GRATEFUL DEAD Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter Rare Handwritten Lyrics to "Doin That Rag" from Aoxomoxoa

***Up for bid in Iconic Auctions' Fall 2025 Feature Auction, live now through Saturday, October 11th at www.IconicAuctions.com*** The ONLY Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter handwritten lyric manuscript known to exist for an officially released Grateful Dead studio-recorded song! Here is an enormously rare and historically significant original lyric manuscript to the classic 1969 Grateful Dead song "Doin’ That Rag," handwritten by the legendary Jerry Garcia and the elusive Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. This is virtually the entire song as it appears on The Grateful Dead’s critically acclaimed third studio album, Aoxomoxoa, released in 1969. A Historically Significant Song in the Grateful Dead Canon "Doin’ That Rag" is a quintessential example of the Dead’s late-’60s experimental studio work. The song has achieved cult status among collectors, historians, and hardcore Deadheads. As a studio album, Aoxomoxoa has become a fan-favorite for its experimental spirit and whimsical darkness, and “Doin’ That Rag” sits at the heart of that ethos. The song itself is emblematic of the Grateful Dead’s creative ambition, their psychedelic peak, and Robert Hunter’s lyrical ascent. For scholars of Hunter’s writing, it represents his farthest stretch into abstract, dreamlike imagery before he began grounding his lyrics in more narrative or mythic frameworks (Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty in 1970). It’s neither blues, nor folk, nor a straightforward rock tune – in classic Grateful Dead fashion, it’s a playful yet mystical, multi-part piece that defies easy categorization. The blending of Americana reference points (ragtime, minstrel-era slang, Lewis Carroll-like nonsense poetry) with psychedelic rock was very much part of the Dead’s identity in 1969. Despite the song’s complexity, the Grateful Dead played “Doin’ That Rag” live more than 40 times between January and October 1969, including performances at legendary venues such as The Avalon Ballroom, Fillmore East, and Fillmore West. The song was likely composed in 1968, with Aoxomoxoa recording sessions taking place at Pacific Recording in San Mateo, and Pacific High Recording in San Francisco, between September 1968 and March 1969. “Doin’ That Rag” eventually appeared as the fourth track on Aoxomoxoa, released in June 1969 to critical acclaim. The July 12th, 1969, Rolling Stone magazine review noted: “No other music sustains a lifestyle so delicate and loving and lifelike.” Today, Aoxomoxoa stands as one of the most important albums in the Grateful Dead’s legendary canon of work. These lyrics come with a detailed letter of provenance from former Grateful Dead publicist Susan Klein, who states: “During 1979 and 1980 I worked for Ren Grevatt Associates, a NYC-based boutique music-industry PR firm that had been subcontracted by Arista Records to promote the recently signed Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band. In July 1979 I visited San Rafael, CA where the Grateful Dead had their studio, offices, and where Jerry Garcia was residing at the time. On a visit to Jerry’s home, atop a stack of papers piled in his living room I noticed these song lyrics, which I picked up. Recognizing the song, I remarked that it was interesting to see the words written out rather than sung, and that they really read like poetry. I also remember being impressed that performers had to memorize such complex lyrics, in an era before onstage lyric prompters were not commonly used by rock musicians. In his characteristically nonchalant way, Jerry said, “you can have that, we don’t do that tune anymore,” and I happily took the piece of paper as a special souvenir of my trip.” A Museum Quality Artifact of the Highest Order Per former Warner Bros. executive Jeff Gold: “Original handwritten Grateful Dead lyric manuscripts are extremely rare. In nearly 50 years of buying and selling collectible records and music memorabilia, I have had only one full and one partial set of Jerry Garcia handwritten lyrics, both for cover songs. This is the first example I have encountered of a Garcia written lyric manuscript for an important original Grateful Dead song (I’ve never seen a Grateful Dead lyric manuscript in the hands of both Garcia and Hunter.) While a few Grateful Dead manuscripts have surfaced over the years, in my opinion none have been remotely this important.” Comes with a signed letter of provenance from the Grateful Dead’s former publicist, as well as Full Letters of Authentication from Beckett Authentication Services (BAS), James Spence Authentication (JSA), Roger Epperson noted music autograph expert (REAL), and Jeff Gold, former Warner Bros. executive. An incredibly early and important Grateful Dead lyric manuscript with unimpeachable provenance and extensive third-party authentication. A museum quality Grateful Dead artifact of the highest order. For the most discerning of collectors.

Added 27 Mar 2026