Grateful Dead – “Looks Like Rain” Live
The Rain Is Gonna Come!
“Looks Like Rain” was written by John Perry Barlow. It was penned in January 1972 in Cora, Wyoming. The first performance recorded was at the Academy of Music on March 21, 1972. After the show in New York City, it has consistently remained in their concert repertoire. It has been played about 400 times in total.
They accrue meaning. They change in resonance with the individual listener. Sometimes, they explode in your brain in a revelatory moment, and sometimes, they quietly gather strength over the years.
Grateful Dead has sung this song beautifully over the years and there are so many emotions behind each word. There have also been several speculations whether there’s a hidden meaning inside the song. Some theories even bordered on being ridiculous.
The song itself was often played in the context of the weather.
And if during an outdoor concert, there’s threat of a downpour, the boys would then play this. Too awesome!