"Scarlet Begonias" is a song by the Grateful Dead. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and the music by Jerry Garcia. The song first appears on the 1974 release From the Mars Hotel.The song begins in Grosvenor Square in London and also references "Tea for Two" from No, No, Nanette by Irving Caesar and Vincent Youmans.The line "Everybody's playing in the Heart of Gold Band", was used by Keith and Donna Godchaux to name their new group "Heart of Gold Band" when they left the Grateful Dead in 1979.The live debut of "Scarlet Begonias" came on March 23, 1974 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. When "Fire on the Mountain" was written in 1977, "Scarlet Begonias" would often be paired with "Fire on the Mountain" when played live. This resulted in what would be nicknamed "Scarlet > Fire".
