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."
Horn
Phish Lyrics
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Now that you've deceived me, and played my name around
And hung those nasty flyers, on all the buildings in town
Dribbled my possessions in a ring around the earth
And bought and sold my self-control for less than it was worth
Now I know the reason that I'm feeling so forlorn
Rhine wine, Car Horn
The opening lines of Phish's "Horn" are an expression of disillusionment with a lover who has publicly humiliated and degraded the singer. The choice of words is significant as "Rhine wine" evokes a sense of luxury and opulence, while "Car horn" creates a sharp, jarring sound associated with rudeness and impatience. The contrast between the two sets up a sense of dissonance which adds to the overall mood of the song.
The following lines suggest an attempt at retribution as the singer plans to pick up their lover as usual but with a sense of detachment and melancholy - "Now I know the reason that I'm feeling so forlorn." It implies that the once intense emotions of love and passion have been replaced with bitterness and regret. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lines, highlighting the cyclical nature of the relationship and the disillusionment that follows.
Line by Line Meaning
Rhine wine, Car horn
The song starts with a simple, repetitive chant of two seemingly unconnected phrases that serve only to set the tone for the lyrics to come.
Now that you've deceived me, and played my name around
The singer has been betrayed by someone they trusted and they feel like their reputation has been tarnished as a result.
And hung those nasty flyers, on all the buildings in town
The person who betrayed the singer has gone so far as to publicly spread false information about them through flyers posted around the town.
Dribbled my possessions in a ring around the earth
As part of their revenge, the betrayer has scattered the artist's belongings around the world, possibly as a way to humiliate them and show the breadth of their power.
And bought and sold my self-control for less than it was worth
Not only did the betrayer hurt the artist's reputation, but they also manipulated them into compromising their own values and morals in a way that ultimately cost them more than they gained.
Now I know the reason that I'm feeling so forlorn
The singer has finally figured out the source of their sadness and loneliness, which is the result of the actions of someone they cared about.
I'll pick you up at eight as usual, listen for my horn
Despite all of the hurt they've experienced, the singer still plans to meet up with the person who betrayed them, possibly in an attempt to confront them or make amends.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind