"Hunter can write a melody and stuff like that, but his forte is lyrics. He can write a serviceable melody to hang his lyrics on, and sometimes he comes up with something really nice"

In this quote, Jerry Garcia is praising the musical abilities of his associate, Hunter. He acknowledges that Hunter is capable of writing melodies, but his real strength lies in his capability to write lyrics. Garcia believes that Hunter's lyrics are remarkable and that he has a skill for crafting them. Nevertheless, when it pertains to melodies, Hunter is not as skilled. Garcia explains his tunes as "functional," suggesting they are functional but not particularly exceptional. Regardless of this, Garcia keeps in mind that there are times when Hunter surprises him with a really stunning melody. Overall, Garcia acknowledges Hunter's skill for lyrics and acknowledges his efforts in creating tunes to match them.