For My Fellow Deadheads-Ramble On Rose Annotated

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on 7/13 at 11:56 am

I like looking up the meanings to song lyrics, and I stumbled upon this cool webpage that annotates the lyrics for Ramble on Rose.

It goes through the lyrics, pointing out some well-known references, along with some other subtle references I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Here is most of it, I left out some stuff that is commonly known:

Ramblin' Rose
A rambling rose is an old-fashioned and now rarely cultivated type of rose which would spread low across the ground on long, whippy canes. Ramblers are now grown usually as climbers, instead.

Mojo Hand
A note in Golden Road, Winter, 1984, stated that "'Mojo Hand'... was a common term among rural blacks for a person with extraordinary or seemingly magical abilities, and was the name of a song recorded by Lightnin' Hopkins. This reference brings the blues into the song.

Billy Sunday
Billy Sunday, listed in the Baseball Encyclopedia as William Ashley (The Evangelist) Sunday, was one of the founders of the American evangelistic movement--his heirs of today being Billy Graham, et al.

Jericho
The reference to Jericho also calls to mind the spiritual "Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho." Since so much of this song evokes various aspects of American popular music, this evocation gains significance.

One Go Up, One Go Down
The Annotated Mother Goose contains the following rhyme: "Gay go up and gay go down/ To ring the bells of London Town."

"Relix: We're interested in the 'Leader of the band' concept ... Do you feel that there is a leader ...?

Hunter: [partial response] Well, it would be hard to imagine the Grateful Dead without Garcia, wouldn't it?

Relix: Were you getting at anything like that in 'Ramblin' Rose?' [sic] Was talking about taking someone to the leader of the band talking about the Dead per se?

Hunter: I suppose there's an element of the Dead in a lot of my songs. It's hard to scramble it out from what's pure fancy."

Crazy Otto
This reference is to one (or both?) of two pianists who were known by that name in the 1950's. The first was the German pianist Fritz Schulz-Reichel, whose career was comparable to that of Peter Schickele, who composes under the pseudonym of P.D.Q. Bach. Schulz-Reichel alternated between playing "serious" music and playing ragtime, for which he donned an absurd-looking fake goatee and Kaiser Willie mustache, along with the moniker "Otto der Schrage." (Crazy Otto).

Wolfman Jack
An elusive character in more ways than one, Wolfman Jack's real name is Bob Smith. Born in Brooklyn in 1938, Wolfman says "We all emulated the Black culture. There wasn't any other." His major early influence was a Black deejay named Dr. Jive, and while still a teenager he dropped out of school and hit the road, heading south, working for rhythm and blues radio stations. Finally, in 1957, he became station manager and late night deejay at XERF in Ciudad Acuna, just over the Mexican border from Del Rio, Texas. On a good night, you could hear him north to Canada and west to California, as Mexican stations were allowed far higher wattage than American stations.

Royal Flush, Aces Back to Back
The phrase "Back to back" is said of the first two hole cards in seven card stud poker, or of the hole card and the first upcard when they are paired or "wired." Thus, the hand being bescribed is a seven-card stud poker hand just prior to the dealing of the final down card, made up of 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace all of one suit (the highest hand in poker), with an extra Ace in the hole.

Walk the Line
This saying seems to have its origin in an old sobriety test given to sailors: walking between two parallel lines chalked onto the deck--also known as "Walking the chalk." The meaning of the saying in the present day is inclusive of sobriety, but is much broader, having to do with good behavior, usually under some form of pressure or even duress.

I hope someone finds this as interesting/enjoyable as I did

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Posted by PropJoe

on 7/13 at 11:59 am to When in Rome

Buy the book

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Posted by brewhan davey

on 7/13 at 12:11 pm to When in Rome

I wish popular music today contained lyrics with deeper meaning (I know that was another thread earlier this week), but I love the underlying themes and meanings in classic rock.

BTW, I don't know if you saw in another thread I mentioned, but I figured out who you are When in Rome

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Posted by Souljah

on 7/13 at 12:13 pm to brewhan davey

OP-You arent a "Deadhead." You probably didnt even know who Jerry was when he was still alive.

Stick to bath saltz and dubstep kiddo

This post was edited on 7/13 at 12:15 pm

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Posted by When in Rome

on 7/13 at 12:21 pm to Souljah

quote:
OP-You arent a "Deadhead." You probably didnt even know who Jerry was when he was still alive.

So am I not allowed to enjoy and appreciate his music? Are you one of those people who thinks that because you were around for good music, you're the only one who is entitled to listen to it? I cannot stand people like you.

People like you complain about my generation's people who "stick to bath salts and dubstep" yet you encourage that behavior when you see someone my age who knows a good thing when she sees/hears it. Music is timeless, and if you don't understand it then maybe you should stick to bath salts

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Posted by PropJoe

on 7/13 at 12:29 pm to When in Rome

I wouldnt worry too much about him. He's is completely full of shite. I bet he never saw Jerry either.

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Posted by Souljah

on 7/13 at 12:32 pm to When in Rome

A Deadhead is someone who had supreme devotion to the band and more importantly went on tour.

Dont try to associate yourself with a cultural movement you know nothing about.

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Posted by When in Rome

on 7/13 at 12:38 pm to Souljah

LOL u so mad. If you Google "Deadhead" the first thing you see is "Deadhead or Dead Head is a name given to fans of the American jam band, the Grateful Dead." I consider myself a fan

Please, don't try to be condescending on a message board, it just looks pathetic.

I think any true fans of the band would welcome anyone who appreciated the MUSIC, who gives a shite about titles? Do you really think that a "TRUE DEADHEAD" as you define it would shun me for appreciating the band? Or would they shun me for trying to "associate" with them? It isn't a gang, it's a fanbase...they would probably welcome me with open arms

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Posted by Souljah

on 7/13 at 12:40 pm to When in Rome

I am not a Deadhead and don't claim to be. I am just looking out for you. Trust me, GDF dont frick around.

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Posted by PropJoe

on 7/13 at 12:51 pm to Souljah

Oh, the wook frat? GDF is the biggest joke in the world.

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Posted by When in Rome

on 7/13 at 12:52 pm to Souljah

quote:
I am just looking out for you

No you aren't. You're being a dick.

quote:
Trust me, GDF dont frick around.

Every fan I've met has been very nice and very peaceful. They certainly weren't antagonistic when I shared that I enjoyed the same music they did.

ETA: I'm not trying to join the ranks of the "elite members of fanhood" as you claim, btw. I consider myself a fan and I can call myself a Deadhead if I want

This post was edited on 7/13 at 12:54 pm

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Posted by rutiger

on 7/13 at 1:07 pm to Souljah

quote:
A Deadhead is someone who had supreme devotion to the band and more importantly went on tour. Dont try to associate yourself with a cultural movement you know nothing about.

Dude, stfu. You have zero clue what you're talking about, and this is coming from a DEADHEAD. being a head is a state of being, not a count of how many shows you've been to.

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Posted by el Gaucho