I am not a typical Deadhead here. I mostly just think about how much fun I had, not how good the band was playing. I have never been particularly interested in cataloging or re-listening to the 50 or so shows I saw (of the Jerry GD) or in ranking the shows like lots of heads, nerds, and tape collectors. In fact, some of my favorite shows were some of the first ones, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in 1984, when the band was definitely not at their peak! But those were the shows that I discovered the deep dancers, the dancers who don't care about being able to see the stage, and I sought out that whirlpool with its changing but strangely recurring cast of marvelous and gorgeous characters at every show I could, and the ones I remember and loved the most was where I found em again. Even at the Fare Thee Well show in Santa Clara in 2015, a fun but hardly exceptional musical event in a garish stadium, I found 'em, almost like a dance jam out of time, and it was divine.
I occasionally used to hear the title lyric as "wake up to find out that you are the SIZE of the world". But I decided that was beyond meta. Too much hallucinating.
I think it is quite obvious from the whole rhetoric of the piece, which includes many such acknowledgements, that this is an interpretation. A "reading" as we say in the study of literature, which is always a mystery--a mystery to the writer as well. Does Hunter know what he means? Who is "Hunter" if his eyes are the eyes of the world?. Everything we write is an interpretation, particularly about art and poetry, but to constantly repeat, in the midst of an obvious "reading," "What I am about to say is my own interpretation" is tedious. Most critics and scholars I know are far more forceful and declarative than me. But thats the nice thing about Substack Rhoney: you can always unsubscribe!
I really appreciated that post. I actually choked up at the line about the many dancers who've been reeled in from the brink by 'if you get confused, listen to the music play'. I just wanted to share a memory of 'one of those flashes' I had at a Dead show in Eugene, '92 I believe. In the middle of 'Eyes' I was looking out across the colorful sea of humanity to the other side of Autzen Stadium, deeply appreciating all the beautiful people and the interesting ways they were moving to the music. When Jerry launched into 'Wake up to find out...' I got extremely self-conscious about looking at the crowd instead of at the band.
Then it occurred to me that plenty of people were doing the same thing and that was a big part of what made a Dead show so interesting. The flash of awakening to the moment of seeing and being seen by my fellow Deadheads was life affirming, for sure.
where are you getting your information and what are your credentials, Eric Davis? How dare you say you speak for Hunter as when you say, "For Hunter, when we truly see..." How do you know what Hunter thinks or sees. This is YOUR INTERPRETATION !
That's a great anecdote Erik. Thanks again for the fascinating post. I hadn't heard the version of Eyes you put a link to and after a minute of listening I decided to buy that copy of Dick's Picks. I'm looking forward to listening to the Deadcast episode you mentioned as well.
I have always associated Eyes with Rilke’s poetry. Hunter was a big fan and in fact translated the Duino Eligies. I remember reading about this when I was an undergraduate in the early seventies. I got a copy out of the library but I could not fathom the work. The Joanna Macy translation is much more accessible. Other philosophers and poets talk about Rilke’s view that we are here to name things and to “see” the world. I wonder how much Hunter was influenced by Rilke.
I neglected to include a link for the PKD course, which will begin on Jan 23, in person but also online. For more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-three-stigmata-of-philip-k-dick-tickets-784560059257?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
I am not a typical Deadhead here. I mostly just think about how much fun I had, not how good the band was playing. I have never been particularly interested in cataloging or re-listening to the 50 or so shows I saw (of the Jerry GD) or in ranking the shows like lots of heads, nerds, and tape collectors. In fact, some of my favorite shows were some of the first ones, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in 1984, when the band was definitely not at their peak! But those were the shows that I discovered the deep dancers, the dancers who don't care about being able to see the stage, and I sought out that whirlpool with its changing but strangely recurring cast of marvelous and gorgeous characters at every show I could, and the ones I remember and loved the most was where I found em again. Even at the Fare Thee Well show in Santa Clara in 2015, a fun but hardly exceptional musical event in a garish stadium, I found 'em, almost like a dance jam out of time, and it was divine.
I occasionally used to hear the title lyric as "wake up to find out that you are the SIZE of the world". But I decided that was beyond meta. Too much hallucinating.
Excellent, as always~
Accompanied by one of my all-time favorite Eyes. Super choice.
I think it is quite obvious from the whole rhetoric of the piece, which includes many such acknowledgements, that this is an interpretation. A "reading" as we say in the study of literature, which is always a mystery--a mystery to the writer as well. Does Hunter know what he means? Who is "Hunter" if his eyes are the eyes of the world?. Everything we write is an interpretation, particularly about art and poetry, but to constantly repeat, in the midst of an obvious "reading," "What I am about to say is my own interpretation" is tedious. Most critics and scholars I know are far more forceful and declarative than me. But thats the nice thing about Substack Rhoney: you can always unsubscribe!
Yes indeed!
I really appreciated that post. I actually choked up at the line about the many dancers who've been reeled in from the brink by 'if you get confused, listen to the music play'. I just wanted to share a memory of 'one of those flashes' I had at a Dead show in Eugene, '92 I believe. In the middle of 'Eyes' I was looking out across the colorful sea of humanity to the other side of Autzen Stadium, deeply appreciating all the beautiful people and the interesting ways they were moving to the music. When Jerry launched into 'Wake up to find out...' I got extremely self-conscious about looking at the crowd instead of at the band.
Then it occurred to me that plenty of people were doing the same thing and that was a big part of what made a Dead show so interesting. The flash of awakening to the moment of seeing and being seen by my fellow Deadheads was life affirming, for sure.
where are you getting your information and what are your credentials, Eric Davis? How dare you say you speak for Hunter as when you say, "For Hunter, when we truly see..." How do you know what Hunter thinks or sees. This is YOUR INTERPRETATION !
That's a great anecdote Erik. Thanks again for the fascinating post. I hadn't heard the version of Eyes you put a link to and after a minute of listening I decided to buy that copy of Dick's Picks. I'm looking forward to listening to the Deadcast episode you mentioned as well.
You're doing great work sir!!
Do you possibly have a favorite Dead show that you went to?
I have always associated Eyes with Rilke’s poetry. Hunter was a big fan and in fact translated the Duino Eligies. I remember reading about this when I was an undergraduate in the early seventies. I got a copy out of the library but I could not fathom the work. The Joanna Macy translation is much more accessible. Other philosophers and poets talk about Rilke’s view that we are here to name things and to “see” the world. I wonder how much Hunter was influenced by Rilke.
Do you have a link to the PKD course?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfCOu8xIh14