The stars came out for one more Saturday night to send off Bob Weir.
A public memorial for the Grateful Dead co-founder was held at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, drawing a massive sea of deadheads to say fare thee well to Weir, who died last Saturday at 78. Thousands attended the free event, including several members of Dead & Co. – the last of many iterations of the Grateful Dead fronted by Weir, who kept on truckin’ even after the 1995 death of his co-founder Jerry Garcia.
Jon Mayer, who stepped into Garcia’s shoes as the lead guitarist and Weir’s right hand in 2015, took the stage in a black suit and dark sunglasses to play “Ripple” – one of many songs for which Weir took over singing duties after Garcia’s passing.
If the Dead choose to carry on now, here’s betting it wouldn’t be the last time Mayer sings the nostalgic anthem from the band’s seminal 1970 album “American Beauty.”
And of course the crowd helped out – including the dozens of people onstage, among them former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who spoke earlier at the event.
Watch the performance in the video above.
Mayer – and virtually everyone there – sang:
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own
It’s a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they’re better left unsung
I don’t know, don’t really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall, you fall alone
If you should stand, then who’s to guide you
If I knew the way I would take you home
La da da da La da da da da
La da da La da La da da da
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La da da da La da da da da
