Phish is a rock band which formed in 1983 in Burlington, Vermont, United St… Read Full Bio ↴Phish is a rock band which formed in 1983 in Burlington, Vermont, United States. For most of their career, the group's lineup has consisted of Trey Anastasio (guitar, vocals), Page McConnell (keyboards, vocals), Mike Gordon (bass, vocals) and Jon Fishman (drums, vocals, vacuum cleaner).

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."

Fast Enough for You
Phish Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If time were only part of the equation
Then you could draw the boundaries of our cage
You wouldn't pile another stone upon me
And I'd be happy just to watch you age

But everything is in its own dominion
And waiting in the shallows as I do
Appeases me as water slowly trickles out

Which isn't nearly fast enough for you

It isn't nearly fast enough for you
It isn't nearly fast enough for you
It's what I was afraid of
I stumble into view

But it isn't nearly fast enough for you
It isn't nearly fast enough for you

Overall Meaning

The song "Fast Enough for You" by Phish is a contemplative and introspective piece, that reflects on the concept of time and its impact on relationships. The lyrics suggest that time plays a critical role in shaping the boundaries of relationships and thus, affecting the happiness of individuals. The opening lines of the song, "If time were only part of the equation, then you could draw the boundaries of our cage" highlights the fact that time can limit or restrain relationships, creating boundaries within which individuals are confined. The use of the word 'cage' is symbolic of the limitations imposed by time on relationships.

The lyrics go on to suggest that the slow passage of time is not enough for the other person, who seems to be in a rush to move ahead. The line, "Which isn't nearly fast enough for you" portrays the sense of urgency and impatience felt by the other person in the relationship. The repetition of this line throughout the song suggests that the singer feels the pressure to keep up with the other person's pace, but struggles to do so. The final lines of the song, "But it isn't nearly fast enough for you, it isn't nearly fast enough for you," express the singer's insecurity and fear of not being able to meet the expectations of their partner.

Overall, "Fast Enough for You" explores the complexities of relationships and the role of time in shaping them. The lyrics highlight the challenges of balancing differing expectations and priorities within a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

If time were only part of the equation
If time was the only factor affecting us

Then you could draw the boundaries of our cage
You could set limits on our relationship

You wouldn't pile another stone upon me
You would not add more burdens or responsibilities to me

And I'd be happy just to watch you age
I'd be content simply seeing you grow old

But everything is in its own dominion
But everything has its own control and power

And waiting in the shallows as I do
And staying passive like I am now

Appeases me as water slowly trickles out
Satisfies me as time passes slowly

Which isn't nearly fast enough for you
But that is not sufficient for your demands

It isn't nearly fast enough for you
The pace isn't quick enough for you

It's what I was afraid of
This is something I feared

I stumble into view
I appear clumsily and uncertainly