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