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China Cat Sunflower
Composer: Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter

China Cat Sunflower was one of the first two lyrics provided by Robert Hunter for the Dead. He spoke about sending the lyrics to the group in an interview:
I moved out to New Mexico to be an artist about the time the Dead really started. I wrote Alligator and China Cat Sunflower, and I knew they had a rock 'n' roll band so I mailed them up.
In an interview, with Blair Jackson, Hunter commented on the writing of the song;
I wrote it in different settings and added this and that to it. It was originally inspired by Dame Edith Sitwell, who had a way with words. I liked the idea of quick, clicky assonance and alliteration like 'See me dance the polka, said My Wag, like a bear, with my top hat and my whiskers, that tra-la-la trapped affair.' I just liked the way she put things together. I'd have to admit that - before you could trace it back.
In his book of lyrics, Box Of Rain Hunter's comment for China Cat Sunflower is;
Nobody ever asked me the meaning of this song. People seem to know exactly what I'm talking about. It's good that a few things in this world are clear to all of us.
China Cat Sunflower was first performed by the Grateful Dead in January 1968. From then on it was played regularly through to October 1974. After the group hiatus in 1975 China Cat did not return to the repertoire until December 1977 for a single outing. It then disappeared again until February 1979 when it returned to a regular position in the repertoire. The final Grateful Dead performance of the song was in July 1995. From October 1969 onward China Cat Sunflower was nearly always performed in tandem with I Know You Rider.


Grateful Dead

info Aoxomoxoa, 1969
info Europe '72, 1972
info Without A Net, 1990
info Hundred Year Hall, 1995
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 4, 1996
info Terrapin Station (Limited Edition), 1997
info Downhill from Here (video), 1997
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 10, 1998
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 11, 1998
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 12, 1998
info So Many Roads (1965-1995), 1999
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 16, 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 19, 2000
info Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Grateful Dead, 2000
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 22, 2001
info The Golden Road (1965-1973), 2001
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 23, 2001
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 24, 2002
info Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: England '72, July 2002
info View From The Vault III, 2002
info View From The Vault III (DVD), 2002
info Go To Nassau, 2002
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 26, 2002
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 28, 2003
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 30, 2003
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 31, 2004
info Rockin' The Rhein, 2004
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 32, 2004
info Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack, 2004
info The Grateful Dead Movie (extended DVD), 2004
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 35, 2005
info Dick's Picks, Vol. 36, 2005
info Fillmore West 1969 Bonus Disc, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 2: 1/18/70, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 6: 3/17/68, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 8: 12/10/73, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download A Night At The Family Dog 2/4/70, 2005
info Grateful Dead Download Vol. 10: 7/21/72, 2006
info Three From The Vault, 2007
info A Night At The Family Dog (DVD), Various Artists, 2007
info Eternally Grateful, 2007
info Road Trips: Vol 1, Number 1: Fall 1979 Bonus CD, 2007
info Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings, 2008
info Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings: Bonus CD, 2008
info Road Trips: Vol 1, Number 3: Summer 1971, 2008
info Road Trips Download: Philadelphia, Nov 5, 1979, 2008
info Road Trips: Vol 2, No. 1: MSG, Sept 1990, 2008
info Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: Feb 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom, 2009
info Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: Feb 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom Bonus CD, 2009
info Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 3: June 1974, Wall Of Sound, 2009
info Taking Woodstock Soundtrack, Various Artists, 2009
info Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 2: Austin, Nov 15, 1971 Bonus CD, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 3: Fillmore East, 5/15/70, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 4: Penn State/Cornell, 1980, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 4, No 1: Big Rock Pow Wow 69, 2010
info Road Trips: Vol 4, Number 2: April Fool's '88, 2011
info Road Trips: 2011 Bonus Disc, 2011
info Flashback With The Grateful Dead, 2011
info Europe '72, The Complete Recordings, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 4/7/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Newcastle, 4/11/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Aarhus, 4/16/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Copenhagen, 4/17/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Dusseldorf, 4/24/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Frankfurt, 4/26/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Hamburg, 4/29/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Paris, 5/3/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Bickershaw Festival, 5/7/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Amsterdam, 5/10/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Rotterdam, 5/11/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Lille, 5/13/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Luxembourg, 5/16/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: Munich, 5/18/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/23/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/24/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/25/1972, 2011
info Europe '72: London, 5/26/1972, 2011
info All The Years Combine: The DVD Collection, 2012 (bonus song)
info Dave's Picks Vol 2: Hartford, CT, 7/31/74, 2012
info Spring 1990 (box set), 2012
info Dave's Picks Vol. 5: Pauley Pavilion, 17/11/73, 2013
info Dave's Picks Vol. 6: 12/20/69 & 2/2/70, 2013
info Dave's Picks Bonus CD 2013, 2013
info Sunshine Daydream, Veneta, 8/27/72, 2013
info Complete Studio Albums Collection, 2013
info Live Albums Collection, 2013
info Dave's Picks Vol 10, 2014
info Dave's Picks Vol. 11, 2014
info Spring 1990 (The Other One), 2014
info Dave's Picks Vol 13, 2015
info Dave's Picks Bonus CD 2015
info The Best Of The Grateful Dead, 2015
info 30 Trips Around The Sun Box Set, 2015
info Dave's Picks Vol 16, 2015
info Dave's Picks Vol 19, 2016
info Dave's Picks Vol 20, 2016
info Dave's Picks Vol 21, 2017
info Dave's Picks Bonus CD 2017
info Long Strange Trip, 2017
info Long Strange Trip: Highlights, 2017
info Smiling On A Cloudy Day, 2017
info Pacific Northwest '73-'74: Complete Recordings, 2018
info Pacific Northwest '73–'74: Believe It If You Need It, 2018
info Portland Mem. Col. 5/19/74, 2018
info Dave's Picks Vol 30: Fillmore East, 2/1/70, 2019
info Aoxomoxoa (50th Anniv. Edition), 2019
info Giants Stadium 1987/1989/1991, 2019
info Dave's Picks Vol 32: Philadelphia, 3/24/73, 2019
info Dave's Picks Bonus CD 2020, 2020
info Workingman's Dead (50th Anniv. Edition), 2020
info Dave's Picks Vol 35: Philadelphia, 4/20/1984, 2020
info The Story Of The Grateful Dead, 2020
info Dave's Picks Vol 36: Hartford, 3/26&27/1987, 2020
info Dave's Picks Vol 38: Nassau Col, 9/8/73, 2021
info Olympia Theatre, Paris, 5/3/1972, 2021
info Listen to the River: St. Louis '71 '72 '73, 2021
info Dave's Picks Vol 40 Deer Creek, 7/18&19/90, 2021
info Dave's Picks Bonus CD 2022, 2022
info Lyceum '72: The Complete Recordings, 2022
info Dave's Picks Volume 43: 11/2/69 & 12/26/69, 2022
info In and Out of the Garden: '81, '82, '83, 2022
info Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 3/9/81, 2022
info Wembley Empire Pool, 4/7/1972, 2022
info Dave's Picks Vol 46 Hollywood Palladium, 9/9/72, 2023
info Dave's Picks 2023 Bonus CD, 2023
info Here Comes Sunshine 1973, 2023

Fare Thee Well shows 2015

info Fare Thee Well July 3, 4 & 5 2015 Complete Box, 2015
info Fare Thee Well July 5, 2015
info The Best Of Fare Thee Well, 2015

The Dead

info Saratoga Springs, NY, June 20, 2003
info Camden, NJ, June 27, 2003
info Austin, TX, July 4, 2003
info Morrison, CO, July 11, 2003
info Atlanta, GA, July 31, 2003
info Mountain View, CA, September 19, 2003
info Oakland, CA, December 31, 2004
info Morrison, CO, June 15, 2004
info Morrison, CO, June 20, 2004
info Boise, ID, July 1 , 2004
info East Troy, WI, July 24, 2004
info Boston, MA, July 30, 2004
info Camden, NJ, August 7, 2004
info Wantagh, NY, August 14, 2004
info Atlanta, GA, August 19, 2004
info Dead '09: Worcester, MA April 18, 2009
info Dead '09: New York, NY, April 25, 2009
info Dead '09: Chicago, IL, May 4, 2009
info Dead '09: Mountain View, CA, May 14, 2009

The Other Ones

info The Strange Remain, The Other Ones, 1999

Furthur

info Dec 11, 2009, Wallingford, CT
info Dec 30, 2009, San Francisco, CA
info Feb 5, 2010, Miami, FL
info Feb 14, 2010, Ithaca, NY
info Feb 20, 2010, Utica, NY
info Feb 27, 2010, Atlantic City, NJ
info Mar 3, 2010, Chicago, IL
info Mar 8, 2010, Portland, OR
info May 30, 2010, Angels Camp, CA
info June 26, 2010, Brooklyn, NY
info June 30, 2010, Lowell, MA
info July 5, 2010, Stroudsburg, PA
info July 10, 2010, Philadelphia, PA
info September 16, 2010, Eugene, OR
info September 21, 2010, Los Angeles, CA
info November 9, 2010, Ames, IA
info November 16, 2010, Reading, PA
info December 30, 2010, San Francisco, CA
info March 5, 2011, Boston, MA
info March 15, 2011, New York, NY
info March 18, 2011, Upper Darby, PA
info March 25, 2011, New York, NY
info April 1, 2011, Hampton, VA
info April 6, 2011, Boca Raton, FL
info June 4, 2011, Mountain View, CA
info July 15, 2011, Masontown, WV
info July 31, 2011, Alpharetta, GA
info Sept 24, 2011, Eugene, OR
info Sept 30, 2011, Morrison, CO
info Oct 4, 2011, Las Vegas, NV
info Nov 4, 2011, Portland, ME
info Nov 13, 2011, Buffalo, NY
info Nov 19, 2011, Madison, WI
info Dec 29, 2011, San Francisco, CA
info April 7, 2012, Wallingford, CT
info April 12, 2012, New York, NY
info April 21, 2012, Live Oak
info July 7, 2012, Philadelphia, PA
info July 18, 2012, Rochester Hills, MI
info September 22, 2012, Morrison, CO
info September 30, 2012, Mountain View, CA
info October 5, 2012, Los Angeles, CA
info December 29, 2012, San Francisco, CA
info January 16, 2013, Mill Valley, CA
info April 21, 2013, Port Chester, NY
info April 25, 2013, Port Chester, NY
info July 16, 2013, Gilford, NH
info Sept 19, 2013, Morrison, CO
info Sept 27, 2013, Berkeley, CA
info Oct 1, 2013, Las Vegas, NV

Dead & Company

info San Francisco, CA, 23 May, 2016
info Cincinnati, OH, 16 June, 2016
info Saratoga Springs, NY, 21 June, 2016
info Flushing, NY, 26 June, 2016
info Boulder, CO, 03 July, 2016
info Burgettstown, PA, 13 July, 2016
info Portland, OR, 22 July, 2016
info Wheatland, CA, 29 July, 2016
info Relix Sampler April/May 2017, Various Artists, 2017
info Las Vegas, NV, 27 May, 2017
info Mountain View, CA, 3 Jun, 2017
info Boulder, CO, 10 Jun, 2017
info Saratoga Springs, NY, 20 Jun, 2017
info Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 28 Jun, 2017
info New York, NY, 12 Nov, 2017
info Boston, MA, 19 Nov, 2017
info Columbus, OH, 25 Nov, 2017
info Austin, TX, 2 Dec, 2017
info Riviera Maya, MX, 17 Feb, 2018
info Orlando, FL, 27 Feb, 2018
info Cincinnati, OH, 4 Jun, 2018
info Hartford, CT, 13 Jun, 2018
info East Troy, WI, 23 Jun, 2018
info Mountain View, CA, 3 July, 2018
info Boulder, CO, 14 July, 2018
info Arrington, VA, 25 Aug, 2018
info Riviera Maya, MX, 17 Jan, 2019
info Mountain View, CA, 1 Jun, 2019
info Chicago, IL, 14 Jun, 2019
info Camden, NJ, 20 Jun, 2019
info Bristow, VA, 26 Jun, 2019
info Boulder, CO, 5 Jul, 2019
info New York, NY, 1 Nov, 2019
info Hampton, VA, 8 Nov, 2019
info Los Angeles, CA, 28 Dec, 2019
info Cancún, MX, 19 Jan, 2020
info New York, NY, Aug 20, 2021
info Darien Center, NY, Aug 25, 2021
info Hartford, CT, Sep 5, 2021
info Clarkston, MI, Sep 10, 2021
info Chicago, IL, Sep 18, 2021
info Lakewood, Atlanta, GA, Oct 12, 2021
info Englewood, CO, Oct 22, 2021
info Los Angeles, CA, Oct 30, 2021
info Los Angeles, CA, June 11, 2022
info Boulder, CO, June 18, 2022
info Clarkston, MI, June 29, 2022
info Philadelphia, PA, July 10, 2022
info New York, NY, July 15, 2022
info Riviera Cancún, Mexico, Jan 17, 2023
info Atlanta, GA, May 28, 2023
info Burgettstown, PA, June 5, 2023
info Cincinnati, OH, June 13, 2023
info New York, NY, June 21, 2023
info Noblesville, IN, June 27, 2023
info Boulder, CO, July 2, 2023
info San Francisco, CA, July 14, 2023

Ratdog

info Philadelphia PA: October 16, 2003
info Geneva NY: October 28, 2003
info Detroit MI: November 6, 2003
info Des Moines IA: November 13, 2003
info Little Rock AR: November 19, 2003
info San Diego CA, February 27, 2004
info Portland OR, March 5, 2004
info Boulder CO, March 16, 2004
info Worcester MA, April 2, 2004
info Tulsa OK, September 15, 2004Ratdog, 2004
info Cleveland OH, April 5, 2005
info Providence RI, April 20, 2005
info Covington, KY, June 8, 2005
info South Burlington, VT, August 24, 2005
info Baltimore, MD, November 2, 2005
info Asheville, NC, November 14, 2005
info Reno, NV, December 14, 2005
info Philadelphia, PA, March 24, 2006
info Atlantic City, NJ, August 18, 2006
info St. Paul MN, October 22, 2006
info Westbury NY, October 31, 2006
info St. Petersburg FL, November 17, 2006
info Vancouver BC, February 18, 2007
info Greensburg PA, March 4, 2007
info Jim Thorpe PA, March 16, 2007
info San Francisco CA, April 22, 2007
info Lincoln RI, July 11, 2007
info Council Bluffs IA, July 20, 2007
info Camden NJ, August 17, 2007
info Lebanon, NH, October 28, 2007
info Charlotte, NC, November 8, 2007
info Covington, KY, March 25, 2008
info New York, NY, April 4, 2008
Jacksonville, OR, July 6, 2008
info San Jose, CA, July 9, 2008
info Canandaigua, NY, August 22, 2008
info Washington, DC, November 5, 2008
info Boca Raton, FL, November 22, 2008
info Negril, Jamaica, January 29, 2009
info Masontown, WV, July 10, 2009
info Hampton Beach, NH, July 23, 2009
info Missoula, MT, August 26, 2009
info Santa Margarita, CA, September 6, 2009
info Negril, Jamaica, January 24, 2010
info Boston, MA, February 24, 2014
info Port Chester, NY, March 2, 2014
info Nashville, TN, March 15, 2014
info Hyannis, MA, June 7, 2014

Billy & The Kids

info 3/27/15, The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, Billy & The Kids, 2015
info 9/10/15, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, VA, Billy & The Kids, 2015
info 7/12/21, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO, Billy & The Kids, 2021

Weir/Robinson/Greene Trio

info May 29, 2012, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Ashville,NC, 2012
info June 3, 2012, Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Bellvue, CO, 2012

Phil Lesh

info Instant Live: June 23, 2006, Tampa, FL, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2006
info Instant Live: June 27, 2006, Asheville, NC, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2006
info Instant Live: June 30, 2006, Camden, NJ, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2006
info Instant Live: July 7, 2006, Wantagh, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2006
info Instant Live: July 11, 2006, Scranton, PA, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2006
info Instant Live: July 14, 2006, Columbus, OH, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2006
info April 4, 2014, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info April 10, 2014, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info May 29, 2014, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info September 5, 2014, Arrington, VA, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info November 1, 2014, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info November 21, 2014, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info November 28, 2014, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2014
info December 30, 2014: Port Chester, NY, PhilRAD, 2014
info March 18, 2015, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2015
info October 30, 2015, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2015
info November 5, 2015, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2015
info March 17, 2016, Port Chester, NY, Phil Lesh & Friends, 2016

 
Other recordings

info Swingin' To The Grateful Dead, Various Artists, 1999
info Spirit Trail, Bruce Hornsby, 1998
info All Hat, No Cattle, Joe Goldmark , 1999
info Tribute To Jerry Garcia, John McEuen and Phil Salazar, 1999
info Wake the Dead, Wake The Dead, 2000
info Pickin' On The Grateful Dead, Vol. 2, Various Artists, 2000
info Live At Twenty North, Jake's Leg, 2001
info Long Strange Trip: Swingin' and Pickin' on the Grateful Dead, Various Artists, 2001
info Great Sky River, Jazz Is Dead, 2001
info The 1000th Show, Dark Star Orchestra, 2005
info One More Ride, Great Caesar's Ghost, 2006
info On The Road: July 1, 2006, Morrison, CO, String Cheese Incident, 2006
info On The Road: Travelogue Summer 2006, String Cheese Incident, 2006
info Twisted Love Songs, David Gans, 2007
info Dr. Midnight: Live at the Green Mill, Sabertooth, 2007
info 30 Years, Jake's Leg, 2008
info Better Off Dead, Great Caesar's Ghost, 2009
info Sat 730, Deadwood Revival, 2009
info All Access, Vol. 2 07.03.2010, Greensky Bluegrass, 2010
info What's Done Is Done, Great Caesar's Ghost, 2011
info Sampler, Dark Star Orchestra, 2011
info D'Eadphibians, D'Amphibians, 2012
info A Buck Dancer's Choice, Various Artists, 2013
info Live from the Core, Jay's Happy Sunshine Burger Joint, 2014
info Twangin' The Dead, Matt Rae, 2015
info 9/23/15, Charlottesville, VA, Greensky Bluegrass, 2015
info May 1, 2015, New Orleans, Voodoo Dead, 2015
info Songs Of Their Own, Various Artists, 2015
info Chocolate Coffee Pot, Chocolate Coffee Pot, 2016
info 08/12/16, Chico, CA, Jackie Greene, 2016
info 09/21/16, Salt Lake City, UT, Jackie Greene, 2016
info 09/29/16, Indianapolis, IN, Jackie Greene, 2016
info 10/21/2016, Syracuse, NY, Jackie Greene, 2016
info 10/26/2016, Brooklyn, NY, Jackie Greene, 2016
info Day Of The Dead, Various Artists (Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks), 2016
info Chip's Picks Vol 1, High Time, 2019
info Alone Together, Vol 2, Holly Bowling, 2020
info Seeking All That's Still Unsung, Holly Bowling, 2020
info From The Archives 6/11/16, John Kadlecik, 2020
info From The Archives 2/11/17, Voodoo Dead, 2020
info From The Archives 10/18/17, Holly Bowling, 2020
info From The Archives 7/4/20, Splintered Sunlight, 2020
info Live At Brooklyn Bowl, Night 2, Grateful Shred, 2020
info The Wilderness Sessions Vol. 7: Casco Bay, Holly Bowling, 2021

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