The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a rigorous touring schedule that draws a famously dedicated fan base. Their music blends elements of a wide variety of genres, including funk, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, folk, country, jazz, blues, bluegrass, and pop. Phish were part of a movement of improvisational rock groups, inspired by the Grateful Dead and colloquially known as "jam bands", which gained considerable popularity as touring concert acts in the 1990s.
After 15 years of performing together, Phish went on hiatus in 2000. They resumed touring in December 2002, but disbanded in 2004 after a farewell performance at their Coventry Festival in Vermont. They reunited in March 2009 for a series of three consecutive concerts played in the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia, and have since resumed performing regularly.
Although the group received little radio play or MTV exposure, Phish developed a large following by word of mouth during the 1990s, particularly through fan-record tapes of their concerts, which circulated for free online with the band's permission. While often compared to the Grateful Dead, Phish finds their roots in styles such as jazz, funk and alternative rock as opposed to the Dead, who were more influenced by folk, country and blues.
Each Phish concert is different in terms of the songs included and the order in which they appeared, and (for many songs) in the way in which they were performed. Also unique to Phish are their large summer festivals which draw upwards of 70K people to remote areas in Maine and New York State as well as close to 100K for their epic Millennium Show in the Everglades of South Florida.
Along with Bob Dylan and The Beatles, Phish were one of the first bands to have an Internet newsgroup - rec.music.phish - launched in 1991.
In regards to Phish, Rolling Stone magazine proclaimed "Given their sense of community, their ambition and their challenging, generous performances, Phish have become the most important band of the Nineties."
Cavern
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's later than we think
Before you slip into the night
You'll want something to drink
Steal away before the dawn, and
Bring us back good news
But if you've tread in primal soup
Please wipe it from your shoes
Just then a porthole pirate
Scourged the evening with his cry
And sanctuary bugs deprived
The monkey of its thigh
A dust arose and clogged my nose
Before I could blink twice
Despite the stuff that bubbled up
I gave some last advice:
The flesh from Satan's dogs
Will make the rudiments of gruel
Deduct the carrots from your pay
You worthless swampy fool
Exploding then through fields and fen
And swimming in the mire
The septic maiden's gargoyle tooth
Demented me with fire
I drifted where the current chose
Afloat upon my back
And if perchance a newt slimed by
I'd stuff it in my sack
Soon I felt a bubble form, Somewhere below my skin
But with handy spine of hedgehog
I removed the force within
Suzie then removed her mask
And caused a mighty stir
The angry mob responded
Taking turns at grabbing her
The foggy cavern's musty grime
Appeared within my palm
I snatched Rick's fork to scrape it off
With deadly icy calm
The brothel wife then grabbed a knife
And slashed me on the tongue
I turned the blade back on the bitch
And dropped her in the dung]
The crowd meanwhile had taken Sue
And used her like a rag
To mop the slime from where the slug
Had slithered with the bag
In summing up, the moral seems
A little bit obscure...
Give the director a serpent deflector
A mudrat detector, a ribbon reflector
A cushion convector, a picture of nectar
A virile dissector,a hormone collector
Whatever you do take care of your shoes
The lyrics to Phish's song "Cavern" are abstract in nature, and the meaning is open to interpretation by the listener. The song starts with a sense of urgency, with the singer warning that time is running out and an important mission needs to be completed. The line "if you've tread in primal soup, please wipe it from your shoes" suggests that the mission may involve something dirty, dangerous or taboo.
As the song progresses, it becomes more surreal and bizarre, with a porthole pirate and sanctuary bugs making appearances. The line "the flesh from Satan's dogs will make the rudiments of gruel" suggests that the singer is in a dangerous and primitive place, and needs to eat whatever is available to survive. There are also references to a brothel wife, a septic maiden with a gargoyle tooth, and a mob that takes turns in grabbing an unknown person.
The conclusion of the song is just as peculiar as the rest, with the singer offering a list of items to "give the director" in order to take care of whatever unknown task is at hand. The final line of the song, "Whatever you do, take care of your shoes," may be an ironic statement, considering the singer has been wandering through primal soup and dung.
Overall, "Cavern" is a song that relies heavily on abstract imagery and surrealistic language. The meaning of the lyrics will likely be different for each listener, and the song encourages interpretation and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
Your time is near, the mission's clear
Your mission or purpose in life is becoming urgent and must be accomplished soon.
It's later than we think
There is not much time left before the opportunity is gone forever.
Before you slip into the night
Before you leave this world behind, either by dying or losing your chance to accomplish your goals.
You'll want something to drink
You may want some refreshment or sustenance for the journey ahead.
Steal away before the dawn, and
Leave quietly and secretly before daybreak, but be sure to return with good news.
Bring us back good news
Return with important and useful information, ideas or resources that will benefit others.
But if you've tread in primal soup
If you have ventured into unfamiliar or dangerous territory that challenges your core beliefs and principles.
Please wipe it from your shoes
Make sure to remove any negative or harmful influences you may have picked up along the way before returning.
Just then a porthole pirate
Suddenly, someone or something appeared that threatened to disrupt or attack those around him.
Scourged the evening with his cry
The sudden noise or disturbance created by the newcomer was loud and distressing.
And sanctuary bugs deprived
The safety or comfort of the environment was undermined by infestation or natural threats.
The monkey of its thigh
Someone or something was robbed of an essential resource, rendering it helpless or vulnerable.
A dust arose and clogged my nose
A sudden disturbance or an unexpected event caused confusion, disorientation or discomfort.
Before I could blink twice
Before there was time to react or respond to the situation.
Despite the stuff that bubbled up
Despite the negative influences or unexpected distractions that impeded progress or communication.
I gave some last advice:
He gave some parting words of wisdom, guidance, or caution before departing.
The flesh from Satan's dogs
Beware of the malevolent or harmful influences or practices that may harm or corrupt you.
Will make the rudiments of gruel
Those influences or practices will have a dehumanizing and debasing effect on you.
Deduct the carrots from your pay
Be warned that your success or rewards may be reduced or nullified if you take unnecessary risks or ignore the rules.
You worthless swampy fool
Be mindful of how your actions or decisions may affect your reputation, credibility, or opportunities for growth.
Exploding then through fields and fen
Suddenly, and with great force, he began his journey through treacherous and unpredictable territory.
And swimming in the mire
Despite the challenging and dirty conditions he had to deal with, he was determined to succeed at all costs.
The septic maiden's gargoyle tooth
He encountered a terrifying or grotesque creature that threatened to harm or kill him.
Demented me with fire
That creature caused him to panic or lose his composure, and he reacted with extreme fear or aggression.
I drifted where the current chose
He was no longer in control of his fate or direction, and was carried along by circumstances beyond his control.
Afloat upon my back
Despite the adversity or danger he faced, he managed to stay afloat, survive and persevere.
And if perchance a newt slimed by
Even the smallest or most insignificant of creatures he encountered left an impression or impact on his journey.
I'd stuff it in my sack
He was determined to make use of every resource or opportunity he could find in his quest for success.
Soon I felt a bubble form, Somewhere below my skin
He sensed that something was building up inside him, either physically or emotionally.
But with handy spine of hedgehog
He was ready and prepared to tackle this issue head-on, using whatever resources or tools he had at his disposal.
I removed the force within
He dealt with the source of his discomfort or fear with confidence and determination, and emerged stronger for it.
Suzie then removed her mask
Someone or something that had been hiding a secret or true motivation was now revealed.
And caused a mighty stir
This revelation caused great excitement, uproar, or controversy among those involved.
The angry mob responded
Those who had been deceived or wronged were now taking action or seeking justice.
Taking turns at grabbing her
The mob was divided or disorganized and acted impulsively or savagely in response to the situation.
The foggy cavern's musty grime
He encountered a dark, eerie or mysterious place that seemed to embody a sense of foreboding or discomfort.
Appeared within my palm
He unexpectedly found or acquired something of value or significance in that dark place.
I snatched Rick's fork to scrape it off
Despite the unpleasant or unsettling nature of what he had found, he was determined to hold onto it and make use of it.
With deadly icy calm
He remained composed and focused even under difficult, dangerous or hostile circumstances.
The brothel wife then grabbed a knife
A female character who had been wronged or exploited by the male-dominated society was now seeking revenge or justice.
And slashed me on the tongue
She used brutal, violent or unconventional methods to harm or silence her opponents.
I turned the blade back on the bitch
He used his own cunning or skills to subvert or defeat his adversaries, even if it involved violence or deceit.
And dropped her in the dung
He succeeded in his mission and emerged victorious over his enemies or obstacles.
The crowd meanwhile had taken Sue
The situation had escalated and spun out of control, with multiple characters vying for control or attention.
And used her like a rag
A female character was being mistreated, abused or objectified by male characters for their own purposes or amusement.
To mop the slime from where the slug
They were using her in a demeaning or disgusting way to clean up the mess left behind by the creature or problem they faced.
Had slithered with the bag
They were dealing with the fallout or consequences of something that had affected them all in different ways.
In summing up, the moral seems
After all the events and obstacles he had faced, he had learned an important lesson or insight that he now shared with others.
A little bit obscure...
He acknowledged that the moral was difficult to define or explain in simple terms, but it was still valuable and worth considering.
Give the director a serpent deflector
He jokingly or poetically suggests that those who face difficult circumstances need unconventional or imaginative solutions or tools to succeed.
A mudrat detector, a ribbon reflector
He lists an absurd and comical array of tools or ideas that might be needed to overcome various challenges.
A cushion convector, a picture of nectar
He emphasizes the need for creativity, adaptability, and resourcefulness in order to succeed in life.
A virile dissector,a hormone collector
He suggests that even the most unusual or seemingly useless knowledge or skills can be valuable and put to good use.
Whatever you do take care of your shoes
In a final bit of practical advice, he reminds us that even the smallest and most mundane details can affect our success or well-being, and should not be overlooked.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: HARRY ARMSTRONG, HUSCH GERARD RICHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind