As noted in David Dodd's The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics (hereinafter "Annotated"), the opening line for "Scarlet Begonias" places us in Britain in more ways than one. First, there is the obvious fact that Grosvenor Square is in London, England. Second - and less obviously - is the fact that traditional British ballads and nursery rhymes commonly start with terms such as, "as I was walking" or "as I was going."

Annotated notes that Robert Hunter, lyricist of this and most other Dead songs, stated on June 1, 2002, while opening for Phil and Friends, that he wrote "Scarlet Begonias" for his wife. He then revealed a new verse that followed the final:

She had two white vermilions in her snow-white hair
She must have been Mattie, but she looked like my wife
I gazed into the future, could be all right, gettin' old with her
Gettin' old with her, my Scarlet Begonias

Grosvenor Square has a long history that has been meticulously recorded. Visit "Survey of London" volumes 39 and 40, freely accessible at British History Online, to get an idea for just how meticulous that recording has been.

For our purposes, suffice it to say that Grosvenor Square was built by Sir Richard Grosvenor, a member of English Parliament who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Construction of the square began around 1721. The square still stands and has seen many changes and events over the course of time. Most pertinent to "Scarlet Begonias," probably, is that in 1960 the United States Embassy was erected in Grosvenor Square. Then, in 1968, the square was the site of anti-war demonstrations that turned violent. During a March 17 clash, the BBC reported 86 people, including 25 police officers, treated for injuries; over 200 people were arrested.

There's no reason to think the '68 riots were part of Hunter's inspiration for "Scarlet Begonias," but it does give us an idea of the kind of scene happening in Grosvenor Square in that late '60s/early '70s. The song was released June 27, 1974, but Hunter had a notable trip to London in 1970, a trip on which he wrote several songs, including "Ripple," "Brokedown Palace," and "To Lay Me Down." Beyond that, details are somewhat scarce. What we can be sure of is that Hunter was in Grosvenor Square and he said he wrote the song for his wife, so it's reasonable to assume that "Scarlet Begonias" is at least partially biographical.

"Scarlet Begonias" was recorded first on the album Grateful Dead From The Mars Hotel on June 27, 1974. Its first performance came at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, on March 23, 1974, two days before recording began for the album.

The song was memorably remade by Sublime on their album 40oz. to Freedom.

-Jeff Suwak
September 15, 2020 Scarlet Begonias Songfacts
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Comments: 1

• Ded Hed from Boston, MaI was walking round Grosvenor's Square today! I had no idea Scarlet Begonia's was written with this place in mind. A lot of cover bands and even Trey at the 50th reunion sing" "Governor's square"...not a huge deal, but not the way Jerry sang it. Listen to any version by the "original Dead" and you'll hear how they pronounce it. I always made note of that and was really excited today when I was walking 'round Grosvenor's Square and decided to look it up!

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