you, you can see Clear through to another day Maybe been seen before Through other eyes on other days While going home, What do you want me to do, To do for you to see you through? It's all a dream we dreamed One afternoon long ago Walk into splintered sunlight Inch your way through dead dreams To another land Maybe you're tired and broken Your tongue is twisted With words half spoken And thoughts unclear What do you want me to do To do for you to see you through A box of rain will ease the pain And love will see you through Just a box of rain, Wind and water, Believe it if you need it, If you don't just pass it on Sun and shower, Wind and rain, In and out the window Like a moth before a flame And it's just a box of rain I don't know who put it there Believe it if you need it Or leave it if you dare And it's just a box of rain Or a ribbon for your hair Such a long long time to be gone And a short time to be there
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Written by: Philip Lesh, Robert C. Hunter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Origins of the Song"Box of Rain" was written by lyricist Robert Hunter and bassist Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead. This was the first Grateful Dead song that Phil Lesh solely composed.
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Personal Inspiration"Box of Rain" was a tribute by Phil Lesh to his dying father. He wanted to create something beautiful for his father who was in his final days due to terminal cancer.
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Song LyricsThe song’s lyrics are notably abstract and were once described by Robert Hunter as 'loaded with arcane stuff'. The lyrics supposedly reflect the struggle and emotional state Lesh was going through during his father’s ill health.
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Album SuccessThe song was released as part of the 1970 album "American Beauty". This album is considered one of the Grateful Dead's most successful and it peaked at 30th position on the Billboard 200 chart.
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Signature SongEven though "Box of Rain" wasn't released as a single, it's considered one of Grateful Dead's signature songs. It was even used in the final scene of the final episode of the popular television show 'Freaks and Geeks'.
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Performance HistoryAfter the initial performances in 1970, the band stopped playing this song until they brought it back to their tour in 1986.
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Final Performance"Box of Rain" was the final song performed by Grateful Dead at their last concert with Jerry Garcia on July 9, 1995.
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Song MeaningInterpretation of the song’s meaning varies among listeners. Some see it as a poetic view of the life cycle, the universe, and our place within it.
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Change in Musical StyleWith 'American Beauty', Grateful Dead shifted from psychedelic rock to a more folk-based sound. Critics often cite 'Box of Rain' as an exemplar of this transition.
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Legacy"Box of Rain" remains a popular song in Grateful Dead's discography and it's often covered by other musicians and bands, attesting to its lasting influence.
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Citation
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