Cassidy (song)

"Cassidy" is a song written by John Barlow and Bob Weir[1] and performed by the Grateful Dead, Ratdog, and Phil Lesh & Friends.[2] The song appeared on Bob Weir's Ace, and the Grateful Dead's Reckoning and Without a Net albums.[3]

"Cassidy"
Song by Bob Weir
from the album Ace
ReleasedMay 1972
RecordedJanuary–March 1972
GenreFolk Rock, Country Rock
Length3:41
LabelWarner Bros. Records
Composer(s)Bob Weir
Lyricist(s)John Perry Barlow

The song was named after Cassidy Law, who was born in 1970 and was the daughter of Grateful Dead crew member Rex Jackson and Weir's former housemate Eileen Law.[1] The lyrics also allude to Neal Cassady, who was associated with the Beats in the 1950s[4] and the Acid Test scene that spawned the Grateful Dead in the 1960s. Some of the lyrics in the song were also inspired by the death of Barlow's father.[5]

The song was quoted in admiring and admirable obituary of Barlow in the Economist.

The song was first performed on March 23, 1974 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.[3]

Cover versions

In 1991, Suzanne Vega recorded a version of this song on the album Deadicated.[2]

The Grateful Dead released a live version on their 1981 album Reckoning.

References
  1. Brightman, Carol (1998). Sweet Chaos: The Grateful Dead's American Adventure. New York: Pocket Books. pp. 175–176. ISBN 0-671-01117-0. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  2. "Grateful Dead Lyric and Song Finder: Cassidy". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  3. Dodd, David. "The Annotated 'Cassidy'". The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics. University of California at Santa Cruz. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  4. Dodd, David. "Greatest Stories Ever Told : Cassidy". Dead.net. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  5. Barlow, John Perry. "Cassidy's Tale", Literary Kicks
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