Best Grateful Dead Songs

anthonybecerra831

The Top Ten

1 St. Stephen

Not the best but top 10

Sorry I think this is like the tenth best, not the best ever - GuyInANateGrinder

This song is the best song ever

St Stephen performed live (not the album version) really is the Grateful Dead's greatest song of all! It's so bumpy, alive and jumping. And it's a hoot to play live with friends too. The version that's included on "Live Dead" which leads into "The Eleven" (which I'd consider perhaps another one of their greatest songs of all! That jam is so complex and fiery!) is the best version available of the amazing St. Stephen. There are some Dick's Picks that include St. Stephen into The Eleven, but for the casual fan or the curious, you just can't beat St. Stephen/The Eleven from "Live Dead". I hope that those of you who've never heard this brilliant song, choose to check it out on YouTube!

2 Friend of the Devil

Reminds me of Robert Johnson - Doom

3 Casey Jones
4 Truckin'

"What a song man, what a song, perfect. You will never get tired of listening it."

5 Ripple

There is no question best lyrics and melody

Read the lyrics and listen to the most beautiful Dead tune ever!

6 China Cat Sunflower

Never got into them, but love this song

7 Touch of Grey

Best one - Solacress

It came into concerts around '82, and didn't make it to a record til '89, I think. Perfect song for a perfect time in the band's long strange trip

How is this song last?

This song had a powerful meaning to it - Sabbath

V 2 Comments
8 Box of Rain

A box of rain will ease the pain, and love will see you through. Becca 💙

9 Terrapin Station

Should be #1. Best Dead song ever.

Progressive, complex music and lyrics. My favorite Dead material.

One of the most beautiful tunes ever written, with sounds that send chills down your spine just thinking about them. One of a kind and powerful

A powerful masterpiece that in its best versions leaves goosebumps. One of the greatest songs by one of the greatest bands ever. This song can transcend time and at times be a symbolic image of the mightiest images possibly portrayed by this genius of a band.

V 1 Comment
10 Scarlet Begonias

I was tripping at a show somewhere and I met the girl of my dreams while this song was playing. This was in the late eighties. I never got her name or number, but if you're reading this, lady gypsy sugar plum fairy, I hope all is well in the bubbly maroon love sauna.

The Newcomers

? Althea
? Dancing in the Street

The Contenders

11 Eyes of the World

Always one of my favorites!

12 Sugar Magnolia

What can be said?

13 Playing In the Band
14 Uncle John's Band
15 Dark Star
16 Standing On the Moon
17 The Golden Road
18 U.S. Blues
19 Cosmic Charlie
20 Franklin's Tower
21 Shakedown Street
22 That's It for the Other One

It's pretty much progressive.

23 Alligator
24 Morning Dew
25 Black Muddy River
26 Fire On the Mountain
27 Alabama Getaway

I bought my first Dead album, Go to Heaven, out of curiosity. I was intrigued by the name of the band. Strangely, I knew nothing about them. The first song I heard was Alabama Getaway. This was around 1985. I liked the song very much and I thought Garcia's guitar style was interesting. This song is the song that got me into the band in the first place,

This song should be #1 for real, I mean, is not even on the "The Best of" album, what a joke haha

This song should be number 1 amazing guitar solos - mneilan

28 Dire Wolf
29 Wharf Rat

Always a favorite of mine!

30 Estimated Prophet

It has a different feel than most of the Dead songs. It has an unusual time pattern that adds to the cool mood.

Should be number 1 on all lists

Best dead tune ever

Best song ever

V 1 Comment
31 Born Crossed Eyed
32 The Other One
33 It Must Have Been the Roses
34 The Music Never Stopped
35 Brokedown Palace

Second only to Ripple in its beauty!

36 Mountains of the Moon
37 Hell in a Bucket
38 Bertha
39 Jack Straw
40 Sugaree
41 Row Jimmy

Provably the most underrated on this list - GuyInANateGrinder

42 I Will Take You Home
43 Unbroken Chain

As I type this, I'm looking at a ranking of 56. This is one of my favorite songs by ANY band. The lyrics, written by a guy in prison seeking redemption; the musical mood changes; the odd time signature. The complexity is a big reason it wasn't intended to be played live, even by one of the all-time great live bands.

44 Rosemary
45 Throwing Stones
46 Tennessee Jed
47 Looks Like Rain
48 Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
49 Loser
50 Me and My Uncle
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List Stats

300 votes
62 listings
8 years, 297 days old

Top Remixes (9)

1. Eyes of the World
2. St. Stephen
3. Morning Dew
hvd
1. That's It for the Other One
2. Alligator
3. China Cat Sunflower
RogerWatersfan1999
1. Casey Jones
2. Friend of the Devil
3. Black Muddy River
ryanrimmel

WRemix
View All 9

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