RIP Robert Hunter- what a masterful lyricist. I love this story so much

The more I learn about Phil the more I like him.

I went and saw The Dead after my brother passed away in 2009. They were playing a show at the Gorge in George, Washington. I wasn't originally planning on going to this concert, but my little brother was a big GD fan and had planned on going before he passed away in April. I felt compelled to go. The concert was in May. I was a fan of the dead as well and remember my brother telling me the story of this song. I really hoped they would play it. They did end up playing it as the encore song to end the night. What a beautiful moment. Even though tears were running down my face I felt at peace in that moment.

This is one of the songs my boyfriend chose to be played at his memorial service. He passed away in February from lung cancer. He was in love with the GD. He went to 372 concerts 💔😢. RIP DAVID N JERRY 🦋🦋

I can easily say this is one of my favorite songs ever written. The album version is absolute perfection

I got a call from a friend on a rainy morning. We knew he left his parents home on a motorcycle that morning after spending the weekend and never showed up at work. So as soon as I got his call I said "let me guess you had an accident and are in the emergency room" and he said "how did you know". As I jumped in the car to see him that rainy morning, this song came on the radio. "What do you need to see you through, a box of rain will ease the pain". Every time I hear this song it brings me back to that moment about 1973. He said the leather jacket I lent him literally saved the skin off his back as he skidded across the road. Fortunately no major injuries. Just a few bruises.

I chose this song to sing at my sixth grade talent show back in 1973....a little heavy for a 12 year old, but the song just touched my soul and now I'm glad I know what it was about.

Phil is such a kind, sensitive soul and wow, Hunter who is a genius at lyrics was really inspired to write these words to help Phil at this time of his dad's impending death.

I feel we have all been moved by this song and album..

"I guess it was written for a young man whose father was dying."

I just sang this song in the car as I was driving to see my own father in the hospital. Healing music to help me thru this life passage.

I play acoustic guitar and sing lots of GD songs to hospice patients and nursing home residents on a volunteer basis. And Box of Rain is one of my absolute favorites to include. Such a colorful, meaningful song of comfort, depth, and warmth. Thank you Phil, and Mr. Hunter. Thank you...

We lost one of the best lyricists to ever grace the earth recently in Robert (Bob) Hunter. Rest now for your journey ahead spans the cosmos.

One of the most personally meaningful songs ever made for me. I truly love Phil, and cherish his contributions to the dead and music as a whole

This kind of music can’t be made, it has to be created and it can only be created through an experience like a persons father dying. This song means more to a lot of people then he could ever know. Thank you so much

This will forever be the Dead's best song...

Robert Hunter is one of the best poets of our time his words will forever be hanging in the fabrics of the existence of conciousness. Very real!

Always loved this song, I lost my dad in 2014, age 91,and my mom 5 Day's after my birthday in 1992, age 67. Its not easy loosing those you LOVE. I'll be 64 soon, and still alone.

RIP Hunter - thanks for the great lyrics

My favorite GD song. It's my go-to when I'm stressed out. If you don't know this song, listen, and peace.

When my dad passed on I lost a great father and a friend who still visits me in lucid dreams .

Used to sing my kids to sleep with this song. I'm 40 now, I have a new baby, well he's 1 now. There were some complications at birth that required a C-section. That meant that dad and baby had an hour or so together just us. I sang this to him. This song has always been so special for me.

This song helped me through the passing of both my mom and dad; it sounds corny, but it really did help

When I was 18 and got my first car in NY State, my license plate was EEP HOUR, my fave track on Garcia's first solo LP from 1972. When I returned to NY in 2015-16 for one year, to be with my ageing father, 28 years after leaving the US, my my license plate was BOXARAIN. My then wife said she was driving along on Interstate 287 one day on the way to White Plains. A guy pulled up next to her and honked his horn, and she had no idea what was going on. They both rolled down their windows. He said at the top of his lungs, "BOX OF RAIN!!!" and gave her two thumbs up. Being a Deadhead I have been since ca. 1973, is like being a member of an extended family. It was a good move going to live with my father that year with my kids, born and raised abroad, since he passed away a few years later but got to know and love his grandkids, and I got to really reconnect with him. This song has a special place for anyone who has been close to their father and watched them die. This probably has the most meaning for me, personally, of any Dead song, in the same way that John Lennon's Across the universe is by far the most eloquent and spiritually moving Beatles song bar none. There are very few songs by any band that reach this level of musicianship and lyrical maturity.

I miss the Dead shows so much. They were special, and those were special times.

I can understand why he/they went something like 15 years without performing it - very personal. Which is why, of course, it has so much power and beauty. Personally I'm in a period of pain and loss which is why this is so meaningful to me. The author PAul Tillich has defined 'courage' as being able to accept the unacceptable. Death is the prime example, and of course only "love will see you through". Love, Blessings, and a Box of Rain to all.

Thanks for the gift Robert and Phil. I played this for my own father as he lay dying in the hostpital on Christmas eve 2018 of cancer.

This song helped me deal with the same passing of my father due to cancer.... extremely beautiful/moving song....

R.I.P. ROBERT YOUR IN GRATE COMPANY UP THERE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL MUSIC LET THERE BE SONGS TO FILL THE AIR AND BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU THEIR ALWAYS WILL BE

My high school yearbook has some words from this wonderful song. There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert. ❤️✌️🌏🌎🌍✨✨ Never forget.

Before this video, i identified this song with my daughters passing. Then, and now 12 years later, i still get choked up. I knew in my heart this song was for that time in all of our lives, when we shall all live through... the dying of a loved one.

To me, The Dead are the most important band to happen to American music...some people want to hate on them because the times, culture and fans ( Deadheads ) but if you can look past all that you will see a band that staples together genres that have stood the test of time and others that just exist within The Dead...

One of their best songs.

I remember reading about this in Phil Lesh's book, and he said in a short span they lost Phil's father, Jerry's mother and both of Bob's parents.

It's my favorite Grateful Dead song. I appreciate now knowing the background.

Box of rain, american beauty , le premier morceau sur la platine, le ton est donné , magnifique solo ,j' aime de tout mon coeur ...

I also relate this song to my parents' deaths, and it actually helps me grieve. An amazing song. Sometimes I just need to let it all out; that's when I play Box of Rain and purge my heart.

Just WOW....."a Box of rain will see you through"......BEAUTIFUL.......

RIP Robert Hunter Fare Thee Well

this song always makes me think of my sister. She is still with us-but somewhat lost. Drugs are NOT the answer ....and most of the time,... there is nothing you can do for certain people. Just love 'em and keep hopin' for something better... for them. Such a beautiful song.Always.

I put a copy of this song in my grandmothers casket when shepassed away. this song is definetly the most personal of all dead tunes. I love you Gram miss you everyday.

A few years after the great zen master, Dogen predicted on his death-bed that he would return, a young zen disciple sat under the roof on the edge of the pagoda porch in a rainstorm during guided meditation, making her hands into a perfect box. This was not a typical meditation posture. The meditation master asked, "What are you doing?" Dry and wry, the student answered, "Caching rain!" "Your body is like a dew-drop on the morning grass, your life is as brief as a flash of lightning. Momentary and vain, it is lost in a moment."

I didn’t know the story of this song but this song holds a great deal of tears from own mother’s death. She was an amazing woman. She was made an angel way to young. ❤️

I heard this song about the time my mom's life wasn't going to last. I cried a lot for her before she died, not as much afterward.

Phil is my absolute favorite

this song was lovingly played acoustically by a guy at a good friends funeral. very touching

Beautiful, beautiful poetry of the highest order.

When my grandfather passed in Jan. 2008, I had been his caretaker for the previous 4 years. He raised me, my brother and sister. He was as hard working and as kind and sweet and generous a man as I've ever seen or known. I usta say that if I could grow up to be even half as good a man as him, I'd be way ahead of the game. Lol The last six months of his life were spent in a nursing home. Which I hated. But in August of 2007, he caught pneumonia and went into a "semi-coma" The Dr's qll suggested he stay there temporarily after he came out of the coma (he was in the coma for about two weeks, until myself and an old friend of mine from church, a retired L.A. Firefighter, got together and prayed over him. He began to twitch his fingers. I pushed the call button for a nurse and by then he'd opened his eyes. Praise the Lord Jesus!!) Anyway, the last 6 months or so I'd play Box of Rain every day in the parking lot before I'd go in to see him. I'd just sit in my car, smoke a little weed, down a beer or two and cry cry cry. It really was cathartic, healing. Phil and the boys helped me to let the pain of losing him out. And helped to be ok with it all in both the big and small picture. This song is so fucking beautiful and special. It will always hold a place in my heart. Thanks GD, you guys hit it out of the park on this baby.

It didn’t matter if it was shows during spring or fall shows; we ALWAYS stayed on Phil’s side of the arena. I don’t even know how that started but Phil’s side of the stage was where it was at y’all 😆✌🏾

Happy and Sad .....together.... This song always touches you!!!

IMHO Another stroke of genius on this song was having David Nelson's guitar throughout. It blends so beautifully and the song was so suited to his style of play. On the surface it sounds simple, but it is very complex and grabs the spotlight often in the song. I've heard the song 1000 times and I'm still mesmerized by it. Truly timeless.

RIP Robert !! Love for Phil !! Great Story Great Song !! ✌

I always thought more of the music than the words. Hunter's nothing but the best, but now that I hear Phil's motivation, I can better grasp my initial thoughts.

Love will see you through ~ thanks Phil and Hunter

Wow that is so cool. Great video. All these years later Phil still gets choked up thinking about it... It is definitely my favorite studio recording by the Dead. I would love to have heard it live back when Phil could still sing. You forget what a great voice he once had. Weir mentions it in one of the books, that Phil just blew his voice out and it never really came back.

My God! The gift the world received in so many ways with this band, and all associated with them, what a gift to humanity!!

that song really touched him.

Wonderful story about one of my favorite songs.

Can't believe I didn't know that Phil wrote this it's no surprise Bob wrote the lyrics but wow i did not know Phil came up with the song.. thanks for posting this

such a great song. i love hearing the sories behind the songs especially ones like this

My son read the lyrics to this song at my Moms and Brothers Wake. People were beside themselves. Had me in tears. That’s how deep this song goes. Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there. 😢🙏

I have always thought this was one of the most beautiful songs, I don't know why but now I do. My dad passed from cancer and when I listen now I'll think of him.

It was awesome to see the sun burst through the clouds at 2:18 seconds. Sometimes nature just puts amazing things on a plate and serves it up with a ton of love!

I want BROKE DOWN PALACE n BOX OF RAIN to be played at My FUNeral.. n my wife knows ABSOLUTELY no one in suits n fancy dresses, well ok dresses allowed but only if worn by women!! Lol .. So many amazing memories from going to the GD shows, I stopped after Jerry died, no disrespect to the other band members nor fans who still goto see them but I just can’t imagine watching them without Jerry. And John Mayer is a awesome guitarist!! Amazing player, just not the same with out CAPT TRIPS!! RIP JERRY, ROBERT H, John P Barlow, n all those who have passed who were part of the greatest live band EVER!!

Love.

When my mom passed this song was on a constant shuffle.

Huh. I was going thru the same thing with my grandfather when I first got my hands on American Beauty. Still my favorite GD song.

Had no idea… and this gives just, a whole new meaning to Box of Rain being the last song they played

I cry everytime I hear this

This song is so beautiful.. This video with Phil and Robert is a gem. Thanks

A box of rain will ease the pain and love will see you through

The first time I heard Box Of Rain, I fell in love with the song.

DAMN My love affair with music comtinues!!

I never have emotional reactions to songs but I cried hearing this song knowing why Phil wrote it.

Phil, I’m sorry to hear about your dad

It's from a VH1 series on "classic" albums. This episode was on American Beauty.

Thank you so much for that beautiful story ❤

great doc. greatest song.

Some day I hope I find direction around some corner where it's been waiting to meet me!

This is my favorite Dead song. Great!

Beautiful!

What an incredible complicated song. Such a beautiful story.

Happy 80th birthday Phil

@timmy12430 Right on man....that's what music is supposed to do...touch your SOUL...it should make you emotional man...no harm.....the most beautiful thing a human can do is be 100% honest with their emotions and just let them flo.....

i love this song

RIP Mr Hunter

Thank-you my good man Phil. I saw you in the 1990's blow up part of the mains in the Omni, during that song, Oops.Crackle Crackle Crackle. Making Healy ACTUALLY work that night !

AWESOME. one of all times best

I wish I would have played this song for my father when he was passing away!

So nice to know it! The song became more special to me.

Wonder story. I had the same feelings as each of my parents were suffering with cancer.

This is one song that Phil's voice sits well on.

Man! I have to see the whole thing!

So cool, awesome band chemistry

It's from my favourite Studio Album of The band.

such a great song

I'm pretty sure Robert Hunter had a job on The Carol Burnett show back in the early '70s I believe it was

For this is all a dream, we dreamed one afternoon long ago...

Awesome

2:18 Well isn't that just about perfect.