Ripple (song)

Robert Hunter wrote this song in 1970 in London on the same afternoon he wrote "Brokedown Palace" and "To Lay Me Down" (reputedly drinking half a bottle of retsina in the process [3]). The song debuted August 18, 1970 at Fillmore West in San Francisco. Jerry Garcia wrote the music to this song.[4]

Several lines throughout the song have been compared to the 23rd Psalm of the Bible.

Hunter said that Ripple contained the lines of which he was most proud: “Reach out your hand, if your cup be empty/ If your cup is full, may it be again/ Let it be known there is a fountain/ That was not made by the hands of men.”[5]

"Ripple" has a similar melody to the gospel hymn "Because He Lives," which was published a year later.[6] It is also similar melodically to "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was first performed two years before "Ripple" was recorded.

In December 2020, a Tarot-themed music video was released.

Cover versions have been recorded by Chris Hillman, Jane's Addiction (on Deadicated), The New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rick Danko, Dar Williams, Built to Spill, Sally's Fiddle Boys, The McLovins, The Walkmen, Norah Jones, Sex Mob, The Persuasions, and David Ake. In July 2015, a cover version featuring multiple musicians from around the world was produced by Playing for Change ("a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music").

A number of essays have been written analyzing and annotating this song.[4]

The song is featured at the end of the last episode of the TV show Freaks and Geeks, titled "Discos and Dragons", and in the episode of My Name Is Earl titled "Creative Writing".

The 1985 drama film Mask, with Cher and Eric Stoltz, features this song.[7]

The song also appears at the last scene of the fourth episode ("Acid Tests") of the TV series Taken by Steven Spielberg, and is mentioned in the Stephen King and Peter Straub novel Black House.

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics