The song was first performed in concert on October 19, 1971, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at new keyboardist Keith Godchaux's first appearance with the band.
[1] Bob Weir stated in a 2004 interview that the song's lyrics were partly based on John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men.
[2] The song's themes include riding the rails, the Great Depression, and hobo (homeless) camps of the era.
Jack Straw is also—perhaps coincidentally—the name of the original plantation owner, who lived controversially with his gay lover, Peter Ochello, in Tennessee Williams's play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
[3] The Grateful Dead tribute album Deadicated contains a rendition of "Jack Straw" recorded by Bruce Hornsby and the Range.