Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
In the studio outtakes released on "The Angel's Share", the working title of this song was "Hand Me Down", becoming "Ripple"
when the album American Beauty was released.
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine (note 1)Notes
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 (note 2)
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care (note 3)
Let there be songs to fill the air (note 3) (note 4)
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 man
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
The wisest man is but a pilgrim
He will not claim to know the way
He will not promise dreams of glory
His words are few and his ways are kind
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | ||||
studio 1970 | American Beauty (note 2) (note 6) (note 7) | ||||
21 Feb 1971 | Workingman's Dead (50th Anniversary Edition) | ||||
29 Apr 1971 | Ladies And Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead | ||||
4 Oct 1980 | Reckoning (note 11) | ||||
9 Oct 1980 | The Warfield, San Francisco, CA 10/9/80 & 10/10/80 | ||||
10 Oct 1980 | The Warfield, San Francisco, CA 10/9/80 & 10/10/80 | ||||
23 Oct 1980 | Reckoning (note 3) | ||||
31 Oct 1980 | Dead Ahead (video/DVD) | ||||
3 Jul 2015 | Fare Thee Well (CD and DVD) | ||||
Jerry Garcia Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
10 Apr 1982 | [none] | Jerry Garcia solo acoustic (note 12) | |||
27 Jan 1986 | GarciaLive Volume 14 | Jerry Garcia/John Kahn | |||
28 Feb 1986 | Pure Jerry: Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium | Jerry Garcia/John Kahn | |||
29 Aug 1987 | Electric On The Eel | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
31 Oct 1987 | Pure Jerry 2: Lunt-Fontanne | Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band | |||
4 Dec 1987 | Almost Acoustic | Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band | |||
Other Dead-related Recordings | |||||
Dec 1990 | Box Of Rain | Robert Hunter | |||
Aug 1993 | Live In Japan | New Riders Of The Purple Sage (note 4) | |||
31 Dec 2006 | Live: New Year's Eve | New Riders Of The Purple Sage | |||
31 Dec 2018 | Rising Up To Paradise | Big Swell | |||
Jun 2021 | Live In Colorado | Bob Weir & Wolf Bros | |||
(Plus live recordings by The Dead, Furthur, Dead & Company, Ratdog, Phil Lesh & Friends etc not listed here. See Grateful Dead Family Discography for a full list.) | |||||
Tribute Albums | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
1991 | Deadicated | Jane's Addiction | |||
1996 | Long Live The Dead | Billy & Terry Smith | |||
1997 | Pickin' On The Grateful Dead | David West et al | |||
2000 | Might As Well | The Persuasions (note 9) | |||
2000 | Dead Grass | Vassar Clements | |||
2001 | Gratefully Yours | Jim Hudak | |||
2001 | Blues Tribute To The Grateful Dead | Various (Langhorne Slim) | |||
2001 | Gifts From The Dead | Gifts From The Dead | |||
2002 | Electronic Tribute To The Grateful Dead | Various (Motor Industries) | |||
2002 | Buckdancer's Choice | Wake The Dead | |||
2003 | Ukelele Summit 5 | Various (Rick Cunha) | |||
2003 | Grateful Guitar | David Cullen | |||
2005 | Jerry Jams, Jerry Cares | Gregg Cagno | |||
2005 | Deadgrass | Deadgrass | |||
2007 | At Fine Arts Center, UMass | The American Beauty Project | |||
2009 | Yoga Tribute To Grateful Dead | Yoga Pop Ups (note 10) | |||
2010 | Songs Of The Grateful Dead | Jesse McReynolds | |||
2010 | At Page Auditorium, Duke University | The American Beauty Project | |||
2011 | The Wheel: A Musical Celebration of Jerry Garcia | Jesse McReynolds, David Nelson et al | |||
2013 | Harpin' On The Dead | Anela Lauren | |||
2015 | The Promised Land: Acoustic Sessions | Sagol 59 & Ami Yares | |||
2016 | Songs To Fill The Air (WFMU Pledge Drive) | Sarah Louise | |||
2016 | Day Of The Dead | The Walkmen | |||
14 May 2015 | Dear Jerry: Celebrating The Music Of Jerry Garcia | Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann et al | |||
2015 | Songs Of Their Own | Playing For Change | |||
2017 | Dead Songs Vol 1 | Barton Hills Choir | |||
2018 | Cut The Dead Some Slack | Stephen Inglis | |||
2018 | Grateful Dub | Roots of Creation | |||
Covers By Other Artists | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
1982 | Morning Sky | Chris Hillman | |||
1992 | The Rock Bottom Remainders | Robert Fulghum (video) | |||
1995 | We Were All Babies | Laurie McClain | |||
1998 | What If I Told You | Andru Branch | |||
2000 | One Endless Night | Jimmy Dale Gilmore | |||
2000 | Solid Sender | Sex Mob (note 5) | |||
2000 | Times Like These | Rick Danko | |||
2003 | Along The Way | Roger Kardinal | |||
2005 | No Time Like Now | Shelley Laine | |||
2005 | Shawangunk | Rolf Sturm | |||
12 Nov 2005 | For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball | Zen Tricksters plus friends | |||
2006 | Live Butter, Dec 15 2006 | Hot Buttered Rum | |||
2006 | God, Love and Angels | Kristen Vigard | |||
2006 | MTO Vol 1 | Steve Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orcestra | |||
2007 | Midnight Tea | Andy Hill, Renee Safier & Brian Michael Tracy | |||
2007 | Live at Bearsville Theater | Dar Williams | |||
2008 | Merlfest, April 26 2008 | Ollabelle | |||
2008 | Piano Expressions | Lore Constantine | |||
2008 | As Time Goes By | Gregg Hansen | |||
2008 | Ithica 30 Years Later | Dark Star Orchestra | |||
2010 | The Ripple Sessions | John Firmin & Dick Fegy Project | |||
2010 | 2nd Day | Jeff Umbehauer | |||
2011 | [single] | Built To Spill | |||
2011 | Piano Tribute To Jane's Addiction | Piano Tribute Players | |||
2011 | Like A Road Leading Home | Sofia Laiti | |||
2013 | Cello Cafe | Billy The Celloist | |||
2013 | Live At Mr. Ricci's Coconut Tree Lounge | Trailer Trash | |||
2004 | On The Road July 31 2015 | String Cheese Incident | |||
2014 | Nov 4 2015 State Theater, State College, PA | The Infamous Stringdusters | |||
2015 | Black Beauty | Elana James | |||
2018 | Music Of Our People | Darol Anger | |||
2018 | Humanities | David Ake |