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."
Down With Disease
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three weeks in my bed
Trying to stop these demons that keep dancing in my head
Down with disease
Up before the dawn
A thousand barefoot children outside dancing on my lawn, and I keep
That this has all been wonderful but now I'm on my way
But when I think it's time to leave it all behind
I try to find a way but there's nothing I can say to make it stop
Down with disease and the jungles in my mind
They're climbing up my waterfalls and swingin' on my vines
So I try to hear the music but I'm always losing time
'Cause they're stepping on my rhythm and they're stealin' all my lines
Stealin' all my lines and I keep
Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful but now I'm on my way
But when I think it's time to leave it all behind
I try to find a way but there's nothing I can say to make it stop
The song "Down With Disease" by Phish is an introspective and reflective piece on the challenges of living with mental illness. The lyrics describe the experience of being bedridden for three weeks, battling the demons in one's own mind. The use of the metaphor of disease is particularly striking, as it captures the feeling of being trapped and powerless in the grip of a sickness that cannot be cured by regular means. The singer feels like they are constantly struggling to keep up with the demands of daily life, even as their mind is plagued by negative thoughts and intrusive feelings.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as it portrays the singer as caught between the desire to move on from their illness and the fear that they will never truly be able to escape it. They long for the time when they can leave "it all behind," but they can never find a way to make it stop. The second verse expands on this theme, using the imagery of the jungle to represent the chaotic and unpredictable nature of mental illness. The singer feels like their own thoughts and emotions are constantly running wild, and they struggle to maintain control over them.
Overall, "Down With Disease" is a moving and honest portrayal of the struggles of living with mental illness. The use of vivid imagery and metaphor helps to convey the complexities of the experience, while the chorus captures the universal desire to overcome one's struggles and move forward. The song is a testament to the power of music to inspire hope and healing in those who are struggling with their own demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Down with disease
Suffering from illness and feeling helpless
Three weeks in my bed
Bedridden and unable to function for an extended period
Trying to stop these demons that keep dancing in my head
Struggling with mental health issues that keep haunting and overwhelming
Up before the dawn
Unable to sleep or rest and starting the day early
A thousand barefoot children outside dancing on my lawn, and I keep
Feeling disconnected and excluded from the joy around despite being surrounded by it
Waiting for the time when I can finally say
Longing for a time when things will be better and the suffering will end
That this has all been wonderful but now I'm on my way
Acknowledging the fleeting nature of life's pleasures and wanting to move on from them
But when I think it's time to leave it all behind
Considering leaving behind the past and moving forward
I try to find a way but there's nothing I can say to make it stop
Feeling powerless to change the situation and stop the suffering
Down with disease and the jungles in my mind
Being trapped in a mental state of confusion and chaos
They're climbing up my waterfalls and swingin' on my vines
Negative thoughts and emotions taking over and affecting every aspect of life
So I try to hear the music but I'm always losing time
Attempting to enjoy life's simple pleasures but struggling to fully engage with them
'Cause they're stepping on my rhythm and they're stealin' all my lines
Being disrupted by internal and external forces, preventing natural flow and expression of self
Stealin' all my lines and I keep
Feeling robbed of one's identity and self-expression
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: TOM MARSHALL, TREY ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Forrest George
Down with disease
Three weeks in my bed
Trying to stop these demons that keep
Dancing in my head
Down with disease
And I'm up before the dawn
A thousand barefoot children outside
Dancing on my lawn
Dancing on my lawn, and I keep
Waiting for the time when I can finally say
This has all been wonderful but now I'm on my way
But when I think it's time to leave it all behind
I try to find a way to
But there's nothing I can say
To make it stop
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop)
Down with disease
And the jungles in my mind
They're climbing up my waterfalls and
Swingin' on my vines
So I try to hear the music
But I'm always losing time
'Cause they're stepping on my rhythm
And they're stealin' all my lines
Stealin' all my lines and I keep
Waiting for the time
When I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful
But now I'm on my way
When I think it's time
To leave it all behind
I try to find a way to
But there's nothing I can say
To make it stop
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop)
Waiting for the time
When I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful
But now I'm on my way
When I think it's time
To leave it all behind
I try to find a way to
But there's nothing I can say
To make it stop
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
(Stop, stop, stop, stop)
jbell: TV
bravo!, muito bem! ThanX
Christopher Sedenka
My first Phish show just so happened to land on my birthday. What an incredible night.
Guybrush Threepwood
congratulations. welcome to the phamily
Sad Boi
Welcome to the party, pal.
Jon Martin
@James Fossel Down with Disease jam was epic
James Fossel
You got lucky, that's a superb first show! One of the best of the summer for sure.
Jon Martin
Welcome to the Phish bowl Danks. Phiah shows are addictive just sayin
Eric Woodard
THANKS, Phish! I was hoping this would be released. Ya'll have set a new bar in rock band generosity!! THANKS again!
seamusconley
Ladies and gentlemen, Jon Fishman
STANLEY 2 BRICKS
We all know who really commandeers & steers the reins of this vessel
🥁🔴🔵👗