Dark Star
Grateful Dead
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Dark star crashes, pouring its light into ashes Reason tatters, the forces tear loose from the axis Searchlight casting for faults in the clouds of delusion Shall we go, you and I while we can Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds? Mirror shatters in formless reflections of matter Glass hand dissolving in ice, petal flowers revolving Lady in velvet recedes in the nights of good-bye Shall we go, you and I while we can Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds?
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Written by: Jerome J. Garcia, Michael S. Hart, Robert C. Hunter, William Kreutzmann, Philip Lesh, Ronald Charles McKernan, Robert Hall Weir
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Composition"Dark Star" is largely characterized by its improvisation, changing significantly from performance to performance. It allowed Grateful Dead members to experiment extensively during live performances.
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First PerformanceThe song was performed for the first time on December 13, 1967, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
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Studio RecordingThe only studio version of "Dark Star" was recorded and released as a single in 1968. It appears on the B-side of the "Dark Star" / "Born Cross-Eyed" single.
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Live Performances"Dark Star" became a staple of Grateful Dead’s live performances, with its full-length versions often extended to more than 20 minutes. The song has been performed live by the band about 230 times.
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Lyrics AuthorsThe lyrics to "Dark Star" were written by Robert Hunter and the music was composed by Jerry Garcia, a founding member of the Grateful Dead.
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Landmark ReleaseThe version of "Dark Star" from the Live/Dead album, which lasted more than 23 minutes, is considered one of the high-water marks in the Grateful Dead's recording history.
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Album ContributionThe song contributed significantly to the psychedelia of the Grateful Dead's 1970 album, "Live/Dead." It's often considered one of the best and definitive examples of the band's sound.
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Deadhead Culture"Dark Star" has developed cultural significance within the Grateful Dead's fanbase, the "Deadheads," due to its experimental nature and rarity in the band's setlists.
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Song RevivalThe song was performed infrequently during the late ‘70s and ‘80s but was revived in 1989 during their Hampton Coliseum shows, becoming a setlist staple again till the band’s disbandment in 1995.
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Cover VersionsVarious artists including David Bowie, Robyn Hitchcock, and the Flaming Lips have covered "Dark Star." The song's enduring popularity has seen it cross over into various genres.
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InterpretationAccording to songwriter Robert Hunter, the lyrics of "Dark Star" are intentionally ambiguous, open to various interpretations by the listener.
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Other MediaThe song is also central to the plot of the book "Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia" by Robert Greenfield. The song's name was used as the title to represent Garcia’s pivotal role in the Grateful Dead.
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