An argument could be made that some of the Grateful Dead’s music explore the polemics of darkness and light (and whether that darkness has got to give) It Must Have Been The Roses definitely clocks in on the “light” side, at least as far as the actual music goes.

The lyrics are certainly open to interpretation. There seems to be a sense of joy and a certain type of sadness baked into the imagery here. What exactly is the purpose of the roses here and just what are they responsible for?

The following line comes across as almost a lament:

Faded is the crimson from the

ribbons that she wore

and it’s strange how no one

comes round anymore

Still, I can’t get over the beauty of the melody and how it draws the listener in and compels you to think about the situation the narrator faces.

It Must Have Been The Roses stayed in the repertoire until the end, although it showed up with decreasing frequency as the years progressed (the high watermark for the song being 74, 76-77). Still, regardless of the band’s current iteration the song remains one of the most evocative, at least in my opinion, and a definite highlight any time it shows up.

The opening riff for It Must Have Been The Roses is spry and the vibe is certainly relaxed. Keith plays a beautiful cascading piano line during the first verse, and his significant other doubles up Jerry on the chorus to great effect. She sounds great. There’s a bit of extra gusto in Jerry’s singing and playing as he moves into the second chorus as well. This quickly gives way to the gentleness of the song, but it’s a great example of the Dead’s use of dynamics for effect. A bona fide instrumental section follows and Jerry hangs around the main melody, but both Phil and Keith takes turns adding their own little nuances. Building double-stops lead into another chorus, continuing the lesson in dynamics. Keith’s playing is just so nuanced and beautiful here I can’t imagine the song without keys. The song ends in a gentle flow of notes, almost like a lazy brook set to music. Pure bliss.

Complete Setlist 4/24/78

Previous It Must Have Been The Roses DFAY Selections

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