My Favorite DMB Covers - The List

Here's the list in its entirety for easy viewing:

1. All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan)
2. Down By The River (Neil Young)
3. Rye Whiskey (Tex Ritter)
4. Still Water (Daniel Lanois)
5. The Maker (Daniel Lanois)

Honorable Mention: Long Black Veil (Lefty Frizzell)

4. Still Water (Daniel Lanois)

This is another song originally performed by Daniel Lanois that tricked me into believing it was a Dave original. With the same feel as "The Maker," "Still Water" is another beautifully haunting piece Dave performs perfectly with a voice that caresses each syllable with grace and ease. With more biblical references and gorgeous guitar riffing, there's not much more I can ask for in a cover. Dave has used this song to open into "Don't Drink The Water" on more than one occasion, making it an electrifying and suspense building piece with a bubbling energy just underneath the lyrics.

Title: Still Water
Original Artist: Daniel Lanois
Why I Love It: I love this song on its own, but as an opening piece into "Don't Drink The Water," it is perfect. The swell of emotion under the song with Carter's rhythmic percussion and Dave's strumming make a subtly intense segue into another amazing song by the band. Lanois' hauntingly beautiful lyrics here again are masterfully sung by Dave, giving the song a quality that sends goosebumps all over my body and shivers down my spine.
Memories: Though it wasn't the first time I heard the song, my fondest memory of this song comes from the band's performance in Charlottesville in 2010. Dave sang "Still Water" as the band gradually dropped out and quietly Dave faded out only to have the band erupt into a rousing rendition of "Don't Drink The Water."
Favorite Lyric: Wild eyes in the wilderness/ Where're you going with the devil in hand?

5. The Maker (Daniel Lanois)

This song, from the first time I heard it, haunted me with its beautiful, deep lyrics. For an embarrassingly long time, I thought that this song was a Dave original, only come to find out it was originally written and performed by Daniel Lanois. The lyrics remind me so much of something Dave would write, I never questioned it's origin until I was listening to Live Trax Vol. 11 and he introduced the song as a cover. As you'll see soon enough, Dave has covered Daniel Lanois before, perhaps for the stirring lyrics and beautiful sweeping verses with biblical references galore.

Title: The Maker

Original Artist: Daniel Lanois

Why I Love It: The fact that this song sounds like an original by Dave and the natural, beautiful way he sings the lyrics make me fall in love with this song anew each time I hear it. Dave's vocals are so delicate, his guitar's constant strumming, Carter's snare heavy beats and LeRoi's gorgeous saxophone playing create an entrancing melody I find myself getting lost in.

Memories: The first time I really paid attention to this song was when I heard Dave and Tim's rendition on the Live At Radio City album. As a matter of fact, I remember I was sitting in By George at the University of Washington between classes and this song began to play. Since then it's been on my radar as a beautiful song that I'm always interested in hearing on quiet days or when I need a break from the loudness of the world.

Favorite Lyric: I have seen the flaming swords/ There over East of Eden/ burning in the eyes of the Maker