---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was…"
description: "\"The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was Santa Claus. It did good things. It allowed other people to benefit. The benefits that we played were enormous..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg"
---

#  The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was Santa Claus. It…

![“The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was Santa Claus. It did good things. It allowed other people to benefit. The benefits that we played were enormous, and we played free. So you've got a band that loves to play free, and that was a wonderful thing.” quote by Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg)

> “The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was Santa Claus. It did good things. It allowed other people to benefit. The benefits that we played were enormous, and we played free. So you've got a band that loves to play free, and that was a wonderful thing.”

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote celebrates generosity in music, likening the band's free performances to Santa’s gift-giving, emphasizing communal benefit.

**In simple terms:** Free music spreads joy and helps others.

Key Takeaway

Share your gifts freely.

Themes

generosity music community joy

Mood

celebratory grateful

Type

inspirational reflective

When to use this quote

- concerts
- community events
- open mic nights
- charity gigs

Key Concepts

cultural philanthropy collective experience

Questions to Reflect On

- How can artists balance generosity with livelihood?
- What other ways can you give without profit?

A Different Perspective

Free performances may not sustain a band's finances long‑term.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Benefit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefit/) [Claus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claus/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Santa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/santa/) [Santa claus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/santa-claus/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Wonderful thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful-thing/) [Wonderful things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful-things/)

## Related quotes

> [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/)

[Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/)

> [My father managed shopping malls when I was a kid, and my high school job was to dress up in an elf costume and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-duffy/my-father-managed-shopping-malls-when-i-was-a-kid-and-my-high-school/)

[Karen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-duffy/)

> [I was Santa Claus in first year of primary school, our elementary's school play, because I had most panache, that was probably why. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frecheville/i-was-santa-claus-in-first-year-of-primary-school-our-elementary-s/)

[James Frecheville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frecheville/)

> [You can't trick The Universe - it's like Santa Claus that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/you-can-t-trick-the-universe-it-s-like-santa-claus-that-way/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [I think we have to believe in things we don't see. That's really important for all of us, whether it's your religion or Santa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-think-we-have-to-believe-in-things-we-don-t-see-that-s-really/)

[James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/)

> [If you look at Christmas movies, there are certain things in them that lend themselves to a 'Harold &amp; Kumar' movie. In particular, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-schlossberg/if-you-look-at-christmas-movies-there-are-certain-things-in-them-that/)

[Hayden Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-schlossberg/)

> [My wife and I got to go onstage at a Flaming Lips concert at Webster Hall once. We dressed up like Scientology aliens and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/my-wife-and-i-got-to-go-onstage-at-a-flaming-lips-concert-at-webster/)

[Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/)

> [What is the real purpose behind the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus? They seem like greater steps toward faith and imagination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/what-is-the-real-purpose-behind-the-tooth-fairy-the-easter-bunny-and/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [I'm concerned about my daughter because she will not believe in Santa Claus. No matter what I say to her, she just doesn't buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-m-concerned-about-my-daughter-because-she-will-not-believe-in-santa/)

[Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/)

> [Ronald has had bicycle safety and safety in the home. Yes, Ronald is McDonald's, second most recognised figure after Santa Claus, and there's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cantalupo/ronald-has-had-bicycle-safety-and-safety-in-the-home-yes-ronald-is/)

[Jim Cantalupo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cantalupo/)

> [I think we've taken the meaning of Christmas out. People don't stop and think about Jesus or the birth of Jesus. When they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-we-ve-taken-the-meaning-of-christmas-out-people-don-t-stop/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [When I was a kid, I believed in Santa Claus. But it was very tough because in the Dominican... there are not a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-soriano/when-i-was-a-kid-i-believed-in-santa-claus-but-it-was-very-tough/)

[Alfonso Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-soriano/)

> [I remember being banned from other houses as a younger child during the winter holiday season; I was the only one who didn't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-remember-being-banned-from-other-houses-as-a-younger-child-during/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [The first sort of big present I remember getting from Santa Claus was quite a small telescope that I remember going into our backyard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/the-first-sort-of-big-present-i-remember-getting-from-santa-claus-was/)

[Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/)

> [With big folks, either people think you look mean or it's more of a jolly Santa Claus, 'Oh, he's just a pudgy little teddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/with-big-folks-either-people-think-you-look-mean-or-it-s-more-of-a/)

[The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/)

## More by Mickey Hart

> [There's nothing like music to relieve the soul and uplift it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/there-s-nothing-like-music-to-relieve-the-soul-and-uplift-it/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [The musical mystery is: How do you marry tuned percussion and voice? On a metaphorical level, everything that's really important - like the clouds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-musical-mystery-is-how-do-you-marry-tuned-percussion-and-voice-on/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [When I heard Grateful Dead music, I knew that it was the most powerful force on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/when-i-heard-grateful-dead-music-i-knew-that-it-was-the-most-powerful/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [When you are drumming and really feeling the music, the beat, it is like you are transported to a different place, where you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/when-you-are-drumming-and-really-feeling-the-music-the-beat-it-is/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [Dreams sometimes foretell the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/dreams-sometimes-foretell-the-future/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [I hated science in high school. Technology? Engineering? Math? Why would I ever need this? Little did I realize that music was also about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/i-hated-science-in-high-school-technology-engineering-math-why-would/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [The adventure of composition is a mystery. The muse has her ways, she hides from you, comes for you in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-adventure-of-composition-is-a-mystery-the-muse-has-her-ways-she/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [Yeah, I miss the Grateful Dead. I miss that groove. I miss the brotherhood. Absolutely. There's no doubt about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/yeah-i-miss-the-grateful-dead-i-miss-that-groove-i-miss-the/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [In the beginning, there was noise. Noise begat rhythm, and rhythm begat everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/in-the-beginning-there-was-noise-noise-begat-rhythm-and-rhythm-begat/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [What is the best music is impossible to define. Just because it's played by a virtuoso player, doesn't mean it's great music. It might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/what-is-the-best-music-is-impossible-to-define-just-because-it-s/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [Egyptian drumming happens to be a favorite of mine. It's a really simple instrument, but it's really difficult to play. You can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/egyptian-drumming-happens-to-be-a-favorite-of-mine-it-s-a-really/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [People will always try to find themselves and their place in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/people-will-always-try-to-find-themselves-and-their-place-in-the-world/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [Life is about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine, that’s what we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/life-is-about-rhythm-we-vibrate-our-hearts-are-pumping-blood-we-are-a/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [The voice of the drum is a spirit thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-voice-of-the-drum-is-a-spirit-thing/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

> [Music gives the soul this inner self-expression, a voice. It gives the soul a sound, the sound of the Muse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/music-gives-the-soul-this-inner-self-expression-a-voice-it-gives-the/)

[Mickey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

[Explore all 24 Mickey Hart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/)

## More Allowed quotes

> [I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/i-just-think-that-things-should-be-allowed-to-run-their-course-and/)

[Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/)

[Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/)

> [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/)

[Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/)

> [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/)

[Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/)

> [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/)

[Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/)

> [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/)

[Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/)

> [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/)

[Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/)

> [As a child, we lived in flats, and I was never allowed pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/as-a-child-we-lived-in-flats-and-i-was-never-allowed-pets/)

[Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/)

> [I'm not allowed to date. My dad said so. Not until I'm, like, 90.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-hogan/i-m-not-allowed-to-date-my-dad-said-so-not-until-i-m-like-90/)

[Brooke Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-hogan/)

> [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/)

[Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/)

> [I respect Chris Brown. I'd like to call myself a friend - I don't know if I'm allowed to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-respect-chris-brown-i-d-like-to-call-myself-a-friend-i-don-t-know/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/)

[Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/)

> [My family, they're story tellers. My mom is Irish, and my dad is Italian. In my family, we weren't allowed to watch TV while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/my-family-they-re-story-tellers-my-mom-is-irish-and-my-dad-is-italian/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [One should be allowed to choose one's burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-butts/one-should-be-allowed-to-choose-one-s-burden/)

[Mary Butts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-butts/)

Browse all 1,069 Allowed quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was Santa Claus. It did good things. It allowed other people to benefit. The benefits that we played were enormous, and we played free. So you've got a band that loves to play free, and that was a wonderful thing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mickey Hart"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was-santa-claus-it-did-good/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Allowed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was-santa-claus-it-did-good/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/mickey-hart-24478_allowed_the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was_2238188.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Grateful Dead were very kind. It was Santa Claus. It did good things. It allowed other people to…” — Mickey Hart",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mickey Hart",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-hart/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Grateful Dead were very kind....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was-santa-claus-it-did-good/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hart/the-grateful-dead-were-very-kind-it-was-santa-claus-it-did-good/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
