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."

Julius
Phish Lyrics

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Danger
I've been told to expect it
I begin my descent
Down the cold granite steps

And who could have turned among those I confide in?
I think that I know what I haven't known yet
'Cause a week is a month

and an hour a day
When your reaching just pushes it further away
With your past and your future precisely divided
Am I at that moment?
I haven't decided

And stretching out into the sea, Aquitana
Is that what the prophet told me he saw?
You gave it to me but I really don't want it
I came out on top by the luck of the draw
'Cause a week is a month and an hour a day
When your reaching just pushes it further away

And what's the return on the faith I've provided?
I think that I know now but I haven't decided

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Phish's "Julius" paint a picture of uncertainty and confusion. The opening lines set the tone for the song as the singer is warned to expect danger before beginning their descent down cold granite steps. The following lines express the singer's uncertainty and doubt as they question the trust of those around them. The line "I think that I know what I haven't known yet" illustrates their confusion as they try to make sense of their situation.

The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that time seems to stretch out endlessly and reaching for a resolution only pushes it further away. The use of Aquitana as a metaphor for the vast unknown, stretching out into the sea, adds to the feeling of uncertainty and unpredictability. The singer then questions the value of what has been given to them, wondering what the return on their faith will be. The song concludes with the singer still unsure of their decision, and the listener is left with a sense of ambiguity and open-endedness.

Overall, the lyrics of "Julius" convey a sense of uncertainty and self-doubt. The use of metaphors and vivid imagery adds depth to the song and invites the listener to interpret the lyrics in their own way.

Line by Line Meaning

Danger
The sense of potential danger is real and present

I've been told to expect it
I have been advised to anticipate it

I begin my descent
I initiate going down

Down the cold granite steps
The stairs are made of solid rock and are frigid

And who could have turned among those I confide in?
I trusted someone who betrayed me

I think that I know what I haven't known yet
I believe I understand something I previously didn't

'Cause a week is a month and an hour a day When your reaching just pushes it further away
Time moves slowly and progress is elusive

With your past and your future precisely divided
The separation between past and future is apparent

Am I at that moment?
Am I at a critical juncture?

I haven't decided
I'm unsure of what I should do

And stretching out into the sea, Aquitana
The horizon of Aquitana extends infinitely into the ocean