There arenโt many American bands that can match the powerful following that the Grateful Dead have experienced in their incredibly successful career. The band may have been figureheads for the 1960s counterculture movement in the US, but their big hits still resonate today.
Formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California, the Grateful Dead pushed the boundaries with their music, taking the rock genre to the next level. Most famous for their electric rock style, the band also infused their music with elements of rock, jazz, country, and folk.
While Awakening the body and emboldening the soul, the bandโs following, also known as the โDeadheadsโ were dedicated to following the band all over the world. Despite not releasing a new single since 1995, the bandโs music is still incredibly popular.
So much so, we thought it was time to revisit their discography to show you the best Grateful Dead songs to listen to. If you want to get a feel for the band that defined an era, keep reading!

1. โScarlet Begoniasโ (1974)
The first Grateful Dead song on this list is โScarlet Begoniasโ. This is a mid-tempo, vibey track with a loose feel and a laid-back groove. A fine example of how the Grateful Dead mix-matched different genres, this single would later be used to perform longer live jams.
During live shows, it was also occasionally morphed into โFire on the Mountainโ. The song tells an intriguing story of a manโs chance encounter with a woman. The band cleverly uses a game of cards as a metaphor for their flirtations.
Surprisingly meaningful, the track contains thoughtful lyrics, intriguing twists, and of course, typical Grateful Dead style. Youโll find this single on the bands From the Mars Hotel album.
2. โMississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodelooโ (1973)
Your first impression of โMississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodelooโ will be that the song is a rather easygoing demonstration of the bandโs impressive musical versatility. Able to effortlessly change things up, this single quickly switches from jug band-style verses to a simmering pre-chorus.
Co-written by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, โMississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodelooโ has an interesting sense of mortality and purpose. Despite being rarely played, this solo track still became one of the bandโs most loved songs.
Most fans love this bobbing ballad for its epic instrumentals and powerful lyrics. Totally timeless, youโll enjoy the trackโs neat combination of styles and how Vassar Clements delivers a wonderfully wry, yet buoyant performance on the fiddle.
3. โSugar Magnoliaโ (1970)
If youโre keen to listen to one of the bandโs most iconic songs, you have to give โSugar Magnoliaโ a listen. Part of the Grateful Deadโs American Beauty album, this is easily one of the bandโs best-known songs.
As a result, it probably wonโt come as a surprise that American Beauty is one of the bandโs best albums too.
Interestingly, hardcore Grateful Dead fans have actually discovered that โSugar Magnoliaโ is the Grateful Deadโs second most-played song in concert, having been played 596 times since its release in 1970.
The bandโs third Billboard Top 100, this groovy song is partly responsible for the Deadโs success in the hippie community. It has a sunny, happy-go-lucky, good-time feel, and lyrics that resonate with the community.
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4. โFire On The Mountainโ (1978)
Another hugely popular song and a staple of any Grateful Dead concert is โFire on the Mountainโ. Released in 1978, this song mixes pop, folk, and rock music to create an entertaining hit.
Featuring magical guitar effects and heavy disco vibes, this song will get you up and moving. No matter how many times you play the song, it wonโt be enough. Whilst the Grateful Dead portrayed a hippie image during this part of their career, the lyrics to this song are much darker.
Thought-provoking lyrics like โalmost ablaze and you donโt feel the heatโ arenโt typically words you would associate with the bandโs good-time feel.
5. โUS Bluesโ (1974)
Next up, we have โUS Bluesโ. Another single that makes up the From the Mars Hotel album, โUS Bluesโ is one of the Grateful Deadโs more folk-based songs. Released as a single and on the album, the song first debuted in 1974 on George Washingtonโs birthday at San Franciscoโs Winterland.
Jerry Garcia wrote the music for this single and Robert Hunter wrote the lyrics. Whilst the music is great, itโs the lyrics that make this song perfect. The lyrics brilliantly tell the story of an interesting character called Uncle Sam.
This character is a quirky reference to the United States Government, which will run our lives and steal our wives.
Overall, this is a fantastic listen.
6. โRippleโ (1970)
If you love the hippie vibes the Grateful Dead has to offer, we highly recommend giving โRippleโ a listen. โRippleโ is arguably the most hippie song the Grateful Dead ever wrote. Often referred to as the ultimate peace and love anthem, this song is lyrically and musically awesome.
The band claim to have conceived this song during a long drinking binge. Interestingly, this drinking binge reportedly saw the creation of โTo Lay Me Downโ and โBrokedown Palaceโ too.
The song draws inspiration from the 23rd Psalm, whilst the music sits firmly in the country genre. If you love a hippie feel and trippy wordplay, youโll love โRippleโ.
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7. โFriend Of The Devilโ (1970)
โFriend of the Devilโ is the perfect example of how the band mixed up their style. Showing that the Grateful Dead werenโt afraid to move away from their roots, this song moves away from hippie country music, taking a darker turn.
A wonderfully simple, yet impactful acoustic track, โFriend of the Devilโ cleverly tells the story of a criminal on the run from the law. The lyrics tell the listener how the man decided to make a deal with the devil, who in the end, unsurprisingly, turns on the man, going back on what they agreed.
A far cry from the Grateful Deadโs love and peace image, this song is a must-listen if you want to see how well the band can change things up.
8. โBird Songโ (1981)
The next song on this list is โBird Songโ. One of the bandโs later releases, this song was first released on Jerry Garciaโs debut solo album 1971โs Garcia. Despite being released on Garciaโs solo album, the single quickly became one of the bandโs most-played songs.
A de facto Grateful Dead number, โBird Songโ was a centerpiece for the bandโs 1981 live tour and their live album Reckoning. Aside from being a beautiful listen, this song also has great meaning.
Although the songโs true meaning wasnโt revealed until 1990, it was confirmed that โBird Songโ was an elegy to Janis Chaplin, who tragically died in 1970. Chaplin had a close relationship with the band so the band wanted to honor the singer in their music.
9. โWharf Ratโ (1971)
The penultimate Grateful Dead song we have for you is โWharf Ratโ. Taken from the Deadโs 1971 self-titled LP, โWharf Ratโ demonstrates the incredible relationship between Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter.
Taken from the bandโs second album Skull and Roses, this song tells the story of a down-and-out man that finds himself just a few steps away from desperation. Garciaโs music gave Hunter the opportunity to get down and dirty with the dark side and realism of everyday life in America.
Thanks to the songโs success, this song kickstarted the bandโs era in which Garcia and Hunter would collaborate on a number of amazing storytelling songs.
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10. โTruckinโโ (1970)
The final song on our list embodies everything the Grateful Dead is about. Before the release of โTouch of Greyโ, โTruckinโโ was the bandโs highest-charting single. As soon as you hear this song, youโll understand why.
Loaded with an epic rolling rhythm and guitar licks, this song is designed to please any โDeadheadโ. It is also one of Grateful Deadโs songs that was written by all four of the bandโs songwriters.
Not many songs were written this way, with the robust production being clear throughout. The shuffle of different styles is unique and the sonic landscape makes it feel blurry at times, but that hasnโt stopped the single from becoming an integral part of pop culture.
In fact, in 1997, this song was actually declared a national treasure. Check out our piece on the iconic track here.
Final Thoughts
To this day, Grateful Dead is still one of the most iconic American rock bands to grace the genre. Bringing the American music scene epic ballads, feel-good tracks, and wonderfully told stories, there really is no band like the Deads.
Despite not releasing any new music since 1995, the band still travels the world touring, giving the new generation a taste of what they have to offer. In this post, weโve shown you 10 Grateful Dead songs you need to listen to.
Of course, with a catalog spanning back to the 1960s, there are more big hits out there, but weโre confident weโve shown you the ones you need to listen to now. With that being said, start adding these Grateful Dead songs to your playlist.
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