Alligator by Grateful Dead
Alligator is a playful and bouncy song by the Grateful Dead. It first came into the world in 1967, making people dance and smile with its fun-loving spirit. The words talk about an alligator, a party, and lots of groovy happenings, making listeners imagine a wild and joyful time. Some people think the song has bits of silliness and cheekiness in it, especially with how it talks about the alligator running around and causing a bit of a ruckus. The Grateful Dead liked to have fun and try new things, and Alligator certainly shows that, with its lively words and stories.
The words for Alligator were written by Robert Hunter, who wrote many of the Grateful Dead’s words. But Alligator was special because it was the first song he wrote with them. Two members of the Grateful Dead, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Phil Lesh, also helped write the song. Pigpen also sang and played harmonica on Alligator, which is part of what makes the song stand out in the band’s long list of tunes. Phil Lesh, who played bass for the Grateful Dead, often brought new and different ideas to the band’s music, and Alligator is no exception.
The song is part of the Grateful Dead’s album Anthem of the Sun, which was shared with the world in 1968. Anthem of the Sun is kind of like a big adventure in sound, with live and studio recordings all mixed together. This was the second album the band made, and it showed fans and the world that the Grateful Dead liked to explore and try out new ideas. With Alligator as part of it, Anthem of the Sun took listeners on a trip that was both wild and thoughtful, inviting them to dance, laugh, and dream all at once.
