long time runnin' Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Hey y'all. I was just reminiscing over an "Other Ones" Alpine Valley show I saw in 1998. They played a killer "Sugaree" and I cried like a baby. Is anyone else familiar with this song, and if so, do you like it as much as I do? Also, I wondered if anyone else has an idea of what some of the lyrics mean. From what I can gather, Sugaree's numbers coming up, and the songwriter is urging her not to mention him, either to his benefit, or to hers, or for both of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guigsy Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 umm, yeah, probably my favourite dead song, i mean, its absolutely beautiful in every way possible.. it's a song thats had a lot of meaning to me in the past, given situations where its happened to be playing. warren haynes gave it a whole new other meaning for me this summer at darien lake, as it was the first time i had ever heard the guys do it live... but my favourite dead version is probably 6.11.76. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Fetish Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 super yah- and I'm not a dead fan persay- cause I wanted to get into mucis that was different from my paretns way back when- but it grew on me- particularly this song- and I loved when Susan Tedeschi sang it the best- I think it was at the Palace at Auburn Hills? a few years back- tear jerker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Merele Saunders with One Step Beyond, those were some great Sugaree's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassedOutGuy Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 umm who sang it best? Just ribbin ya Fetish, I am completely in love with the song, one of my all time favourites actually... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggrtrhhrtgg Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 super yah- and I'm not a dead fan persay- cause I wanted to get into mucis that was different from my paretns way back when- but it grew on me- particularly this song- and I loved when Susan Tedeschi sang it the best- I think it was at the Palace at Auburn Hills? a few years back- tear jerker. yes December of 2002 I believe, it was a great version.... it was kind of ironic, I was with my buddy Anz, and he was mentioning to me how it was his favourite song, and this SUV with the lisence plate "SUGAREE" pulled up to the gas station we were at in Michigan, and we both looked at each other and figured it was a sign that it was going to be played that evening... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelter Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 The Dead played Sugaree at Bonnaroo 2003 - my first show seeing the Dead or any off shoot ... Joan totally floored me with it ... it's been a favourite ever since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Holy fu©k you ignorant twits what the fu©k do you think this is a jambands message board? Oh my bad back to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitidiot Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 I loved when Susan Tedeschi sang it the best- I think it was at the Palace at Auburn Hills? a few years back- tear jerker. oh ya! that show rocked. well i think????it's all a little foggy. might have been to dossses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 My favourite Sugaree is one I saw live. Dylan & the Dead 07-10-87 John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, Pa. 1: Iko Iko, Jack Straw, Sugaree, Minglewood, Althea, Esau, Push, Cassidy, China Cat> I Know You Rider, L. L. Rain, Terrapin> Drumz> Miracle> Black Peter> Around> Saturday Night Dylan: Tangled Up, Baby Tonight*, Man Of Peace, Judas Priest, John Brown, Simple Twist, Thin Man, Memphis Blues, Chimes Of Freedom, Queen Jane> Serve Somebody, Joey, Watchtower E: Touch *Garcia on pedal steel first "Judas Priest" first "Serve Somebody" first "Simple Twist" first "Tangled Up" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggo Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 i think sugaree is my favourite dead song, too. it always makes me stop and take notice... and always stirs up some emotion. beautiful beautiful beautiful. the same one guigs mentioned, warren with the dead at darien this summer, WOW WOW, stunning. i only have one recording of it from the terrapin station series. isssagoodie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time runnin' Posted October 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 The simple, yet powerful baseline is instantly recognizable. Yes, it's my favorite. The "jubilee" apparently comes from the myth that every 49 years there is a "jubile," where one can cleanse the soul and be given absolution to start over. On a lighter note, "shake it, sugaree" calls up wonderful images of beautiful girls who may have baggage, and trouble, but take time to forget it all and dance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guigsy Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 On a lighter note, "shake it, sugaree" calls up wonderful images of beautiful girls who may have baggage, and trouble, but take time to forget it all and dance. you hit the nail on the head. does it for me everytime. just being in the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingbear Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 i just finished reading the last thread...was thinking about replying...then...SUGAREE started from the show i was listening to 04-04-93! i love sh!t like that! anyhow a version i used to listen to a lot was 07/19/89 Alpine Valley Music Theater - East Troy, WI i love sugaree :D ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 jubilee In ancient Jewish times, Jubilee was held every 49 years, and was a ritualized way of giving everyone a clean slate. The tradition is outlined in the Bible in Leviticus, chapter 25: And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. The basic tenet of jubilee is that all debts should be forgiven. This included indenture and mortgage of person and property. Thus, the concept was readily embraced by America's slave population, and entered our folklore. Perhaps the character in "Sugaree" is saying that both of them would need a jubilee in order to freely see each other again; otherwise, they will remain on the run for whatever mysterious reason. From the Annotated Grateful Dead site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 2002 at the Palace was great ,Susan nailed it,I kept thinking that eve "i just saw angel",. In addition to the jubilee I think he wants her to be safe," you don't me" so some how the powers that be will look favorably upon her if she doesn't know him.I love tis song as well. Burtman does a great accoustic solo version also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time runnin' Posted October 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 Quote: "I think he wants her to be safe," you don't me" so some how the powers that be will look favorably upon her if she doesn't know him" Thank you. This is the impression that I always get, which really adds to the nostalgic sadness of the song. "We had our great times, but now, during your trial, it's better if I never exisited to you" Great posts! Everyone might have their own interpretation of this song, and the beauty is that no one is wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guigsy Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 many a moon ago i had a chance encounter with probably the most amazing person i've ever met while a band was playing this song... so, it always kinda takes me back to that place, too, which is never a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 First I love the song,but my memories that arise aren't the same as ya'll unfortunatley,mine aren't really fond ones. To quote William Shakespeare. "Parting is such sweet sorrow" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitidiot Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 anothere song i can't get enough of is Cats under the stars Cats on the bandstand Give 'em each a big hand Anyone who sweats that hard must be all right No one wants a fight No black eye Just another cat beneath the stars tonight like dude that just summed it all up and this line Time's a stripper Doing it just for you wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisley Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 yeah, that one grabs me too friendly... spent so much time listening to that the last several years... shows with that and a Gomorrah in them floor me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 I think we all know that Robert Hunter is the man. That long interview someone put up a link to a while back reminded me of the Hunter/Garcia bond and composition process (where's that link?). Both songs (Sugaree and Cats Under The Stars) are deceptively simple but contain broader if you like literary illusions. I think you guys nailed the Jubilee bit and the downheartedness of Sugaree. Cats obviously refers to Egypt and likely Egypt '78 or the experience of it. There is a great deal that could be said about the significance of the Sphinx in relation to the pyramids. I think in terms of that song I think of how Andre Breton the writer of the Surrealist Manifesto and Nadja viewed her (Nadja) as a 'sphinx like' or questioning figure. Surrealism has a lot to do with random circumstance answering a question hitherto unasked, this kind of notion appeals to users of hallucinogens of course, in a roundabout way I am suggesting that Hunter was well versed in all of these interpretations and is using the Sphinx or Cat as a symbol of enduring and impenetrable mystery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggo Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 First I love the song,but my memories that arise aren't the same as ya'll unfortunatley,mine aren't really fond ones.To quote William Shakespeare."Parting is such sweet sorrow" very similar story here esau, my most poignant memory of this song was when it was on the stereo during a most painful parting of ways... so it's bittersweet for me as well. i love it like crazy though. evocative. ::PS it's kinda interesting... it seems to be one of those songs that inspire "moments." you know? at least, for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 PS it's kinda interesting... it seems to be one of those songs that inspire "moments." you know? at least, for me. I know what you mean.Same goes for me at times,not so much anymore but at certian times I guess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Funk Dawg Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 I really dig Jerry's 1st Solo album... Sugaree starts it off.. what nice melodies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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