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Grateful Dead — Scarlet Begonias
Album: From The Mars Hotel
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1969









Released: 1974
Length: 4:14
Plays (last 30 days): 0
As I was walkin' 'round Grosvenor Square
Not a chill to the winter but a nip to the air,
From the other direction, she was calling my eye,
It could be an illusion, but I might as well try, might as well try.

She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes.
And I knew without askin' she was into the blues.
She wore scarlet begonias tucked into her curls,
I knew right away she was not like other girls, other girls.

In the thick of the evening when the dealing got rough,
She was too pat to open and too cool to bluff.
As I picked up my matches and was closing the door,
I had one of those flashes I'd been there before, been there before.

Well, I ain't often right but I've never been wrong.
It seldom turns out the way it does in this song.
Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Well there ain't nothing wrong with the way she moves,
Or scarlet begonias or a touch of the blues.
And there's nothing wrong with the look that's in her eyes,
I had to learn the hard way-i had to let her pass by, let her pass by

Wind in the willow's playin' "Tea for Two";
The sky was yellow and the sun was blue,
Strangers stoppin' strangers just to shake their hand,
Everybody's playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band.
Comments (299)add comment
 nannimae wrote:

That's Donna Godchaux free-styling at the end.  Closed-captioning would label it 'vocalizing.' I've never been a fan of her vocal style, tbh.



Ditto, FWIW.
hey...its march 2023

spring

please play more spring time music like this

flowers,  dancing, outdoor concerts
 chinacat wrote:

"Once in a while, you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right".

Nuf said.




it seldom turns out the way it does in the song :)
 black321 wrote:
bobby really wailing it out at the end there. 

That's Donna Godchaux free-styling at the end.  Closed-captioning would label it 'vocalizing.' I've never been a fan of her vocal style, tbh.

I was just was thinking ,"What could make my day complete?" The Dead.
I know this song from Sublime (40 Oz To Freedom) - a great tune but did not realize it was a Grateful Dead song until now. Very nice!
 scrubbrush wrote:


Lovely.

Just lovely.
...and then a Dead song comes on and I think, "Yeah, it's all gonna be Ok."
"Once in a while, you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right".

Nuf said.
 debragh1 wrote:

That joke a few year ago about the 2 dead heads and drugs is mean, & just ain't so & for many.  Sure I did drugs (mainly psychedelics or pot) when I saw the Dead in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's, but I also did drugs at most all concerts, didn't or don't you?   My last Dead concert was about a year before Jerry died, and we took our 14 year old daughter...no drugs then, but it was around.  She also loved the Dead and really wanted to have the experience. For me, they were a hell of a lot more than "a garage band," and the improvisations were so creative that played off the crowd building with everyone participating ,incredible synergy ~ out of sight!



Awesome! 80's and 90's here.  We used to go to Vegas to see them in the 90's as they quit playing Texas in 88.  They usually would do 2 or 3 shows at the same venue. Sometimes would dose for one of them but more often I would just smoke and enjoy the show.  I have known several like you who would bring their children.  They were so much more than just music. I remember Bob messing with Jerry at times, one could tell they were having a good time!  I felt blessed if they did an acoustic set. Thousands just dancing or swaying to the music... I have never experienced energy like that at any other show. Rock on (~};-}    
Whoa, it's a DeadFest....2 tunes in a row!  When I saw 'em @ the Fillmore East their set was just one song...which one I seem to have forgotten.
LOVE it ðŸ’œ
One of my fave Dead tracks, and for those of us who missed it in real time Sublime's version is great too
That joke a few year ago about the 2 dead heads and drugs is mean, & just ain't so & for many.  Sure I did drugs (mainly psychedelics or pot) when I saw the Dead in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's, but I also did drugs at most all concerts, didn't or don't you?   My last Dead concert was about a year before Jerry died, and we took our 14 year old daughter...no drugs then, but it was around.  She also loved the Dead and really wanted to have the experience. For me, they were a hell of a lot more than "a garage band," and the improvisations were so creative that played off the crowd building with everyone participating ,incredible synergy ~ out of sight!
nice
A great song ruined by that horrible wailing at the end!
Not as good as live but I turned up the volume all the same.
This song makes me feel good!  
I wonder if they will play this on the P.A. system when Elon opens said hotel?
I
LOVE
THIS
SONG

remembering parties, sunshine, laughing, dancing all day.   <sigh>
Only song I know with a chirping smoke detector towards the end.
Happily RP is like a musical morgue. There's lotsa "dead" here! I'm not complaining :)
ooooooooooh

another peppy song

to have pep, to  be of pep
 nelamvr6 wrote:
It's hard for me to believe that the average rating for this song is 7.3, I really would have expected it to be at lease an 8. It's a 10 for me!
 
And I just raised my rating from 8 to 9. Not quite Godlike. It is Outstanding and one of the Dead's best offerings.
It's hard for me to believe that the average rating for this song is 7.3, I really would have expected it to be at lease an 8. It's a 10 for me!
Always been my favorite Dead song, from the first time I heard it.
 Shipp wrote:
Guess this song could be about Janis J. Just a thought. Bells and Begonias.
 
Bird Song was about Janis, according to Robert Hunter. 
 Triquel67 wrote:
Rabbit Ears nailed it. it's not that I dislike them, it's just I'd never seek them out. they're pleasant enough, there's just nothing that draws me in. almost every song sounds identical to me with very little deviation

edit. they are talented, clever lyrics, great harmonies, good musicians - just saying there's something about the over all 'sound' that has never appealed to me
 
Great "negative" post...i agree 99% just that I really dig the band and their tunes. LLRP!!
 jukes1 wrote:
Did the dead write more than two songs? Or do they just play the same song over and over for hours?
 

According to a poster at Song Facts:
Throughout their career the Grateful Dead played 317 cover songs and 184 original tunes

8 to 9 on this 1...Long Live RP!!
bobby really wailing it out at the end there. 
Did the dead write more than two songs? Or do they just play the same song over and over for hours?
 sfoster66 wrote:
I actually opened the RP app just to give this a 1; cause seriously...and there it was already rated...ugh, can the Dead just go away please,,,,
 
Really? Although I have no Dead in my collection, I always like it when they come on be it mainstream radio or especially here where B&G play deep tracks. Good stuff. 
Maybe you need to rethink this.
Guess this song could be about Janis J. Just a thought. Bells and Begonias.
Rabbit Ears nailed it. it's not that I dislike them, it's just I'd never seek them out. they're pleasant enough, there's just nothing that draws me in. almost every song sounds identical to me with very little deviation

edit. they are talented, clever lyrics, great harmonies, good musicians - just saying there's something about the over all 'sound' that has never appealed to me
I always thought he said:

"And I knew with that ass she was into the blues."
 pinto wrote:

Seems to me that the Dead is somewhat like Joni Mitchell in the sense that you absolutely love, or don't get the hoopla.  To me the Dead sound like an amateur garage band.  Millions disagree with me.  Conversely I absolutely love Joni Mitchell and many others cannot fathom why she has such a following.  There never seems to be much middle ground.
 
While I get your point about love/hate, I think this is apples/oranges. One of the big reasons people like/dislike Joni is because her phrasing and chord structures are not what they're used to hearing (and many simply have an aversion to high voices). She wrote outside the box. One of the big reasons people like/dislike the Dead is because they stay well within the box. I don't hate the Dead - they have some good grooves & hooks, they're not offensive, but they're also not interesting to me musically. I can see why people like their melodies and grooves, I just find them boring (and I have seen them live a few times too - even more boring if you're not on acid). 
 sfoster66 wrote:
I actually opened the RP app just to give this a 1; cause seriously...and there it was already rated...ugh, can the Dead just go away please,,,,
 
That's why there's a PSD or 'skip' button... please use it. Many of us here are fans of this band. 
I guess I'm missing a gene. Never cared for anything they ever did.
Dead = 10
I actually opened the RP app just to give this a 1; cause seriously...and there it was already rated...ugh, can the Dead just go away please,,,,
The Sublime version is faaaaar superior.

 jbuhl wrote:

Just saw them here in Boulder and Mayar does a pretty damn good faky
 
I am not a Dead fan nor a Mayer fan, but I thought the Dead & Co. show was great fun. Go figure.
 pinto wrote:

Seems to me that the Dead is somewhat like Joni Mitchell in the sense that you absolutely love, or don't get the hoopla.  To me the Dead sound like an amateur garage band.  Millions disagree with me.  Conversely I absolutely love Joni Mitchell and many others cannot fathom why she has such a following.  There never seems to be much middle ground.

 
I've always loved both Joni and the Dead.

There's an old joke I once heard about the Dead: 

What did one Deadhead say to the other when the drugs wore off?
-- "This music sucks"

I saw 56 Dead show between '85 - '95 and I'm currently following Dead & Company when I can.

Without a doubt, absolutely the most fun I've ever had among a crowd full of strangers. While this is an interesting album track, it does not compare to the numerous instances of a Scarlet Begonias > Fire On the Mountain medley played live. 

I'm okay with everybody bad-mouthing the Dead. It means that there'll be more room at the shows to dance. I saw 5 Dead & Company shows over three weeks starting with 7/2/2018 at Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA. All shows were pretty much sold out. We've got enough people liking the music and the scene where we can put up with the dissent
 ch83575 wrote:
We miss you Jerry! {#Hug}

 
Just saw them here in Boulder and Mayar does a pretty damn good faky
For this song...live...outdoors in Summer...women dancing like twirling dervishes. And the vibe. Always the vibe.   
Think it really helps to have seen them live, really helps ! 
Then it is wonderful.
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada. April 27 & 28 1991.. anyone?
With Carlos Santana opening act.
8mm Video with no sound here 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-c6ub-P9X0 
 bam23 wrote:

Sorry dude. Too clever by 1/4. You think this particular album cut shows the negative influence of drugs? Which? How? Maybe the fact that they put up with Donna Jean's caterwauling could serve as evidence. However, this was such a bright and sparkly song live, that your "theory" fails the falsification test.
 
If a theory "fails the falsification test" does that mean it's a convincing theory?  
{#Propeller}
 ploba wrote:
never heard a song by them that I liked.  not.a.one.

 
Seems to me that the Dead is somewhat like Joni Mitchell in the sense that you absolutely love, or don't get the hoopla.  To me the Dead sound like an amateur garage band.  Millions disagree with me.  Conversely I absolutely love Joni Mitchell and many others cannot fathom why she has such a following.  There never seems to be much middle ground.
 parttime wrote:
Open your mind man, and listen a little longer, a little more intently.
You had to be their..

 


I rarely rate songs higher than 8. But I give this one a 10.
One of the best of many great Dead songs.
 ploba wrote:
never heard a song by them that I liked.  not.a.one.

 
You had to be their..
never heard a song by them that I liked.  not.a.one.
We miss you Jerry! {#Hug}
Such a great song
Enjoy {#Music}
 Nerubo wrote:
So I have this theory that bands need to take the right amount of drugs to be good.  No drugs, you get horrible pop.  Too many drugs, you get this.   
 
Sorry dude. Too clever by 1/4. You think this particular album cut shows the negative influence of drugs? Which? How? Maybe the fact that they put up with Donna Jean's caterwauling could serve as evidence. However, this was such a bright and sparkly song live, that your "theory" fails the falsification test.
pass the bong?  Love the Dead...always wanted to see a show but never did....if there are regrets in my life (and I'd argue there are very, very few) it would be that I never saw the dead live.
Nice one!  Thanks Sieversfam...   for those who get it.  :) 

sieversfam wrote:

This may change your mind (on what the song can be, not the studio track).Check out the 5/8/77 Dead show (Cornell University).  Scarlet Begonias—->The Fire on the Mountain 25 minute masterpiece is life-changing.   Gotta crank this one up though.  

     https://archive.org/details/gd77-05-08.sbd.hicks.4982.sbeok.shnf  Track 13.
 


 Byronape wrote:
I don't hate this song.

But, like my dad always said...

"Even a blind cow sometimes finds an acorn."  fyi, acorns are toxic for most animals and will kill a cow if they eat more then one or two.
 
This may change your mind (on what the song can be, not the studio track).Check out the 5/8/77 Dead show (Cornell University).  Scarlet Begonias—->The Fire on the Mountain 25 minute masterpiece is life-changing.   Gotta crank this one up though.  

     https://archive.org/details/gd77-05-08.sbd.hicks.4982.sbeok.shnf  Track 13.
 Nerubo wrote:
So I have this theory that bands need to take the right amount of drugs to be good.  No drugs, you get horrible pop.  Too many drugs, you get this.   
 
I have a similar theory. Great musicians fall off when they do one or all of these:

1. Go clean and sober
2. Fall in love
3. Find Jesus.


 Groogrux69 wrote:
Great song.  I just saw Jackie Green do an excellent cover of this a few weeks ago.
 

Jackie Green is Cool!
I will borrow from the Romeo lexicon: Everybody in my classroom be twirlin'...
Hell Ya... What a cool album!!!
 Nerubo wrote:
So I have this theory that bands need to take the right amount of drugs to be good.  No drugs, you get horrible pop.  Too many drugs, you get this.   
 




So the more the better!
Definitely one of my favorite songs.  Any song with Donna screaming is gold! Thank you for playing this kind, kind song!!
one of my favorite Dead songs......thank you!!!
RP  has made me become aware of much I had not paid nearly enough attention. I'm making up for it - am now researching replacement car receivers - with hd satellite.   Thank you RP!   {#Propeller}
 HearsayDave wrote:
One of the best Dead songs...
 
To me, that's saying that losing the ring finger is better than losing a thumb. 

So I have this theory that bands need to take the right amount of drugs to be good.  No drugs, you get horrible pop.  Too many drugs, you get this.   
Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right.

{#Sunny}
Great song.  I just saw Jackie Green do an excellent cover of this a few weeks ago.
I don't hate this song.

But, like my dad always said...

"Even a blind cow sometimes finds an acorn."  fyi, acorns are toxic for most animals and will kill a cow if they eat more then one or two.
More Dead on RP!!!
{#Bananapiano}
Wow, I thought I didn't like the Dead. Guess I need to rethink that. 8.
{#Daisy}
One of the best Dead songs ... and even better live{#Skull}
Studying for a civil service exam I'm taking tomorrow- nice happy-brain-break! {#Clap} (and it makes the cockatoo dance, too!)
This really is the last Dead tune I can tolerate...so that is another RP compliment....always pickin' the best songs, even bands I don't like anymore......long live RP 
I dig this one.  Uptempo songs were always welcome at Dead shows.  So often they'd get bogged down and not get going for quite a while.  This is such a happy sound.
 johnjconn wrote:
Any one want do a bong?
 

{#Yes}
I love the Dead! Every time I hear those guitar licks it makes me reminisce about those California hills. You make me dance, all the way from France!
Hooray for hippies!!!
Love it! My favorite Dead tune! Thank you Robert Hunter (my favorite band member)
 Cynaera wrote:
I'm in the mood for this one... Evening, wind coming up, a late-summer storm blowing in, and I have marinated chicken thighs broiling in the oven. Cats are fat and happy, dogs are content, I have the checkbook balanced. Yep - perfect time for some Dead... {#Sunny}
 

{#Sunny}
Rings on her fingers
And bells on her shoes
{#Dancingbanana_2} 
I'm in the mood for this one... Evening, wind coming up, a late-summer storm blowing in, and I have marinated chicken thighs broiling in the oven. Cats are fat and happy, dogs are content, I have the checkbook balanced. Yep - perfect time for some Dead... {#Sunny}
 they kind of look like poppies, hmmm

Dgradeworkunit wrote:
They're scarlet all right... but they ain't begonias. 
 


Great summer time music.
They're scarlet all right... but they ain't begonias. 

I knew without askin she was into the blues...
 ch83575 wrote:

I am not a huge Donna fan in general, but some Dead songs just aren't the same without the random wailing in the background... or sometimes the foreground for that matter.  I believe this is one of those songs.
 

yeah, I gotcha on that...it becomes part of the soundscape...at least it's not as bad as Bobby on Estimated!!

"well I ain't often right but I never been wrong...seldom turns out the way it does in the song!"
 z11355 wrote:
englishtown, NJ was a GREAT show,  I remember the madness of rushing to the stage @ 2AM :) :)

Anyone remember the actual Mars Hotel as it existed in SF only to be torn down in the 70's ?  A friend of a friend made
sure to take us when I was there. 
 

Oh yeah, and smoked a dube there too!
i like the caterwalin
oh the word not the singing
 Captn_Pea wrote:
With Donna dieing at the end of this one I think I found one more tune for my Halloween mix.{#Skull}
 
I am not a huge Donna fan in general, but some Dead songs just aren't the same without the random wailing in the background... or sometimes the foreground for that matter.  I believe this is one of those songs.
 Captn_Pea wrote:
With Donna dieing at the end of this one I think I found one more tune for my Halloween mix.{#Skull}
 
yeah, no doubt!  Would love to hear the studio version with the caterwalling edited out!


With Donna dieing at the end of this one I think I found one more tune for my Halloween mix.{#Skull}
 peter_james_bond wrote:

Bye bye, don't forget not to write. You'll find mainstream radio doesn't play those artists you mention. Enjoy the commercials

Attaboy...!
englishtown, NJ was a GREAT show,  I remember the madness of rushing to the stage @ 2AM :) :)

Anyone remember the actual Mars Hotel as it existed in SF only to be torn down in the 70's ?  A friend of a friend made
sure to take us when I was there. 
 Mandible wrote:
  a huge Grateful Dead fan once explained the skeletons to me. That the skeletons represent that we are all the same underneath.  It gave me a new appreciation for the Grateful Dead artwork......
 
The artwork is better than the band.
 Papernapkin wrote:
When The Dead come on I gotta turn off the radio. Anyone have any recommendations for a radio station that doesn't play so much Dead, Wilco, and Talking Heads? I find I'm listening to RP less and less. I like the format and a lot of the selections, but the oldies are wearing thin. Thanks.
 
Bye bye, don't forget not to write. You'll find mainstream radio doesn't play those artists you mention. Enjoy the commercials.

 MaryM wrote:
Saw the Dead sometime in the mid-70's - it's all a fog, Raceway Park, aka  rrrrrrrrrraceway park, Englishtown NJ - Great Show.  Saw Jerry Garcia later, in college - Horrible show,     o n e   l o n g  g u i t a r  s o l o
 

Raceway park...that's a great show from 77.
When The Dead come on I gotta turn off the radio. Anyone have any recommendations for a radio station that doesn't play so much Dead, Wilco, and Talking Heads? I find I'm listening to RP less and less. I like the format and a lot of the selections, but the oldies are wearing thin. Thanks.
  a huge Grateful Dead fan once explained the skeletons to me. That the skeletons represent that we are all the same underneath.  It gave me a new appreciation for the Grateful Dead artwork......
Definitely not the biggest Dead fan in the house, but this is such a cool tune, I think. (9)
For all those who don't like this song — STUFF IT CAUSE THERE AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WAY SHE MOVES!!!!
 pope183 wrote:


I have been looking at your posts in the song comments.

Why is it that you have to piss all over everything and call people names ?

Are you really that insecure ? or You just enjoy being the turd in the punchbowl ?

Perhaps you should put the bottle down...   instead of the people on RP.
 
First of all, your characterization of my posts isn't accurate. Second, when someone tells me they're grateful they don't know me personally just because I comment that I dislike the Grateful Dead — well, the rules of polite discourse sort of go by the wayside at that point.


Folks, please don't feed the troll. It will only go away when deprived of attention.
 holborne wrote:

Feeling is mutual, sweetums. I don't have much use for Deadheads — most of them aren't terribly bright and you appear to be no exception.
 

I have been looking at your posts in the song comments.

Why is it that you have to piss all over everything and call people names ?

Are you really that insecure ? or You just enjoy being the turd in the punchbowl ?

Perhaps you should put the bottle down...   instead of the people on RP.


{#Sunny}
{#Bananajam}
 jedley wrote:

I'm very grateful I don't know you personally.

 
Feeling is mutual, sweetums. I don't have much use for Deadheads — most of them aren't terribly bright and you appear to be no exception.


Saw the Dead sometime in the mid-70's - it's all a fog, Raceway Park, aka  rrrrrrrrrraceway park, Englishtown NJ - Great Show.  Saw Jerry Garcia later, in college - Horrible show,     o n e   l o n g  g u i t a r  s o l o
 triskele wrote:
always and forever one of my fave dead songs....well...cept for donna on this studio version... she always sounds like a burning cat to me.

 
{#Yes}

 holborne wrote:
Grateful Dead: automatic 1 or 2, the latter only if I'm feeling generous.
 
I'm very grateful I don't know you personally.

always and forever one of my fave dead songs....well...cept for donna on this studio version... she always sounds like a burning cat to me.

 Oscar_the_Grouch wrote:
 holborne wrote:


Hahaha, penis jokes! You aging hippies are just so funny! Ha! "Male sex organ!" Man, I can't stop laughing here!
 
NO U
You fail it...again.
Neither aged nor a hippy.
GTFO sodomite

 

You seem to be pretty obsessed with the male sex organ. Would you like to talk about it, Hon?

Btw, the term you're trying to use is "fail," not "fail it." Sorry, Grandpa.