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."
Meat
Phish Lyrics
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I hear your footsteps through the wall
I wait in silence for your call
Then take a shot and watch you fall
I am a ghost but I cannot fly
I'm stuck here as the years slide by
I need a resting place 'cause I
If I had a host of ghosts
Living on my street
I'd jive and strive to stay alive
And offer them some meat
I need a different life I think
Perhaps I'd be the missing link
And treasure moments as I drink
Away the memories let the sink
The lyrics of the Phish song "Meat" are open to interpretation, as many of the band's songs are. The lyrics depict a narrator who calls themselves a prince, indicating a sense of power and entitlement. They hear someone's footsteps through the wall and wait for their call before taking a shot and watching them fall. There is a sense of possession and control over the other person. The singer then describes themselves as a ghost who can't fly, indicating a feeling of being trapped or stuck. They need a resting place and have already felt their body die.
The second verse brings in the idea of having a "host of ghosts" living on their street. The singer would strive to stay alive and offer them meat, which could be interpreted in a few different ways. Meat could be seen as a physical offering, but it could also be a metaphor for something deeper, like offering sustenance or nourishment to others. The final line of the verse suggests that the singer is seeking a different life, where they can treasure moments as they drink and let memories sink away.
Overall, the lyrics of "Meat" could be interpreted as a commentary on power, control, and the desire for something different. The singer seems to be struggling with feelings of being trapped and seeking a different way of living.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a prince I have it all
I have everything that anyone could aspire for, and I am superior to all.
I hear your footsteps through the wall
I am aware of your presence, and I know everything that you do.
I wait in silence for your call
Even though I am aware of your presence, I patiently wait for you to reach out and communicate with me.
Then take a shot and watch you fall
Once you have communicated with me, I will take advantage of you and see you fail.
I am a ghost but I cannot fly
I am dead, but I cannot move forward as one would expect a ghost to do.
I'm stuck here as the years slide by
I remain stationary and unchanging, as time continues to move forward.
I need a resting place 'cause I
I require a place to be at rest because
Already felt my body die
my physical being is no longer alive.
If I had a host of ghosts
If I were surrounded by many other dead beings,
Living on my street
on the same plane of existence as me,
I'd jive and strive to stay alive
I would do everything in my power to remain present and active.
And offer them some meat
I would provide them with sustenance.
I need a different life I think
I believe that I require a change in perspective,
Perhaps I'd be the missing link
possibly I could be the solution to a crucial problem,
And treasure moments as I drink
and cherish the moments that pass as I indulge in a simple pleasure such as drinking.
Away the memories let the sink
I must let go of my past experiences and allow them to drift away from my mind.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: TREY ANASTASIO, JON FISHMAN, MIKE GORDON, TOM MARSHALL, PAGE MC CONNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind