Bobby Weir: 1947 - 2026
In keeping with tradition here, the connections to Neil Young are few but not insignificant.
Neil Young, Bobby Weir & Rob Wasserman - 1994
In 1994, Neil Young and Bobby Weir collaborated on the album TRIOS by Rob Wasserman with the song "Easy Answers".
TRIOS by Rob Wasserman - 1994
"Promises made in the dark
Dissolve by the light of day (easy answers)
Ain't no telling what will be
Always been that way (easy answers)
Just one thing I know for sure
Someone got to pay (easy answers)
Ain't no easy answers
That's what I got to say (easy answers)"
In 1991, nearly 500,000 fans came to pay their respects to promoter Bill Graham at the memorial concert held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The concert featured many of the acts Graham had promoted and nourished over the years including Jackson Browne, Santana, CSNY, the Grateful Dead, and many others. Certainly Neil Young and Bobby Weir crossed paths on that memorable tribute day.
As Neil Young sang that day in dedication to Bill Graham and probably would to Bobby Weir: "Long May You Run."
(Thanks Dionys, Richie C and others for input!)
Labels: grateful dead, neil young
by thrasher@PermaLink: 1/15/2026 06:40:00 PM
25 comments
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According to an interview with Weir, Neil wrote this verse:
Shut your eyes and listen to the colours of your mind
Easy answers
Give yourself a breath of air, let your soul unwind
Easy answers
You don't have to say a word, you got dick to say
'Cause no-one ever said there's gonna be an easy way
Easy answers
https://people.well.com/conf/deadsongs.vue/topics/64/Easy-Answers-page01.html#post2
We really find it amazing how Bobby's passing brings this minor masterpiece to the fore.
Obviously, there are no easy answers to complicated questions.
But Neil’s verse does provide guidance.
Maybe this song will become the soundtrack to our Winter of Love?
Cool quotes in Grateful Dead songs: Uncle John’s Band
Oh, what I want to know, is are you kind? I think we can agree murder is not kind.
Throwin’ Stones:
“Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
Dizzy with eternity
Paint it with a skin of sky, brush in some clouds and sea
Call it home for you and me
A peaceful place, or so it looks from space
A closer look reveals the human race
Full of hope, full of grace is the human face
But afraid we may lay our home to waste
There's a fear down here we can't forget
Hasn't got a name just yet
Always awake, always around
Singing, "Ashes, ashes all fall down" (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Now watch as the ball revolves and the nighttime falls
And again the hunt begins, and again the bloodwind calls
By and by again, the morning sun will rise
The darkness never goes from some mens eyes, ooh no
It strolls the sidewalks, and it rolls the streets
It's taking turf, dividing up meat
Nightmare spook, piece of heat
It's you and me, you and me
Hey, Flashblade in ghetto night
Rudies looking for a fight
Rat Cat Alley, roll them bones
Need that cash to feed that jones
And the politicians throwing stones
Singing, "Ashes, ashes all fall down" (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Commissars and pin-striped bosses roll the dice
Any way they fall, guess who gets to pay the price
Money green, the proletarian gray
Selling guns instead of food today
So the kids, they dance, they shake their bones
And the politicians throwing stones
Singing, "Ashes, ashes all fall down" (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Heartless powers try to tell us what to think
If the spirit's sleeping, then the flesh is ink, yeah
History's page will be neatly carved in stone
The future's here, we are it, we are on our own
On our own, on our own, on our own
If the game is lost, we're all the same
No one left to place or take the blame
We will leave this place an empty stone
Well, that shinning ball blue
We can call our home
So the kids, they dance, they shake their bones
And the politicians are throwing stones
Singing, "Ashes, ashes all fall down" (ashes, ashes all fall down)
Shooting powders back and forth
Singing, "Black goes south while white comes north
And the whole world full of petty wars"
Singing, "I got mine and you got yours"
And the current fashions set the pace
Lose your step, fall out of grace
And the radical, he rant and rage
Singing, "Someone got to turn the page"
And the rich man in his summer home
Singing, "Just leave well enough alone"
But his pants are down, his cover's blown
And the politicians throwing stones
So the kids, they dance, they shake their bones
'Cause it's all too clear, we're on our own
Singing, "Ashes, ashes all fall down
Ashes, ashes, all fall down"
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
It's dizzy, the possibilities
Ashes, ashes, all fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
Ashes, ashes, all fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
Ashes, ashes, all fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
Ashes, ashes, all fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
All fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
All fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
Signing, "Ashes, ashes, all fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
All fall down (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
All fall down! (ashes, ashes, all fall down)
Signing, "Ashes, ashes, all fall down"
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
(Ashes, ashes, all fall down)
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
(As in the US taking Greenland?)
Grateful Dead : Ship of Fools
“Went to see the captain
Strangest I could find
Laid my proposition down
Laid it on the line
I won't slave for beggar's pay
Likewise gold and jewels
But I would slave to learn the way
To sink your ship of fools
Ship of fools
On a cruel sea
Ship of fools
Sail away from me
It was later than I thought
When I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of fools
Saw your first ship sink and drown
From rockin' of the boat
And all that could not sink or swim
Was just left there to float
I won't leave you drifting down
But whoa, it makes me wild
With 30 years upon my head
To have you call me child
Ship of fools
On a cruel sea
Ship of fools
Sail away from me
It was later than I thought
When I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of fools
The bottles stand as empty
As they were filled before
Time that was in plenty
But from that cup no more
Though I could not caution all
I still might warn a few
Don't lend your hand to raise no flag
Atop no ship of fools
Ship of fools
On a cruel sea
Ship of fools
Sail away from me
It was later than I thought
When I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of fools
It was later than I thought
When I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of fools”
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
So cool to hear about a song from GD & Neil Young together, which I had never heard of before now.
I stopped paying much attention to the GD after 1993.
For me, Brent Mydland was a crucial part of the band & it was never as good after he died in 1990.
I have still not listened to the song, but I will now.
Jerry died in 1995. I chose to go into the mountains that day & hike instead of hitting Golden Gate Park. I was on a different path.
On a good night, there was nothing like the Grateful Dead.
We get to enjoy it all, no need to pick favorites.
A line from Throwin’ Stones : But the darkness never goes from some men’s eyes. Trump
Trump doesnt belong in this tread. No one hates him more than me but just stop already. Weve had an ass full of you.
Absolutely shocked at the news on Saturday.
Its been a spring time in Yosemite of tears.
Yesterday finally getting things under control.
Me and my oldest buddy got a Sphere show in May.
So grateful for that. Of course if there was ever
a venue that lends itself to GD music this is it.
30 years ago last summer it felt like it was probably over.
The Haight was mobbed or as Jerry liked to say "infested".
I attended the memorial in GG Park Polo Field. The same place
Dead & Co would play their final concerts Aug 2015.
And again the same place Laughter, Love and Music hosted
the memorial for Bill Graham. The Grateful Dead, Neil Young,
and many others played that day. I didn't go was hung over
and with it broadcast on the radio stayed home to tape it.
My friends went, Dave in the ol VW Micro Bus. It was all over
the news to please take public transit. It was going to be a big mess.
But favor shined on them that day. Drove right up close, a Miracle
really, bumped a curb and good enough. They said a guy saw that and was
shaking his head in disbelief as he had taken 4 modes of transport
just to get there lol. 300k attended. A vintage plane flew over the crowd
and dropped carnations. I met Graham briefly once at a Cal Expo show.
The line was filing in and he was standing off to the side. The others
were really in fear of this guy. Dont even look at him. I had a couple
of pops so had a bit of liquid courage running. I walked over put my hand
out and said " you're a great man ". He shook it, smiled and said thank you.
Granted not much of a story. The night he died I had a dream with him in it.
It was also right about the same time he died. I was on the shoulders of a guy I knew. We were walking up to Shoreline and Bill told me to get down from there. He was a famous ball breaker for things are done his way. Its partly why he was so successful. He revolutionized the way concerts are run and we have him to thank for things we take for granted today. At first he wouldn't bill them as Grateful Dead. He hated the name. He was a hands on guy. Known to throw ppl out by the belt loops onto the sidewalk. Especially if he somehow found a Merry Prankster Deadhead had not paid . Many of the early Heads saw this as a challenge lol. The day he died was just before a 3 day run at Oakland Coliseum Arena. That first song played was his favorite, Sugar Magnolia. A obvious tribute. Weir could barely keep it together. Just distraught. Carlos, who was managed by Bill also played that night. I cant say how many shows I saw. I wish I knew. It was surely and equal amount of GD and JGB. The Jerry shows became my favorites. It was just as much fun but a fifth the hassle. Over a 100 by any measure. Thanks for all the great times Bobby. May the four winds blow you safely home. Fare-thee-well now. Let your life proceed by its own design. Nothing to tell now . Let the words be yours, I'm done with mine.
So in his late 40s Weir found out he was the product of a Tucson affair. He learned his biological father was a military officer who lived in Novato only a few miles from him. He sat on this a few years till his curiosity got the best of him. His real Mom had gone off to SF to birth him. His real Dad never knew he existed. So he calls him one day. The man was on another call and asked Bob to call back in 10 minutes. He didn't yet know what the call was about. Bob says it was the longest ten minutes of his life. Bob asks him a few questions about the circumstances he had learned. The origin of his birth. The man says well the only Robert Weir I know of sings and plays for the Grateful Dead. Bobby says well that would be me. He had 4 other sons 3 of whom were Deadheads. His half brothers. They agreed to meet at what was both of their favorites Mexican Restaurant. They soon became tight friends. He learned they both go outside to trim their nails.
The live stream for the Bobby Weir tribute event, titled Homecoming: Celebrating the Life of Bobby Weir, is available today (January 17, 2026) starting at 12:45 pm PT (which is 2:45 pm ET / 1:45 pm CST) from Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco.This is a free public gathering in remembrance, with special tributes—note that it's not a concert and includes no live musical performances.You can watch it live for free on these platforms:YouTube: On the nugs.net channel at youtube.com/nugsnet (direct link from recent shares: https://www.youtube.com/live/Z-DQP-2V-kg)
nugs.net: Free stream available here: https://www.nugs.net/live-download-of-homecoming:-celebrating-the-life-of-bobby-weir-free-stream:-civic-center-plaza-san-francisco-ca-01-17-2026-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming/675-FREEWEBCAST.html (or via their artist page at nugs.net/bobbyweir)
Enjoy
peace
I believe it's been amended to include live music or that could be false info. Bob also played 2 Bridge School Benefits. 1988 as a duet w Garcia. NY played harmonica on Wang Dang Doodle. Video exists but it's very low quality. The only BSB not at Shoreline. The Other Ones also played Sunday only 2002. I attended that one. Audio exists.
Thanks! Will you be there?
Please post any reports.
Off topic: There's a new book out there by Constant Meijers, yes that's the Dutch Tequila courier and journalist whose text was printed on the inner sleeve of the original "Tonight's the Night" release. The title is "Forever Young. The Soundtrack of My Life." There's a paperback and an e-reader version available. Shop locally at your trusted bookstore if you can.
I wish. I'm in NE Arizona now. Holbrook. But I'll be watching. Thanks for the link
Just clicked on YouTube to check it out, saw Nancy Pelosi talking, and immediately turned it off. Don't remember hearing any politicians talk at the Jerry memorial in '95, and we were all the more better for it.
Anyways, I've got a 1977 show to listen to later tonight. RIP Weir
My most pared down show was Santa Cruz Civic. Weir - Wasserman. I wish I still had the T tho 30 years on it would surely not fit 😁. It was a blue the dye Rob was a alligator 🐊 Bob was a crocodile. Very cool. I agree. Nancy went on too long . Shouldn't be remotely a political event. But don't give up over that if you loved him.
I was at that show at the Civic, a pretty rough night. That was the night that Vince Welnek tried to commit suicide in the band bus, he was dropped off at a Santa Cruz hospital. Bobby really looked pissed the whole night. A few years later, Bobby and Ratdog played at Palookaville in downtown Santa Cruz, a much better show.
Not sure if you were there, I wasn't, but there was an infamous show in the Santa Cruz mountains in 2008 where Weir showed up an hour late, was totally wasted, and actually fell over on stage. Very unusual for Bobby to be that messed up during a show, but strange things can happen up in these hills...
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It was a nice tribute. Chloe Weir is the spitting image of her dad. Pelosi was indeed on too long, but I didn't begrudge her being there. She was a legit fan and friend, and apparently he was too. More music would have been good -- Mayer closing with Ripple was nice.
My years as a Deadhead were in the early 80s, but once I got to Santa Cruz in 1986, I was over it. Not that I didn't like listening to them now and again, but something about the scene and the absolute reverence for them in Santa Cruz turned me off. Now I find it a fascinating subculture, but one I observe from a distance rather than be a member of. Still love Santa Cruz, tho.
No but I saw Ratdog at San Lorenzo Park in Felton .
It's Santa Cruz what's not to like but the cost of housing now a days. Much of the good ol USA is buried in snow every winter. It snows about every 50 years there lol. Ocean beaches. Redwoods. Mountains. Boardwalk. University. Lesbians. Restaurants. Camping New Brighton. Dogs. Surf breaks. West Cliff. East Cliff. Lost Boys. Sudden Impact . I mean tourism would be a problem in summer. I don't like to go down to the Flats cause I can't park on a hill. Instead of getting a rolling start I have to pay the bill. Extra points if you ever pushed a car jumped in and popped the clutch to start it !
I have done that with a VW bus!
Yep, Santa Cruz really has a fantastic combination of gorgeous natural, public spaces and vibrant culture . I will add on the downside, Loma Prieta. The 89 quake was when I decided I would need to move on after graduation.
I"ve been listening to Europe 72 all weekend. Love that song "Jack Straw." A classic and Weir sounds so good, he does so well with those sort of songs. I have not listened to the Dead much in years, but damn, I am listening now!
Now that is funny!
https://archive.org/details/TOO2002-10-27.TheOtherOnesShorlineAmpitheaterAudience BSB 2002 Trucking
Friend of the Devil
Cumberland Blues
Box of Rain
Uncle Johns Band
The Wheel
Goin Down the Road Fellin Bad
and We Bid You Goodnight
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