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Songs covered by the Grateful Dead

The songs listed below were covered by the Grateful Dead. The list includes songs, part songs, jams based on songs, teases, etc. For the purposes of this page a cover is defined as a song that was not written or co-written by a member of the Grateful Dead (including Robert Hunter).

If a song was played at a show, soundcheck, or rehearsal either in full or in part then there will be a "Yes" in the Live column. If a song has been included on any type of official release then there will be a "Yes" in the Released column. The Notes column provides additional information for some of the songs. More extensive notes are usually available on the individual song pages.

A full list of songs played by the Grateful Dead, including covers and songs composed by band members, is available on the Grateful Dead song list page.

Additions, corrections and comments are welcome


Go to songs starting with : A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ

Songs covered by the Dead


  1-9

Live


Released


Notes

info 26 Miles (Santa Catalina) tuningYes      -Tuning Sept 26, 1972

  A


Live



Released



Notes

info Addams Family tuning
Yes      -Tuning 1987
info Ain't That Peculiar
Yes      -Soundcheck only in 1993
info Alabama Bound
Yes      -Soundcheck only in 1993
info Alfred Hitchcock Presents Theme tuning
Yes      -Tuning 1976
info All Along The Watchtower
Yes    Yes-
info All I Have To Do Is Dream
Yes      -Possibly played once in 1969
info All I Really Want To Do
Yes      -Rehearsal only 1987
info All Of My Love
Yes      -Unknown or misnamed song
info And We Bid You Good Night
Yes    Yes-
info Are You Lonely For Me Baby?
Yes    YesPerformed once in 1972
info Around And Around
Yes    Yes-

  B


Live



Released



Notes

info Baba O'Riley
Yes    Yes-
info (Baby) Hully Gully
Yes      -Performed once in 1981
info Baby What You Want Me To Do
Yes      --
info Bad Moon Rising
Yes      -Performed once in 1991
info Ballad Of A Thin Man
Yes    Yes-
info Ballad Of Casey Jones
Yes    Yes-
info The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest
Yes      --
info Ballad Of Ira Hayes
Yes      -Rehearsed only in 1987
info Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
Yes      -Performed twice in 1987
info Banks Of The Ohio
Yes      -Performed once in 1981
info Barbara Allen
Yes      -Performed twice in 1981
info Beat It On Down The Line
Yes    Yes-
info Beer Barrel Polka
Yes    YesFrequently noodled
info Betty And Dupree
Yes    Yes-
info Big Boss Man
Yes    Yes-
info Big Boy Pete
Yes      --
info Big Breasa
Yes      -Unknown or misnamed song
info Big Railroad Blues
Yes    Yes-
info Big River
Yes    Yes-
info Black Queen
Yes      --
info Blackbird
Yes      -Performed twice in 1988
info Blue Moon
Yes      -Performed once in 1969
info Blue Suede Shoes
Yes      -Soundchecks only in 1973
info Blues Stay Away From Me
Yes      -Rehearsed only in 1987
info Bo Diddley
Yes      -Performed once in 1972
info Born On The Bayou
Yes      -Performed once in 1991
info The Boxer
Yes      -Performed once in 1981
info Boy In The Bubble
Yes      -Rehearsed only in 1987
info Bring Me My Shotgun
Yes      --
info Broken Arrow
Yes    Yes-
info Bye Bye Love
Yes      -Performed twice in 1981

  C


Live



Released



Notes

info C C Rider
Yes    Yes-
info California Earthquake (Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On)
Yes    Yes-
info Camptown Races tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Casey Jones (Traditional song)
Yes    Yes-
info Catfish John
  -    YesStudio outtake 1976
info Cathy's Clown
Yes      -Possibly played in 1969/1970
info Checkin' Up On My Baby
Yes      -Performed once in 1969
info Chevrolet
Yes      -Performed at least once in 1967
info Children Of The Eighties
Yes      -Performed twice in 1981
info Chimes Of Freedom
Yes      --
info Chinese Bones
Yes      -Performed once in 1988
info Close Encounters Jam
Yes      --
info Cold Jordan
Yes    YesCorrect title Jordan
info Cold Rain And Snow
Yes    Yes-
info Come Back Baby
Yes      -Possibly played in 1966
info Country Gardens (aka In An English Country Garden)
Yes      -Fragment played in 1990
info Cowboy Song
Yes      -Played once in 1970

  D


Live



Released



Notes

info Dancing In The Street
Yes    Yes-
info Dark Hollow
Yes    Yes-
info Darkness Jam
Yes      --
info Darling Corey
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info A Day In The Life
Yes      -Soundcheck only in July 1994
info Day Tripper
Yes      --
info Dead Man, Dead Man
Yes      --
info Dear Mr. Fantasy
Yes    Yes-
info Dear Prudence Jam
Yes      -Played once in 1982
info Death Don't Have No Mercy
Yes    Yes-
info Death Letter Blues
Yes      -Possibly played once in 1968
info Deep Elem Blues
Yes    Yes-
info Desolation Row
Yes    Yes-
info Devil With The Blue Dress On
Yes      --
no_info DixieYes      -During tuning in 1972
info Do You Believe In Magic?
Yes      -Possibly played in 1966
info Do You Wanna Dance?
Yes      -Performed once in 1987
info Don't Blame My Mother
  -      -Recorded but not released
info Don't Ease Me In
Yes    Yes-
info Don't Keep Me Waiting Too Long (see Go Ahead Baby)
Yes      -Rehearsed but not performed in 1987
info Don't Mess Up A Good Thing
Yes    Yes-
info Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
Yes      -Performed once in 1986
info Down In The Bottom
Yes      --
info Drink Up And Go Home
Yes      -Performed once in 1970

  E


Live



Released



Notes

info Early Morning Rain
Yes    Yes-
info Eighteen Children
Yes      -See Say Boss Man
info El Paso
Yes    Yes-
info Empty Heart
Yes    Yes-
info The Entertainer tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Everytime You Go Away
Yes      -Performed once in 1988

  F


Live



Released



Notes

info Far Above Cayuga's Waters tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Feelin' Groovy Jam
Yes      --
info Fever
Yes      -Played once in 1987
info Fire In The City
  -    YesSingle w/ Jon Hendricks
info Flibberty Jib
Yes      -Played once in 1993
info The Flood (?)
Yes      -Possibly played in 1970
info Folsom Prison Blues
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Footprints
Yes      -Quoted in 1972
info Forever Young
Yes      -Played once in 1991
info Foxy Lady Jam
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info The French Girl
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info The Frozen Logger
Yes      --
info Funeral March Of A Marionette (Hitchcock Theme) tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Funiculi Funicula
Yes    YesTuning only

  G


Live



Released



Notes

info Games People Play
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Gangster Of Love
Yes    Yes-
info Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1969
info Get Back
Yes      -Played once in 1987
info Gimme Some Lovin'
Yes    Yes-
info The Girl From Ipanema
Yes      -Played during a rehearsal jam in 1975
info Gloria
Yes    Yes-
info Go Ahead Baby
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
Yes    Yes-
info Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Good Day Sunshine
Yes      -Possibly never played
info Good Golly Miss Molly
Yes      --
info Good Lovin'
Yes    Yes-
info Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Yes    Yes-
info Good Times (aka Let The Good Times Roll)
Yes    Yes-
info Goodnight Irene
Yes      -Played once in 1983
info Got My Mojo Workin
Yes    Yes-
info Gotta Serve Somebody
Yes    Yes-
info Green Green Grass Of Home
Yes      --
info Green Onions
Yes      -Played once in 1988
info Green River
Yes      -Played once in 1991

  H


Live



Released



Notes

info Handsome Cabin Boy Jam
Yes      -Fragmentary jams only
info Happy Birthday, Leonid Brezhnev
  -    YesRecorded but not released
info Happy Birthday tuning
Yes      --
info Hard To Handle
Yes    Yes-
info He Was A Friend Of Mine
Yes    Yes-
info Heads Up
Yes      --
info Heart Of Mine
Yes      -Performed once in 1987
info Help Me Rhonda
Yes      -Performed once in 1971
info Hey Bo Diddley
Yes    Yes-
info Hey Jude
Yes    Yes-
info Hey Little One
Yes    Yes-
info Hey Pocky Way
Yes    Yes-
info Hi-Heel Sneakers
Yes      --
info Hide Away
Yes      --
info Highway 61 Revisited
Yes      --
info Hitchcock Theme tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Hoochie Coochie Man
Yes      -Soundcheck only in 1995
info How Long Blues
Yes      -Two different songs?
info How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1972
info Hully Gully
Yes      -Played once in 1981

  I


Live



Released



Notes

info I Ain't Superstitous
Yes      --
info (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Yes    Yes-
info I Fought The Law
Yes    Yes-
info I Got A Mind To Give Up Livin'
Yes      -Played once in 1982
info I Hear A Voice Calling
Yes    YesCorrect title A Voice From On High
info I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Yes      -Played once in 1986
info I Just Want To Make Love To You
Yes    Yes-
info I Know It's A Sin
Yes      --
info I Know You Rider
Yes    Yes-
info I Second That Emotion
Yes    Yes-
info I Want To Tell You
Yes      --
info I Want You
Yes    Yes-
info I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
Yes      -Played once in 1971
info I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Yes      --
info I'll Go Crazy
Yes      --
info I'm A Hog For You
Yes    Yes-
info I'm A King Bee
Yes    Yes-
info I'm A Man (1)
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1972
info I'm A Man (2)
Yes      -Played once in 1989
info (I'm A) Road Runner
Yes      --
info I'm Free
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info I've Been All Around This World
Yes    Yes-
info I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info I've Just Seen A Face
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info I've Seen Them All
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1972
info If Not For You
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Iko Iko
Yes    Yes-
info In The Midnight Hour
Yes    Yes-
info In The Pines
Yes    Yes-
info In The Summertime
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Into The Mystic
Yes      -Soundcheck only in 1995
info The Island
Yes      -Played once in 1993
info It Hurts Me Too
Yes    Yes-
info It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Yes    Yes-
info It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World
Yes    Yes-
info It's A Sin
Yes      --
info It's All Over Now
Yes    Yes-
info It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Yes    Yes-
info It's All Too Much
Yes      --
info It's My Own Fault
Yes      -Possibly played only once in 1966
info Itsy Bitsy Spider tuning
Yes      -Tuning only

  J


Live



Released



Notes

info Jack-A-Roe
Yes    Yes-
info Jingle Bells tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Joey
Yes    Yes-
info John Brown
Yes      --
info John Hardy
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info John's Other
Yes      -Performed once in 1970
info Johnny B. Goode
Yes    Yes-
info Jordan
Yes    Yes-
info Just A Hand To Hold
Yes    Yesaka He Was A Friend Of Mine
info Just Kissed My Baby jam
Yes      -Played once in 1975
info Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Yes    Yes-

  K


Live



Released



Notes

info KC Moan
Yes      -Played once in 1978
info Kansas City
Yes      --
info Katie Mae
Yes    Yes-
info Keep On Growing
Yes      --
info Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Yes    Yes-

  L


Live



Released



Notes

info La Bamba
Yes    Yes-
info Lady Di and I
Yes      --
info The Last Time
Yes    Yes-
info Let It Be Me
Yes      -Possibly played once in 1969
info Let It Rock
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1974
info Let Me In
Yes      --
info Linda Lu
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1979
info Little Bunny Foo Foo tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Little Red Rooster
Yes    Yes-
info Little Sadie
Yes    Yes-
info Long Black Limousine
Yes    Yes-
info Long Tall Sally
Yes      -Played once in 1988
info Look On Yonder Wall
Yes      --
info Louie Louie
Yes      --
info A Love Supreme
Yes      -Quoted in 1976
info Love The One You're With
Yes      -Played once in 1983
info Lucifer's Eyes
Yes      -Performed/recorded with Joan Baez
info Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Yes      --

  M


Live



Released



Notes

info Mack The Knife
Yes      -Partially played once
info Maggie's Farm
Yes    Yes-
info Mama Tried
Yes    Yes-
info Man Of Peace
Yes    Yes-
info Man Smart (Woman Smarter)
Yes    Yes-
info Marriott USA
Yes      -Played once in 1981
info Matilda, Matilda
Yes      --
info Me And Bobby McGee
Yes    Yes-
info Me And My Uncle
Yes    Yes-
info The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down
Yes    YesTuning only
info Mexican Hat Dance tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info The Mighty Flood
Yes      -aka Tupelo Blues: played once in 1970
info The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
Yes    Yes-
info Mona
Yes    Yes-
info Monkey And The Engineer
Yes    Yes-
info Morning Dew
Yes    Yes-
info Mountain Jam
Yes      --
info Mr. Tambourine Man
Yes      --
info Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel In)Yes      -During tuning in 1972
info My Babe
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info My Baby Left Me
Yes      -Partially played once
info My Old Kentucky Home
Yes      -Quoted in 1974
info Mystery Train
Yes      -Played once in 1970

  N


Live



Released



Notes

info Neighbor, Neighbor
Yes      -Soundcheck only 1995
info Neighbourhood Girls
Yes      -Played once in 1988
info New Minglewood Blues
Yes    Yes-
info New Orleans
Yes      --
info Next Time You See Me
Yes    Yes-
info Nobody's Fault But Mine
Yes    Yes-
info Not Fade Away
Yes    Yes-

  O


Live



Released



Notes

info Ode For Billie Dean
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie
Yes    Yes-
info Oh Boy
Yes    YesPossibly played only once
info Okie From Muskogee
Yes      -Played once in 1971
info Old, Old House
Yes      --
info Ol' Slewfoot
Yes      --
info Ollin Arrageed
Yes    Yes-
info On The Road Again
Yes    Yes-
info One Kind Favor
Yes    Yes-
info One Way Out
Yes      -Soundcheck only
info Overseas Stomp (Lindbergh Hop)
Yes    Yes-

  P


Live



Released



Notes

info Pain In My Heart
Yes    Yes-
info Paperback Writer
Yes      -Soundcheck only 1995
info Parchman Farm
Yes      -Played once in 1966
info Peanut Butter
Yes      -Improvised at a rehearsal in 1976
info Peggy-O
Yes    Yes-
info Peggy Sue
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Phil and Ned
Yes    Yes-
info Pipeline
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Pledging My Time
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Pollution
Yes      -Played once in 1972
info Prisoner Blues
Yes      -aka Prisoner Of Love
info The Promised Land
Yes    Yes-
info Proud Mary
Yes      -Played once in 1991
info (Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music!Yes      -During tuning in 1972

  Q


Live



Released



Notes

info Queen Jane Approximately
Yes    Yes-

  R


Live



Released



Notes

info The Race Is On
Yes    Yes-
info Railroading On The Great Divide
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Rain
Yes      --
info Rainy Day Women #12 And #35
Yes      --
info Revolution
Yes    Yes-
info Riot In Cell Block #9
Yes      -Played once in 1971
info Rip It Up
Yes      -Soundcheck only in 1973
info River Deep, Mountain High
Yes      -Soundcheck only in 1976
info Roberta
Yes      --
info Rockin' Pneumonia and The Boogie Woogie Flu
Yes    Yes-
info Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Rollin' And Tumblin'
Yes      --
info Rosalie McFall
Yes    Yes-
info The Rub
Yes    Yesaka Ain't It Crazy
info Run Rudolph Run
Yes    Yes-

  S


Live



Released



Notes

info Salt Lake City
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1995
info The Same Thing
Yes    Yes-
info Samson And Delilah
Yes    Yes-
info Sawmill
Yes      --
info Say Boss Man
Yes      -Played once in 1972
info Searchin'
Yes      --
info Seasons Of My Heart
Yes    Yes-
info Seastones (aka Phil & Ned)
Yes    Yes-
info Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power)
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Sgt. Pepper's Band
Yes      -Played once in 1981
info She Belongs To Me
Yes    Yes-
info She's Mine
Yes    Yes-
info Shelter From The Storm
Yes      -Played once in 1987
info Shenandoah Jam
Yes      -Played once in 1992
info Sick And Tired
Yes    Yes-
info Sidewalks Of New York
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1972
info Silver Threads And Golden Needle
Yes    Yes-
info Simple Twist Of Fate
Yes      --
info Sing Me Back Home
Yes    Yes-
info Sittin' On Top Of The World
Yes    Yes-
info Sleigh Ride
Yes      -Theme played at shoundcheck in 1973
info Slow Blues
Yes      -Unidentified blues played in 1972
info Slow Train
Yes    Yes-
info Smokestack Lightnin'
Yes    Yes-
info So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info So What Jam
Yes      -Played once in 1988
info Spoonful
Yes    Yes-
info Spring Song tuning
Yes    YesTuning Only
info Standing On The Corner
Yes    Yes-
info The Star-Spangled Banner
Yes      -Tuning only
info Stars And Stripes Forever tuning
Yes    YesTuning only
info Start Me Up
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1995
info Stayin' Alive jam
Yes      -Played once in 1978
info Stealin'
Yes    Yes-
info Stir It Up
Yes      --
info Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Yes    Yes-
info Sugar Shack
Yes      -Probably never played
info Sweet Betsy From PikeYes      -During tuning in 1975
info Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Yes      --

  T


Live



Released



Notes

info Take It All Off
Yes      -Played once in 1972
info Take Me Out To The Ballgame tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Take Me To The River
Yes      --
info Tangled Up In Blue
Yes      --
info Teddy Bears Picnic tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Tell It To Me
Yes      --
info Tell Mama
Yes      -Played with Etta James in 1982
info That Would Be Something
Yes    Yes-
info That'll Be The Day
Yes    Yes-
info That's All Right, Mama
Yes    Yes-
info That's All Right
Yes      -aka Who's Loving You Tonight?
info There's Something On Your Mind
Yes      --
info They Killed Him
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info The Things I Used To Do
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Thirty Days
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1973
info Tico Tico tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Tighten Up Jam
Yes      --
info The Times They Are A-Changin'
Yes      --
no info Tocatta & Fugue in D Minor (Bach) tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Tom Dooley
Yes    YesPlayed once in 1978
info Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Yes      --
info Tomorrow Is Forever
Yes    Yes-
info Tomorrow Never Knows
Yes    Yes-
info Topsy
  -      -Played at rehearsal in 1992
info Tough Mama
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1995
info Tubular Bells jam
Yes      -Played once in 1993
info Tupelo Blues
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info Turn On Your Lovelight
Yes    Yes-
info Twist And Shout
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Two Trains Running
Yes      --

  U


Live



Released



Notes

info Uncle Sam Blues
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info Under Your Spell
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Union Sundown
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987

  V


Live



Released



Notes

info Viola Lee Blues
Yes    Yes-
info Visions Of Johanna
Yes    Yes-
info A Voice From On High
Yes    Yes-

  W


Live



Released



Notes

info Wabash Cannonball
Yes      -Played once in 1969
info Wake Up Little Susie
Yes    Yes-
info Walk Down The Street
Yes      -Misnamed or not played
info Walkin' Blues
Yes    Yes-
info Walkin' Down The Line
Yes      -Rehearsed in 1987
info Walking The Dog
Yes    Yes-
info Wang Dang Doodle
Yes    Yes-
info Warriors Of The Sun
Yes      -Performed once in 1981
info Watching The River Flow
Yes      --
info Watching The Wheels
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1995
info We Bid You Good Night
Yes    Yes-
info The Weight
Yes    Yes-
info Werewolves Of London
Yes    Yes-
info What's Going On?
Yes      -Played once in 1988
info When A Man Loves A Woman
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1995
info When I Paint My Masterpiece
Yes    Yes-
info Whiskey In The Jar
Yes    YesRehearsed in 1993
info White Rabbit Tease
Yes      -Teased but not performed
info Who Do You Love
Yes    Yes-
info Who's Lovin' You
Yes      -Correct title That's All Right
info Why Don't We Do It In The Road
Yes      --
info The Wicked Messenger
Yes      -Played once in 1987
info Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Yes      -Played once in 1970
info Willie And The Hand Jive
Yes      --
info Winin' Boy Blues
Yes      --
info Workin' Man Blues
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1973
info Wow Wow Hey Hey
Yes      -Correct title You Know I Love You

  Y


Live



Released



Notes

info Yankee Doodle tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info Yellow Rose Of Texas tuning
Yes      -Tuning only
info You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)
Yes    Yes-
info You Don't Love Me
Yes      --
info You Know I Love You So (aka Wow Wow Hey Hey)
Yes      -Played once in 1972
info You Win Again
Yes    Yes-
info Young Blood
Yes      -Soundcheck in 1980
info Your Love At Home
Yes      -Probably never played

  Z


Live



Released



Notes

info Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah tuning
Yes      -Tuning only



Last updated September 2022