Uncle Sam and the Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead sub-culture has produced a great deal of artwork, much of which features imagery related to Uncle Sam. Sam's trademark hat, in particular, appears in many examples of dead-head artwork. The hat is sometimes held by Jerry Garcia, but more often is worn by a skeleton.

Uncle Sam also appears in the lyrics of the Dead song "U.S. Blues," from the album Mars Hotel: Red and white Blue suede shoes I'm Uncle Sam How do you do Give me five I'm still alive It ain't no luck -- I learned to duck... Given the anti-establishment flavor of the Dead's music, some have suggested that the Dead's use of Uncle Sam imagery is insincere, to say the least. One music critic referred to the Dead's use of Uncle Sam's hat as "inspired mockery." Band member Bob Weir, however, has stated that the band has respect for Sam, and has referred to Sam as "the godfather figure of American culture."

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