what a LONG strange trip its been...

One of the BEST rock lyrics ever penned is found in the Grateful Dead's anthem: Truckin'! It showed up on the American Beauty album in 1970 and became an instant winner. Written by Garcia, Weir, Lesh, and Hunter (three instrumentalists and their erstwhile lyricist) about "life on the road," Truckin' is a mid-tempo shuffle that joyfully proclaims: "What a LONG strange trip its been!" Truer words have rarely been shared in all of rock and roll.

The first time I heard this I had just entered the first year class at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, WI. I was already a Deadhead and LOVED Working Man's Dead. Taking in the groove of that era with other music geeks and progressive intellectuals was like a smorgasbord: new songs were happening every week and that fall was all about After the Gold Rush and Dr. John the Night Tripper PLUS the new Dead  and Lennon's solo album. What a trip that some 50+ years later, my precious 10 year old grandson is playing tunes from American Beauty. And, of course, the best of both Revolver and Rubber Soul.