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."

Friday
Phish Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I crashed a
Learned to keep my eye on you
You always say you'll lead the way, but then you never do
I slow a swerve but lost my nerve and quickly looked away
When I looked back, the day was black
Then I heard you say
Why is the sun high, and why does it rain
Why is there danger and why is there pain

Why can't the burden be carried away
And why isn't it Friday today

Your lack of trust is hardly just
So do as you've been told
Please follow me into the sea
Don't worry if its cold
I knew right then my chance again
Had quickly slipped away
I crashed, I cried, I burned my eyes
Ill follow anyway

Why is the sea cold, why is it blue
Why do I stay here, why is it you
Notice the danger, don't help it anyway
Why isn't it Friday today

I knew right then my chance again
Would quickly slip away

I crash, I cry, I burn my eyes
I still follow anyway

Overall Meaning

In "Friday," Phish paints a picture of an uncertain journey through life, marked by a lack of direction and a recurring sense of hopelessness. The lyrics suggest that the singer is following a guide, someone whom they rely on to lead them through life's obstacles. However, this guide continually fails to provide the guidance that they promised, leaving the singer alone, lost, and seeking answers to life's biggest questions.

The song highlights themes of existentialism, as the singer struggles to make sense of their place in the world. They ask difficult questions about existence, such as "why is there danger and why is there pain?" and "why can't the burden be carried away?" These questions remain unanswered, leaving the singer feeling powerless and disillusioned.

Despite the uncertainty and confusion, the singer remains persistent and continues to follow their guide, even in the face of disappointment and frustration. The chorus expresses their longing for an escape, a desire for the relief that comes at the end of the workweek. The repeated refrain of "why isn't it Friday today" underscores the singer's desire for a break from the difficulties of life.

Overall, "Friday" is a complex and introspective song that reflects on the human condition, questioning our ability to find meaning and connection in a confusing and often chaotic world.

Line by Line Meaning

I crashed a
I made a mistake

Learned to keep my eye on you
I need to be cautious of you

You always say you'll lead the way, but then you never do
You make promises, but don't keep them

I slow a swerve but lost my nerve and quickly looked away
I hesitated and failed to take action

When I looked back, the day was black
Things got worse

Then I heard you say
You tried to console me

Why is the sun high, and why does it rain
Asking questions about nature

Why is there danger and why is there pain
Asking questions about suffering

Why can't the burden be carried away
Questioning the difficulty of life's challenges

And why isn't it Friday today
Expressing a desire for the end of the week

Your lack of trust is hardly just
Your distrust is not reasonable