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."
Life On Mars
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling "No"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
'Cause she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It's on Amerika's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
The song "Life on Mars" by Phish depicts a small, powerless girl with mousy hair caught in the middle of conflicting parental voices. Her mother is yelling "no" while her father insists that she leave. Left to her own devices, she walks through a sunken dream to secure a seat with a clear view of the silver screen. Despite being hooked to the movie, she finds it repetitive, having lived its plot ten times, or more. Frustrated with the requests of others, she feels compelled to spit in the eyes of fools. The scene then shifts to sailors fighting in a dance hall while cavemen look on, making for the freakiest show. The lawman, with his authority, beats up the wrong guy, and as the chorus repeats, we question the possibility of life on Mars.
The song speaks to feeling powerless in a world that overwhelms with conflicting messages. The girl's parents can't agree on what's best for her, and she's left to navigate her life on her own. Likewise, the chaotic scene with sailors, cavemen, and a lawman echoes the feeling of a world out of control. In the end, the question about life on Mars suggests the possibility that there may be another way, a different place where things could be better.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a god-awful small affair
This situation is a pitifully unimportant and trivial affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
This situation is happening to a timid and unremarkable girl
But her mummy is yelling "No"
Her mother is vehemently opposed to this situation
And her daddy has told her to go
Her father is telling her to leave the situation behind
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Her friend is absent from this situation
Now she walks through her sunken dream
She is moving through a dream-like state where everything seems hopeless
To the seat with the clearest view
She is taking the best position to observe the situation
And she's hooked to the silver screen
She is addicted to watching the situation play out on the big screen
But the film is a saddening bore
The movie is both depressing and uninteresting
'Cause she's lived it ten times or more
She has experienced this storyline multiple times before
She could spit in the eyes of fools
She has the upper hand over those who don't understand her situation
As they ask her to focus on
She is being told to pay attention to something specific
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
The scene she is observing involves sailors fighting in a dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
The fighting sailors look primitive and wild
It's the freakiest show
This is truly an unbelievable spectacle
Take a look at the Lawman
She now sees a Lawman joining in the fight, and takes note of him
Beating up the wrong guy
The Lawman has mistakenly targeted an innocent person
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
She wonders if the Lawman will ever realize his mistake
He's in the best selling show
The Lawman's actions have been turned into a popular spectacle
Is there life on Mars?
She is questioning the possibility of life on Mars
It's on Amerika's tortured brow
This situation is weighing heavily on America's collective consciousness
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
America's most beloved character has been corrupted and mutated beyond recognition
Now the workers have struck for fame
The working class is now seeking fame and acclaim for their cause
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
They have found a new celebrity spokesperson in John Lennon
See the mice in their million hordes
There are countless people gathering to protest this situation
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
These protests are happening all over the world
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
The traditional symbols of power are being rejected
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
Even everyday people and entertainers are getting involved in the protests
But the film is a saddening bore
The movie documenting these events is sad and uninteresting
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
The filmmaker has rehashed this story over and over again
It's about to be writ again
The filmmaker is preparing to produce yet another installment of this story
As I ask you to focus on
The filmmaker is urging the viewer to pay attention to what's happening on screen
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jackkiperman6866
Wow. This brings back memories. The last time I heard this I was 17 and in the audience. How time flies.
@flick11291
If this comes back and i miss it, I am gonna be one sorry case
@moleman1976
This specific performance of this cover is one of my all-time favorites! I wasn't there, but early on in my phandom I remember getting a tape of this show, and of all the songs, this one just jumped out at me. I love the interplay in the vocals, with Trey leading up to the chorus and Page taking over - that wasn't immediately apparent when just listening to tapes, but it works so, so well!
@danielledeschamps9286
love this song...
@ryanguis
RIP
@GoodNaturedMischief
RIP Spaceman
@harlanroberts7513
Respect.
@alexvimo8739
🎊 David Bowie by Phish 🎊
@FZappa20
#jamminmusicman Phish covers Bowie. Thought you might like this, #FZappa20
@Sniz420
sorry about that you caught me with one foot off the merry go round there