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."
Golden Age
Phish Lyrics
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Originally performed by TV on the Radio
Heart beat soundin'.
Ricocheting in their cage.
Thought I'd lose my balance.
With the grounds bounce and sway.
And all this violence.
And all this goes away.
And the vibes that rise like.
Fireflies illuminate our play.
Some light being.
Pulled you up from night's party.
Said clap your hands.
If you think your soul is free.
And the silence was astounding.
'Cept some "Oh Lord!! Mercy Me's".
And oh you can't stop what's comin' up.
You're never gonna stop gonna live it up.
And oh it's gonna drop gonna fill your cup.
And oh it's gonna drop gonna fill your cup!
The age of miracles.
The age of sound.
Well there's a Golden Age.
Comin' round, comin' round, comin' round!
Give it up.
'Stead of grabbin' for decay.
What we viewed as gold.
I believe pollutes this space.
And its grace ascending.
Like a snake up your tree.
Up your happy ending understanding.
All your s'pposed to be.
Let it move right in.
Let it kiss your face.
Let it sow your skin.
In perpetual embrace.
Like I said "Love's Light is Laughter".
Like the sun spittin' happiness into the hereafter.
Oh here it comes like a natural disaster.
Ah blowin' up like a ghetto blaster.
Ah here it comes, bring it faster!
Ah here it comes, bring it faster!
The age of miracles.
The age of sound.
Well there's a Golden Age.
Comin' round, comin' round, comin' round!!
Love, don't you falter.
Burnin' hearts.
Dragged behind.
The horses dancing on the altar.
Hooves breakin' Gods.
To diamond dust and stars.
And there you are...
Now we're all allowed to breathe.
Walls dissolve.
With the hunger and the greed.
Move your body.
You've got all you need.
And your arms in the air stir a sea of stars.
And oh here it comes and it's not so far.
All light beings.
Come on now make haste.
Clap your hands.
If you think you're in the right place
Thunder all surroundin'.
Aw feel it quake with the joy resounding.
Palm to the palm you can feel it poundin'.
Never give it up you can feel it mountin'.
Oh its gonna drop gonna fill your cup and.
Oh its gonna drop gonna fill your cup!!!
The age of miracles.
The age of sound.
Well there's a Golden Age.
Comin' round, comin' round, comin' round!!!!
The age of miracles.
The age of sound.
Well there's a Golden Age.
Comin' round, comin' round, comin' round!!!!
The lyrics of Phish's song Golden Age are about the shift in consciousness towards a more enlightened age. The song begins with the mention of the heart beating sound, which intensifies with the swaying of the ground. The reference to violence implies the chaos and turmoil present in our world today, alluding to the need for change. The line "vibes that rise like fireflies" implies the gradual awakening of people's spirits, illuminating the way towards a new era.
In the second stanza, the lyrics describe how one's soul is freed. The "light being" pulls them out of the darkness into a world of sound and enlightenment. The mention of "Oh Lord!! Mercy Me's" implies the overwhelming feelings of people being lifted towards a better life. The line "Never gonna stop gonna live it up" alludes to the need for people to embrace the coming age with open arms, without hesitation.
The third stanza is all about embracing change and the coming age. The phrase "Let it kiss your face" alludes to people being open to the altering of their beliefs and accepting a new, more enlightened worldview. The coming age will be marked with the rise of the golden age, where walls dissolve and people are free to explore their true selves. The lyrics urge people to dance, with their arms raised high in celebration of the coming of the new age.
Line by Line Meaning
Heart beat soundin'.
The sound of my heartbeat echoes through my body.
Ricocheting in their cage.
My heart is pounding so hard that it feels like it’s bouncing around in my chest like a ball in a cage.
Thought I'd lose my balance.
I almost lost my balance because the ground was bouncing and swaying beneath me.
With the grounds bounce and sway.
The ground is moving and shaking beneath my feet.
And all this violence.
Despite all the chaos and destruction in the world, there is still hope for a better future.
And all this goes away.
All the negativity and pain we experience will eventually fade away.
And the vibes that rise like.
The positive energy and vibrations that we give off soar high and illuminate our surroundings like fireflies.
Fireflies illuminate our play.
The positive energy and vibrations that we give off shine a light on our world and inspire us to create, explore, and play.
Some light being.
An enlightened being with a message of hope and freedom.
Pulled you up from night's party.
Awakened you from the darkness and confusion of everyday life.
Said clap your hands.
Encouraged you to celebrate your freedom and express your joy through music and movement.
If you think your soul is free.
If you believe that your inner self is free and unbound by the constraints of daily life.
And the silence was astounding.
The silence following the awakening was powerful and awe-inspiring.
'Cept some "Oh Lord!! Mercy Me's".
Except for some people who could not help but exclaim their amazement and gratitude.
And oh you can't stop what's comin' up.
You cannot prevent the inevitable arrival of a brighter, more positive future.
You're never gonna stop gonna live it up.
You will never stop enjoying and appreciating life, no matter what the circumstances might be.
And oh it's gonna drop gonna fill your cup.
The positive future is going to arrive soon, overflowing with good things to come.
The age of miracles.
A time when incredible, impossible things can happen.
The age of sound.
A time when music and art can flourish and bring people together.
Well there's a Golden Age.
There is an amazing future ahead, filled with possibilities.
Comin' round, comin' round, comin' round!
It’s on its way, it’s getting closer every day!
Give it up.
Let go of the fear, anger, and negativity that is holding you back.
'Stead of grabbin' for decay.
Instead of focusing on the things that are decaying and falling apart, focus on the things that are beautiful and positive.
What we viewed as gold.
The things that we have long valued and considered valuable.
I believe pollutes this space.
These things are actually polluting our world and holding us back from progress and growth.
And its grace ascending.
The process of letting go and finding positivity is a beautiful and graceful journey.
Like a snake up your tree.
This journey will crawl up and around you like a snake.
Up your happy ending understanding.
The journey will take you to a new level of understanding and happiness.
All your s'pposed to be.
You will discover your true self and purpose through this journey.
Let it move right in.
Open yourself up to the positive energy and let it change you for the better.
Let it kiss your face.
Embrace the positive energy like a warm, gentle kiss on the cheek.
Let it sow your skin.
Let the positive energy permeate your entire being and transform you from the inside out.
In perpetual embrace.
In an enduring, eternal embrace of positivity and happiness.
Like I said "Love's Light is Laughter".
Love and joy go hand in hand, and laughter is a powerful force for good in the world.
Like the sun spittin' happiness into the hereafter.
Like the sun that shines down on us with warmth and light, happiness is a force that carries us through life and beyond.
Oh here it comes like a natural disaster.
The positive energy and joy that is coming is huge and unstoppable, like a natural disaster.
Ah blowin' up like a ghetto blaster.
The positivity and joy will fill the world like the loud, booming music from a ghetto blaster.
Ah here it comes, bring it faster!
The positivity and joy is coming quickly, and we can't wait for it to arrive!
Love, don't you falter.
Love is a powerful force that can never falter or fail us.
Burnin' hearts.
Our hearts are on fire with love and passion.
Dragged behind.
Pulling us forward and driving us to pursue our dreams and passions.
The horses dancing on the altar.
Our passions and inspirations are like horses that race and dance free, untamed and unbridled.
Hooves breakin' Gods.
Our passions and inspirations are so powerful that they can even break the barriers of the gods themselves.
To diamond dust and stars.
Our passions and inspirations are so powerful that they can turn the most mundane things into something beautiful and timeless, like diamond dust and stars.
And there you are...
You are at the center of all this beauty and power, embracing it and unleashing it in your own way.
Now we're all allowed to breathe.
We are free to stop and take a breath, to appreciate all that life has to offer.
Walls dissolve.
All the barriers that keep us from one another and from happiness fade away.
With the hunger and the greed.
We are no longer chasing after material things and satisfying our own egos, but instead finding fulfillment in the world around us.
Move your body.
Let yourself become one with the positive energy and let it move you emotionally and physically.
You've got all you need.
You already possess everything that you need to be happy and fulfilled, inside yourself.
And your arms in the air stir a sea of stars.
Your own personal expression of joy and positivity can create a world of beauty and light, bringing everyone together under one shared vision.
And oh here it comes and it's not so far.
The positivity and joy is very close, and we should celebrate and appreciate it in every moment we can.
All light beings.
All the enlightened and positive people in the world.
Come on now make haste.
Come together and take action quickly to spread positivity and joy throughout the world.
Clap your hands.
Celebrate the positive energy and joy in the world.
If you think you're in the right place
If you feel that you are in the right place, surrounded by positivity and joy.
Thunder all surroundin'.
The atmosphere is filled with strong, positive emotions and energy.
Aw feel it quake with the joy resounding.
The joy and positivity is so strong that it can literally make the ground shake and vibrate.
Palm to the palm you can feel it poundin'.
We can feel the energy and joy pulsing through our hands and filling our entire being.
Never give it up you can feel it mountin'.
Don't ever let go of the positive energy and joy, because it will only continue to grow and consume you.
Oh its gonna drop gonna fill your cup and.
The joy and positivity is coming, and it will be so strong that it will overflow and fill our cups to the brim.
Comin' round, comin' round, comin' round!!!!
The Golden Age is coming, and it is quickly approaching. Get ready and embrace it with open arms!
Writer(s): MALONE DAVID KYP JOEL, ADEBIMPE BABATUNDE OMOROGA, SMITH GERARD ANTHONY, BUNTON JALEEL, SITEK DAVID ANDREW
Contributed by Kaelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@CowbodyDane
This is a song that I don’t realize how much i love until I see it in person. A fact I reremember every time.
@Jongii1980
Epic. This should have way more views. Thank you uploader, & Phish!
@jonaschabot3737
Fast car lyrics
@lorianlindsey5094
What a gorgeous recording!!
@rachellberry8361
my jam forever
@penguinfriendguin1182
Agreed
@brendanmcgovern988
I witnessed this myself. I was blown away. My second show :D
@schooler55
I’m clapping my hands so hard rn
@christophelliot9411
Man, I just can’t get into Phish but I love the hell outta Phish fans. Maybe I’ll see a show one day and branch out from there, that has definitely happened a few times already.
@stugoldz7909
They do a really sweat version here. This is probably my favorite GO To Song When I need to Chill out. Tastes do differ,