MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012

Ripple
This song by the Grateful Dead is FULL of Metaphors and I will not attempt to analyze all of them for the purpose of this assignment.  Jerry Garcia never gave any type of explanation of this song.  On occasion he would even refuse to play it because he felt it was sacred and should be played in churches not at concerts.

One metaphor that I feel I may be able to pull out of this song is the title reference.  The Ripple on still water.  For me, much of the reference of this song refers to a loved one that has passed on to the other side.  The ripple on still water is the difference, or effect that person had on the hearts of those left here.  The still waters are in the corners of a morning heart.  There is no turmoil, or anger; it just is what it is.  The wind would be turmoil or frustration, a pebble would represent anger or a resentment towards the conditions surrounding a death.  But the waters are still, a calm reassurance that what is done is done, there is no going back, no way to fix what has happened only a calm acceptance of a sad situation.  YET, there are ripples,  a soft, calming image.  Ripples showing the life made an influence, and the passing of that life cannot be ignored.  I think of even soft ripples on water, they will drastically change the refection in the water, showing things you may have never seen other wise and may never see again. 

In this metaphor, the water, or more specifically, the ripples are the vehicle.  The tenor, at least in my mind, is the unseen, yet never forgot influence of a loved one.

There are parts of this song that confuse, yet sooth me.  Offering a strange, yet comforting feeling. The last verse is a great example of this.


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.

  It seems to offer little or no comfort about what is next.  Starting out by saying, you have no control, you cannot chose when or how. Even if you do get to choose to go, once there you can only follow.  Then it says you will have no one to follow, no one there to guide your way or help you through what ever darkness lies ahead. In the third line it seems to say, no matter what you choose you will be left to figure it out on your own.  Stay or go, you will not be lead home.  But then in the forth line, in a tone and way only Jerry could, he says, I wish I could help you, and THAT is enough to give you strength to take the chance and see what lies ahead.