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."
Gotta Jibboo
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Papa sing gotta jibboo
Momma sing sing thatcha gotta jibboo.
Gotta jibboo and keep on drinking, too
Gotta Jibboo
The song Gotta Jibboo by Phish is a fun and upbeat track that has a number of different possible meanings depending on how you choose to interpret it. At its core, the song seems to be about the idea of embracing joy and letting go of inhibitions to just dance and have a good time. The repeated lyrics from "Momma" and "Papa" suggest a sort of familial encouragement or support for this idea.
However, there are some who interpret the lyrics as being more metaphorical, and possibly referencing drug use or other forms of escapism. The line "keep on drinking, too" may support this interpretation. Additionally, the term "jibboo" itself is somewhat ambiguous and could have multiple meanings depending on who you ask.
Regardless of the exact meaning, the song's infectious rhythm and positive energy make it a fan favorite. It's a popular choice for live performances, and has become something of a signature song for the band.
Line by Line Meaning
Momma sing sing thatcha gotta jibboo.
Mother is advising you to let go of your worries and enjoy life.
Papa sing gotta jibboo
Father is encouraging you to have fun and dance like nobody's watching.
Momma sing sing thatcha gotta jibboo.
Mother reminds you again to let loose and have a good time.
Gotta jibboo and keep on drinking, too
You should dance and party all night long, while enjoying some drinks.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: TREY ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind