Photo by Jay Blakesberg

Following the passing of Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, his friends from the Grateful Dead and beyond have shared their feelings of grief and gratitude for the late poet.

“As much as anyone, [Hunter] defined in his words what it meant to be the Grateful Dead,” Phil Lesh wrote on Tuesday night. Lesh also recalled how Hunter helped shape “Box of Rain,” one of the bassist’s most notable contributions to the GD canon. “He heard so deeply what my feelings were when I composed the music [for “Box of Rain”], feelings I didn’t know I had until I read his lyrics.”

GD percussionist Mickey Hart echoed a similar sentiment in his statement, marveling at Hunter’s unrivaled ability to paint lyrical masterpieces.

“There was nobody like Bob Hunter, and there never will be. A visionary wordsmith extraordinaire. He explained the unexplainable and the words struck deep,” Hart said, before adding a nice sentiment about Hunter’s cosmic reunion with Jerry Garcia. “[Hunter] spun the stories, and he now rides a carpet headed straight to Jerry. The Grateful Dead was his canvas and together we made magic.”

Bob Weir was more brief in his remembrance, stating, “If I’m gonna count my blessings, Robert Hunter and his imagination are gonna be up at the top of that list,” he wrote. “I think I can speak for a lot of people In saying that. And then there’s the added blessing that he left us with plenty to go forward with…”

In addition to Hunter’s work with the Dead, Bill Kreutzmann recalled how Hunter contributed lyrics to his side project 7 Walkers, even sharing a funny anecdote about the wordsmith’s strict attention to detail.

“I’m bringing up his collaboration with 7 Walkers because it gave me one more time to work with Bob, this time one-on-one,” Kreutzmann said. “We had one major argument over changing one word, from ‘Seattle’ to ‘New Orleans.’ He was very protective over every single word; he’d fight you over syllables.”

Near the end of his statement, Kreutzmann shared another tender sentiment about his late friend, and trying to find closure in the timelessness of his work: “I will always cherish my many wonderful memories of Robert Hunter and I am sad that there won’t be any new ones. I cried when I heard the news and I’ve spent all day reflecting. And all my thoughts lead me to this: Robert Hunter is gone, but his words will live on forever. How many people can we say that about? Not many. He was a rare bird and a gift to us all.”

Several musicians outside of the Grateful Dead proper have also shared their condolences. Trey Anastasio of Phish recalled how Hunter’s lyrics were a key factor in some of his fondest memories, acting as the soundtrack to his youth. “The combination of those lyrics, always from the point of view of the outsider, the broken, the confused, the outlaw, the dying, the man on the street, and Jerry’s aching vulnerable voice, full of pain and spirit, was indescribable,” he wrote. “…I often find myself trying to describe those moments to younger musicians who didn’t get a chance to actually experience it. The songs live on, but for me the friendship and the connection between those two masterful artists will be the memory I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”

Dead & Company guitarist John Mayer posted a poem titled “It’s Hard to Have Nothing to Sing” on Instagram that concluded:

The ride keeps going no matter what you do
Some nights it’s just the moon and you
You can borrow my dreams for as long as you need
I’ll get em back when you plant that seed
And you teach the world our morning songs
And they join their hands and sing along
In thanks for all the joy we bring
Because being alive is a hell of a thing
And it’s hard to have nothing to sing.

Dead & Co. bassist Oteil Burbridge noted how Hunter was “instrumental in changing America and in turn the entire world for the better.” He also looked ahead to Hunter’s ongoing artistic influence, noting how he “left us a well of pure artistic water to drink from and to share with our children. Thank you Mr Hunter for the medicine and the inspiration.”

Read the musicians’ full statements below:

Phil Lesh:

I am heartbroken. Last night we lost Robert Hunter. As much as anyone, he defined in his words what it meant to be the Grateful Dead. His lyrics, ranging from old border ballads to urban legend, western narratives and beyond, brought into sharp focus what was implicit in our music. A case in point is “Box of Rain” – he heard so deeply what my feelings were when I composed the music, feelings I didn’t know I had until I read his lyrics. The lyrics he wrote for Jerry likewise tapped into the very essence of Jerry’s heart and soul – drawing forth the music living there. Significantly, the very first lyric Robert wrote for us was “Dark Star”, which became the definitive GD exploratory vehicle.

So fare thee well, rh, when my time comes I’ll be looking for you and Jer out there in the transitive nightfall of diamonds.

Bob Weir:

If I’m gonna count my blessings, Robert Hunter and his imagination are gonna be up at the top of that list. I think I can speak for a lot of people In saying that. And then there’s the added blessing that he left us with plenty to go forward with…

Mickey Hart:

We loved Bob Hunter and will miss him unimaginably
This is such a tragic and horribly sad day for Bob’s family, and for all of us who were lucky to enough to hear and play his words
There was nobody like Bob Hunter, and there never will be
A visionary wordsmith extraordinaire
He explained the unexplainable and the words struck deep
The characters that inhabited his world explained so much and revealed multi-layers of emotions
He spun the stories, and he now rides a carpet headed straight to Jerry
The Grateful Dead was his canvas and together we made magic 

Bill Kreutzmann:

Robert Hunter wrote the soundtrack to my life; his words are with me always. They’ve become part of my daily thought process, world view, philosophy…they are the closest thing I have to prayers. Many of you can say this too and it is something we all share.

He was the Grateful Dead’s lyricist but he also was the lyricist for my band 7 Walkers. He loved the music and he told me that when he played the record for the first time, he turned it up all the way and then laid down in bed to listen. Halfway through, his speakers came crashing down, almost hitting his head. He liked that. In fact, telling me about it was his form of a compliment.

When I first formed 7 Walkers, I had called him up asking for a dozen songs and I told him they had to somehow reflect New Orleans or have cajun, creole, voodoo influences. He took that direction to heart and when he returned with words, I asked how he got so many of the details right — stuff you would’ve only known about if you lived in New Orleans. But Bob never lived in New Orleans. He just said, “Oh, well, I read a lot.” This just goes to show that his sorcery skills were no joke.

I’m bringing up his collaboration with 7 Walkers because it gave me one more time to work with Bob, this time one-on-one. We had one major argument over changing one word, from “Seattle” to “New Orleans.” He was very protective over every single word; he’d fight you over syllables.

The other time I worked with him outside the Dead was on Jerry’s solo album, Garcia. Hunter was inside the control room, writing lyrics as we played music. “The Wheel” came out of that. “Sugaree,” too. “Bird Song.” “Deal!!” Songs I still play today and that many of us can recite by heart — I know I sure can.

But there’s always one thing I think of first, and that I keep coming back to, when looking back on our friendship: Bob was by my side for a particular day, seemingly lifetimes ago, that would forever alter my adventure on this planet — my first acid trip. You never forget your first, and Bob was there with me on that journey, complete with us watching the garbage trucks go by in the morning, after being up all night, convinced they were actually aliens or other fantastical things.

I will always cherish my many wonderful memories of Robert Hunter and I am sad that there won’t be any new ones. I cried when I heard the news and I’ve spent all day reflecting. And all my thoughts lead me to this: Robert Hunter is gone, but his words will live on forever. How many people can we say that about? Not many. He was a rare bird and a gift to us all.

Wildflower seed on the sand and stone, may the four winds blow him safely home.

Trey Anastasio:

Some of the most beautiful memories of my youth are of standing at concerts listening to Jerry sing Robert Hunter’s lyrics. The combination of those lyrics, always from the point of view of the outsider, the broken, the confused, the outlaw, the dying, the man on the street, and Jerry’s aching vulnerable voice, full of pain and spirit, was indescribable. Black Peter, Wharf Rat, Stella Blue, China doll, far too many to even name. I often find myself trying to describe those moments to younger musicians who didn’t get a chance to actually experience it. The songs live on, but for me the friendship and the connection between those two masterful artists will be the memory I’ll carry for the rest of my life. An entire arena caught in a collective gasp, tears running down peoples cheeks, all over one simple line. “A pistol shot, at five o clock, the bells of heaven ring” It was so profound and powerful. I am so grateful to Robert Hunter. Rest In Peace

John Mayer:

“It’s Hard to Have Nothing to Sing” (For Robert Hunter)

It’s hard to have nothing to sing
When your head is filled with such beautiful things
Or your heart is bleeding through your shirt
And the world ain’t making up for the hurt
And your lungs fill up but the words don’t come
So you breathe out heavy and your face goes numb
And you feel so dumb
Well brother here’s some words for you
Some road to ride, some fat to chew
Oh, I put the sun where I thought you’d need it
But I spilled some clouds where I felt defeated
So sometimes just to let you know,
They’ll try their best to dull your glow
But the spirit here is top shelf stuff
We’re running low but there’s just enough.
And here’s some colors you can use
You’re more to me than just the blues
You’re every shade of autumn leaves
And the light that breaks through naked trees
So steal the blanket off my bed
And tip your hat down on your head
The ride keeps going no matter what you do
Some nights it’s just the moon and you
You can borrow my dreams for as long as you need
I’ll get em back when you plant that seed
And you teach the world our morning songs
And they join their hands and sing along
In thanks for all the joy we bring
Because being alive is a hell of a thing
And it’s hard to have nothing to sing.

Oteil Burbridge:

I can’t imagine how tough today is for my band mates Bob, Bill, & Mickey. But I try to remember that some people change the world more than others. And we’re blessed for those who have changed it for the better.

Robert Hunter was instrumental in changing America and in turn the entire world for the better. Art can be so powerful. It can live a lot longer than we can. He left us a well of pure artistic water to drink from and to share with our children. Thank you Mr Hunter for the medicine and the inspiration.