Reply to to Jurgen Fauth's essay:

Reprinted in the Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics by permission of Robert Hunter.





Fractures of Unfamiliarity & Circumvention in Pursuit of a Nice Time

How does a song mean?

"The repair sad mutthead forkbender orange in the how are you, did they?" is nonsense without reference, hence not allusive. Had it discernible rhythm, it might be termed 'rhythm allusive' but my example lacks even that. The only way on earth such a sentence would likely get written is as an example of a null allusive set. Bingo! An allusion! To Set Theory! The exception that proves the rule.

How does a song mean?

How does semiotics mean?

How does the song go?

What's it about?