Althea (2013 | Remaster)

Notable for its intense tempo and Garcia's emotive soloing.

The song begins with Jim feeling "lost" and lacking direction. Althea offers blunt advice, warning him that his "back might need protection" and he is "loose with the truth". After Jim claims he was "born to be a bachelor," Althea coolly accepts it, prompting Jim to realize his mistake and try to "catch her" again. Althea (2013 Remaster)

If you enjoy the 2013 studio remaster, fans often recommend these live recordings for their added energy: Notable for its intense tempo and Garcia's emotive soloing

The lyrics reference William Shakespeare's Hamlet through lines like "clown in the burying ground" and "fate of Ophelia / Sleeping and perchance to dream". After Jim claims he was "born to be

The name Althea (or Althaea) means "healer" . In myth, Althea was the Queen of Calydon who famously threw a log into a fire to end her son's life, a theme echoed in the line "maybe it's your fire / Baby, don't get burned". Key Facts & Legacy

The 2013 remaster of "Althea" is a crisp, high-definition version of the original track from the 1980 studio album, Go to Heaven . This particular remaster was released as part of the Complete Studio Albums Collection to celebrate the band's recorded legacy with enhanced audio quality. Song Overview & Meaning

Unlike the more improvisational live versions, the 2013 Remaster highlights the clean, bluesy guitar work of Garcia and the intricate keyboard layers added by Brent Mydland , who had recently joined the band. Standout Live Versions