A
long, almost
epic song thought by many to be
summing up the
philosophy and
nature of the
Dead.
In the style of Robert Hunter (one of the Grateful Dead's lyricists), immensely meaningful (if one really stops to think), and perhaps suggestive, but in no way dictating what the listener is to think. The storyteller makes no choice...his job is to shed light, and not to master.
Hunter originally wrote many parts to the song, but Garcia made the choice to only play some of them. Hunter did put out his own version of Terrapin Station, but it might be considered too long... the Dead's version can be much more fulfilling.