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Cassidy (song)

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"Cassidy" is a song written by John Barlow and Bob Weir[1] and performed by the Grateful Dead, Ratdog, and Phil Lesh & Friends.[2] The song appeared on Bob Weir's Ace, and the Grateful Dead's Reckoning and Without a Net albums.[3]

The song was named after Cassidy Law, who was born in 1970 and was the daughter of Grateful Dead crew member Rex Jackson and Weir's former housemate Eileen Law.[1] The lyrics also allude to Neal Cassady, who was associated with the Beats in the 1950s[4] and the Acid Test scene that spawned the Grateful Dead in the 1960s. Some of the lyrics in the song were also inspired by the death of Barlow's father.[5]

The song was first performed on March 23, 1974 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.[3]

Cover versions

In 1991, Suzanne Vega recorded a version of this song on the album Deadicated.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Brightman, Carol (1998). Sweet Chaos: The Grateful Dead's American Adventure. New York: Pocket Books. pp. 175–176. ISBN 0-671-01117-0. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Grateful Dead Lyric and Song Finder: Cassidy". Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b Dodd, David. "The Annotated 'Cassidy'". The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics. University of California at Santa Cruz. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  4. ^ Dodd, David. "Greatest Stories Ever Told : Cassidy". Dead.net. Retrieved 2 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  5. ^ Barlow, John Perry. "Cassidy's Tale", Literary Kicks