R.I.P. Phil Lesh

Mr. Potter

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2021
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Damn, well that sucks. What a great bass player. He wrote Box of Rain about his dying father, so only appropriate.


I included the lyrics because its a masterpiece with regards to Hunter's Lyrics and Phils singing regarding the fear of death:

Look out of any window, any morning, any evening, any day.
*Maybe the sun is shining, birds are winging, Though rain is falling from a heavy sky.
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago.
Walk out of any doorway, feel your way, feel your way like the day before.
Maybe you'll find direction, Around some corner where it's been waiting to meet you.
What do you want me to do, to watch for you while you are sleeping?
Then please don't be surprised when you find me dreaming too.
Look into any eyes you find by you, you can see clear to another day,
Maybe been seen before, through other eyes on other days while going home.
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago.

Walk into splintered sunlight,
Inch your way through dead dreams to another land.
Maybe you're tired and broken,
Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain, and love will see you through.
Just a box of rain, wind and water,
*believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower, wind and rain, In and out the window like a moth before a flame.
And it's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there,
Believe it if you need it, or leave it if you dare.
And it's just a box of rain, or a ribbon for your hair;
Such a long long time to be gone, and a short time to be there
 

northwoods

Well-known member
Oct 30, 2021
467
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Gut punch. Thanks Phil for a real good time. Brilliant musician.

Time to play some Phil bombs really loud tonight.
Can't say it any better --- "for a real good time". Saw them for the first time in California (both in San Francisco and at the Monterey Pop Festival) way back in 1967 and, probably 25 different concerts and several different states later, for the final time in Albany, NY (initially I was thinking that the last one for me might have been Vermont but their last concert there was as bad as the night I caught them in Albany was good). I seem to be able to isolate each individual instrument when I listen to a Dead song, tape, or album, and it's always been Phil's magnificent bass playing that I usually focus on (with apologies to Jerry's excellent guitar playing).
 
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Tgar

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2021
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Got to see him play in Rec Hall. That was a good night!
Well @VetsClub78 you got Tgar to thinking.

Tgar saw both the May 79 show and the May 80 shows and Rec Hall and was at the Obama Rock the Vote Fundraiser at the BJC in October of 2008. Phil, Bobby, the drummers, Jeff Kadlicek? Allman Brothers, Susan Tdeschi That was a fun night. Tgar drove a van full of high school kids up from Reading.
 

PSJimbo

Member
Oct 12, 2021
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Well @VetsClub78 you got Tgar to thinking.

Tgar saw both the May 79 show and the May 80 shows and Rec Hall and was at the Obama Rock the Vote Fundraiser at the BJC in October of 2008. Phil, Bobby, the drummers, Jeff Kadlicek? Allman Brothers, Susan Tdeschi That was a fun night. Tgar drove a van full of high school kids up from Reading.
Same. I saw both of the Rec Hall shows as well. I will definitely listening to both shows this weekend. R.I.P. Phil. ❤️
 
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K-Live

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2021
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This is so sad. One of the more mysterious members of the band who composed two of my favs - Box of Rain and Unbroken Chain. The collection of artists he assembled post Grateful Dead were a testament to his love of music and the joy others had playing toegether. One of my biggest regrets to have never been able to catch a Phil and Friends show live, but happy to have at least been able to listen to countless hours of recordings of those performances. I will never forget sitting in the 'Phil Zone' at the Spectrum in Philadelphia 3/19/95 with some of my closest deadheads when he busted out Unbroken Chain for the first time ever! A surreal experience. Thank you Phil for the memories and your dedication to the music. Peace brother!
 
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