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The Annotated "Sunrise"

An installment in The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.
By David Dodd
Kraemer Family Library
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
(The opinions expressed are those of the author, not of the University of Colorado.)Copyright notice; © 1995,1996, 1997 David Dodd
"Sunrise"
Words and music by Donna Godchaux
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing


"Sunrise"

Musical details:

Recorded on

First performance: May 1, 1977, at the Palladium, New York City. "Sunrise" appeared in the penultimate position in the first set, following "Tennessee Jed" and preceding "Samson and Delilah." It was played 30 times in concert.

This song is generally acknowledged to be about Rex Jackson, a Grateful Dead staff member, after whom the Rex Foundation is named. Jackson died in October, 1976, so it's likely this song was written in his memory, though not overtly.


four winds

See the note on the four winds in the annotations for "Franklin's Tower"
Keywords: @fire, @feather
DeadBase code: [SUNR]
First posted: May 3, 1997