Five years ago today (9/23/19), Robert Hunter, the esteemed lyrics for The Grateful Dead, and others (Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale) passed away at the age of 78. The Dead, of course, wouldn’t be the Dead without Hunter’s brilliant poetic lyrics, which explored tales or characters from a long-ago world and told stories of loss, despair, hope, and forgiveness. “Well the first days are the hardest days, don’t you worry any more, Cause when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door,” sums up Hunter’s way with words. Watch Hunter perform “Reuben and Cherise” live on one of his last tours in 2013..
