Sugar Magnolia

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mnaz
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Sugar Magnolia

Post by mnaz » December 5th, 2020, 6:27 am

Heard an old Dead song
on the radio, Sugar Magnolia,
blossoms blooming, heads empty.
"She can dance a Cajun rhythm,
jump like a Willys in 4 wheel drive."
Never really understood the Dead.

mtmynd
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Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by mtmynd » December 5th, 2020, 3:04 pm

The Dead should never require "understanding" but to simply enjoy both the songs and the joy of the crowds.

Therein lies the magic of being "Grateful Dead".
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mnaz
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Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by mnaz » December 5th, 2020, 5:24 pm

You're right of course. How does one "understand" poetry? That "4 wheel Willys" lyric kinda threw me. (Jump like a what?) ...

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sasha
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Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by sasha » December 5th, 2020, 5:52 pm

maybe like a poked turtle, when you pop the clutch on that thing while it's in ultra-low gear...
.
"If one could deduce the nature of the Creator from a study of creation, it would appear that He has an inordinate fondness for beetles." -- evolutionary biologist J B S Haldane, (1892-1964)

mtmynd
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Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by mtmynd » December 5th, 2020, 6:02 pm

yes, sasha... that's what it is, IMO, too. ;)
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zero_hero
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Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by zero_hero » December 6th, 2020, 12:00 pm

that song poem breaks my heart 8)
I like this site:
The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics
Willys

This note from a reader:

Dear Mr. Dodd:
... Re: Sugar Magnolia, "jump like a Willys in four wheel drive". . . Always one of my favorite lyrics for its obscura. When the Willy's jeep first came out, there was some type of maneuver, or trick, that an experienced driver could do to make the vehicle actually "leap", jump, or catch air, somehow. details are sketchy, but there was an article in Smithsonian magazine which refers to the idea, and has a great picture of an airborne jeep to boot. I haven't done much research on this one, but I've seen the "jumping" trick with the Willy's jeep referenced a few other times. (in WWII histories) I can't however, determine how it was done, or what the origin of the story was. Perhaps it was a clever marketing ploy. Truly a wonderful piece of ephemera.

Your website may be the coolest free thing I've ever seen. I'm certainly going to buy the book. lead on. regards

Mike Mnichowicz
Milwaukee, WI

I checked into the article Mike mentions, and it appeared in the November 1992 Smithsonian, for anyone interested in pursuing the details.
Free Rice

"the lesson is... if you want it? keep a copy of it." Doreen Peri

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mnaz
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Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by mnaz » December 6th, 2020, 2:08 pm

Ah, so that's it. Thanks Truck. That would be amazing to see. "Jumping" certainly isn't what I picture when think of a 4WD jeep; I picture a slow, steady slog ...

Interesting...

mtmynd
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Location: El Paso

Re: Sugar Magnolia

Post by mtmynd » December 7th, 2020, 1:55 am

Dang, truck! that "Annotated...Dead Lyrics" is what every Dead Head would treasure for sure.

Gracias, amigo! :)
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