Deadheadland | (~);} | He’s Gone: Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead lyricist, dead at 78

Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead lyricist, dead at 78 – Sept. 23, 2019

“It is with great sadness we confirm our beloved Robert passed away yesterday night,” Hunter’s family announced in a statement. “He died peacefully at home in his bed, surrounded by love. His wife Maureen was by his side holding his hand. For his fans that have loved and supported him all these years, take comfort in knowing that his words are all around us, and in that way his is never truly gone. In this time of grief please celebrate him the way you all know how, by being together and listening to the music. Let there be songs to fill the air.”
From Robert Hunter’s family (via Rolling Stone)

Robert C. Hunter (June 23, 1941 – September 23, 2019) was an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead. (Wikipedia)

Of course there is no need to tell that to a Deadhead. His words mean more to us than anyone else’s words can tell. How much, he’ll never know.

In the moment, nothing better than Hunter’s own words, which dare to speak with the wisdom of a child, directly from the heart…

Attics of My Life

In the attics of my life
Full of cloudy dreams; unreal
Full of tastes no tongue can know
And lights no eye can see
When there was no ear to hear
You sang to me
I have spent my life
Seeking all that’s still unsung
Bent my ear to hear the tune
And closed my eyes to see
When there were no strings to play
You played to me
In the book of love’s own dreams
Where all the print is blood
Where all the pages are my days
And all my lights grow old
When I had no wings to fly
You flew to me
You flew to me
In the secret space of dreams
Where I dreaming lay amazed
When the secrets all are told
And the petals all unfold
When there was no dream of mine
You dreamed of me
~
Attics Of My Life
Lyrics by Robert Hunter, Music by Jerry Garcia