Truckin
There is a 'what your favorite Grateful Dead song says about you' website out there.
Under Truckin', it says this: 'You're a poser. Sorry, but you are.'
But though other songs may be above it on our favorites list, I would bet there are few devoted Deadheads that don't have Truckin' fairly high on their all-time Dead songs list. Maybe not always Top Ten, but certainly up there as a beloved song.
The reason is simple: once the vocal part is over, Truckin' becomes one of the Dead's best open-ended jam songs.
Right up there with Playing in the Band, just behind The Other One and Dark Star as a kind of Big Four jam songs.
And furthermore, the vocal part tells a story of a journey, an open-ended journey down the road that just fits the spirit of an open-ended jam song. I think this is one of the reasons Truckin' is such a great jam song. I mean, most of the reasons are musical I'm sure, but like Playin', Dark Star and The Other One it has a story that just suits open-ended jamming wonderfully.
Aaah, good musical memories- memories I am re-living as I write.
Have fun!
David S. Annderson