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."
Purple Rain
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend, hey
Baby, I could never steal you from another
It's such a shame our friendship had to end
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain
Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin'
It's time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader, but you can't seem to make up your mind
And I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
If you know what I'm singin' about up here, come on raise your hand
Purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you, only want to see you in the purple rain
The lyrics of Phish's song Purple Rain express a longing for a lost love, a friend or perhaps a lover, who has moved on without reciprocating the same affection. The singer of the song expresses regret and sorrow for any pain or heartache caused, admitting that their intentions were pure and they only ever wanted to see the other person happy and carefree. The imagery of purple rain is introduced as a symbol of this joy, something the singer hoped to share with the other person, to see them laughing and bathing in it. However, this dream could never be realized, and their relationship has ended as a result.
The second verse further cements the idea that the singer did not want to be a mere fling, a weekend lover, but rather a meaningful presence in the other person's life. They recognize that the other person was already in a committed relationship and accepts this, but expresses disappointment that their own friendship had to end over their unrequited feelings. The final verse sees the singer offering guidance, suggesting that it's time for both parties to move on and embrace something new. The call for action is directed at the other person, who is portrayed as indecisive but in need of a leader or a mentor, someone to help them navigate this change. The song ends with a plea to see the other person once again, but this time only in the purple rain, where everything is pure and peaceful.
Line by Line Meaning
I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I didn't intend to hurt your feelings or make you sad
I never meant to cause you any pain
I didn't want to cause you emotional or physical pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I just wanted to see you happy and smiling once
I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain
I hoped to see your joy and happiness in the midst of a difficult time
Purple rain, purple rain
The rain is colored as a metaphor for a tragic event
Purple rain, purple rain
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the gravity of the situation
Purple rain, purple rain
The line reiterates the colorful rain that represents sadness and loss
I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain
I wanted to witness your vulnerability in your moment of pain and sorrow
I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I didn't have casual or fleeting intentions when it came to our relationship
I only wanted to be some kind of friend, hey
I hoped for a meaningful and supportive relationship with you
Baby, I could never steal you from another
I didn't want to come between you and anybody else
It's such a shame our friendship had to end
It's unfortunate that we had to part ways
Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin'
I'm aware that things are changing, and we need to adapt
It's time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
We need to move forward by exploring novel options and possibilities
You say you want a leader, but you can't seem to make up your mind
You're looking for guidance and direction, but you're indecisive
And I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain
Maybe you should relax and follow my lead in this difficult time
If you know what I'm singin' about up here, come on raise your hand
If you can relate to my message, show me
I only want to see you, only want to see you in the purple rain
My only wish is to see you through your struggles and troubles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sc ke
Epic...this is the culmination of Prince's vision for this classic.....
Luke139
@jaypeedee18 They just like having fun is all. They've always done the vocal jam, and if you go to a show and they play You Enjoy Myself, the lights are epic during it. The band is basically four goofballs doing what they love, and yeah the cover is basically a joke, because their drummer is just hilarious and does random things like this for fun. I don't know if you've been to a show or not, but it's an amazing experience that you keep wanting to re-live.
Leah Campbell
This was the show I saw before the Halloween show. Loved both!
Davis Lee Miles
Finally, a Phish video I can say ‘I was there’ to.
Rainbow loom overflow
I have lost a part of my teenage years with this loss.
This one hurts.
a12345
If I remember correctly, I think they broke into "beat it" during this show at one point.
popomczowzow
0:00 - 3:13 this is the sound of 4 people tripping their collective nuts off
Phish Market
RIP PRINCE
Eric
I was there. RIP Shawn miss you brother
Hansolo
Does the lighting guy jam out in real time with these shows? Just fuckn rocking his shit all over a big ass mixing desk? Lighting in these concerts is always sharp as a nail!