"I started strumming and Tom started singing, and since he didn't have any lyrics, he reached over and grabbed the note that the owner of the house had left for us and began reading it, verbatim.
'Welcome! This is a farmhouse..." And on it went from there... After that I quickly constructed all the instruments. I will always to this day believe that this version of Farmhouse is the perennial version, mostly because of the genuine joy in Tom's inspired and spontaneous vocal. Also, for the record, of course we immediately recognized that it sounded similar to "No Woman No Cry", and sort of threw that "be all right" thing in specifically for that reason, amidst the frenzy of laughing and singing. It felt like the perfect sentiment for our escape..."
The song made it's "unofficial" debut on 11/7/97, on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Since then, it's been played 83 more times and counting.
Farmhouse
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have cluster flies, alas.
And this time of year is bad.
We are so very sorry
There is little we can do,
But swat them
She didn't stay when things got rough.
I told a lie and she got mad
She wasn't there when things got bad
I never ever saw the Northern Lights
(This is a farmhouse)
I never really heard of cluster flies
(Cluster flies, alas)
I never ever saw the stars so bright
(This is a farmhouse)
In the Farmhouse, it will be alright
(Cluster flies, alas)
Brought this one to the stinging lash
Every man rise from the ash
Each betrayal begins with trust
Every man returns to dust
I never ever saw the Northern Lights
(This is a farmhouse)
I never ever heard a cluster fly
(Cluster flies, alas)
I never ever saw the stars so bright
(This is a farmhouse)
In the promise that you'll be all right
(Cluster flies, alas)
The opening lyric of Phish's song Farmhouse is "Welcome, this is a farmhouse." The song tells the story of a run-down farmhouse, haunted by problems such as the presence of cluster flies, which are small black flies, and the harsh weather of the season. The owners of the farmhouse have no choice but to swat at the flies, but they still apologize for the inconvenience.
The chorus of the song repeats itself and contains the lyric "I never ever saw the Northern Lights" and adds "I never really heard of cluster flies." These lines bring to light the singer's limited experience and how they have yet to see and understand the beauty and struggles of the world. The lines "She didn't beg, oh not enough. She didn't stay when things got rough. I told a lie and she got mad. She wasn't there when things got bad" introduce a personal story of heartbreak, suggesting that the house's problems may be intertwined with the singer's personal struggles.
The lines "Brought this one to the stinging lash. Every man rise from the ash. Each betrayal begins with trust. Every man returns to dust" suggest that the singer has to face consequences for his past mistakes, and all men have to suffer the consequences of their actions eventually. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, offering hopeful words that "In the Farmhouse, it will be alright," regardless of the problems faced.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome, this is a farmhouse.
The singer is greeting the listener and introducing them to a rural home.
We have cluster flies, alas.
The farmhouse has an infestation of cluster flies, which is unfortunate.
And this time of year is bad.
The time of year is exacerbating the issue with the fly infestation.
We are so very sorry
The artist is expressing remorse about the fly infestation.
There is little we can do,
Despite the apology, there is not much the artist can do about the fly infestation.
But swat them
The only recourse for dealing with the flies is to physically kill them by swatting them.
She didn't beg, oh not enough.
The listener is being presented with a scenario in which someone did not plead their case enough.
She didn't stay when things got rough.
The same person did not stick around when things became difficult.
I told a lie and she got mad
The artist is admitting to lying and causing someone to become upset with them.
She wasn't there when things got bad
The same person was not present when things became worse.
I never ever saw the Northern Lights
The singer has not witnessed the Northern Lights.
(This is a farmhouse)
The artist is reinforcing the fact that they are currently in a rural home.
I never really heard of cluster flies
The singer is not familiar with the existence of cluster flies.
(Cluster flies, alas)
The singer is lamenting the presence of the fly infestation.
I never ever saw the stars so bright
The singer has not seen stars so clearly and brilliantly.
In the Farmhouse, it will be alright
Despite the presence of the fly infestation and lack of starry skies, the artist believes everything will be alright in the rural home.
Brought this one to the stinging lash
The artist is introducing the concept of someone being punished or chastised.
Every man rise from the ash
All people are capable of picking themselves back up after a setback or failure.
Each betrayal begins with trust
Betrayal can only occur once trust has been established between two or more parties.
Every man returns to dust
All individuals will eventually die and return to the earth.
In the promise that you'll be all right
The artist is offering reassurance that the listener will be okay despite any hardships or betrayals.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: TOM MARSHALL, TREY ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind