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."
Silent in the Morning
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avoiding all the obstacles that terrorize my view
If you are here with me, I trust you to lead the way
When you're not I follow you, and always go astray
Silent in the morning
Suspended in the trees
Lunch time comes you've found your voice
The volume just increases
The resounding echoes grow
Till once again I bask in morning stillness, I love so
The target that I shoot for seems to move with every breath
I tighten all my arteries and make one last request
Divine creation hears me, and he squashes me with fear
I think that this exact thing happened to me, just last year
Silent in the morning
You found your voice that brings me to
Silent in the morning
You found your voice that brings me to
Silent in the morning
You found your voice that brings me to my knees
I will not dismiss you, shelter you, speak with you
Smile at you, trust in me, He'd like to brush you off, and I'd agree
The lyrics to Phish’s “Silent in the Morning” suggest a sense of anxiety and discomfort, as the singer navigates a world full of obstacles that “terrorize” their view. They describe constantly scanning their environment to avoid these obstacles, a task that is made easier when they are with someone they trust to lead the way. Without this guidance, they feel lost and “always go astray.”
The chorus of the song brings a sense of relief as the singer describes the peace and stillness they find in the morning. They use the metaphor of being “suspended in the trees,” evoking a feeling of peace and harmony with nature. However, as lunchtime arrives, the peace is shattered as the volume increases and they are once again bombarded with sound.
The second verse of the song is more abstract and introduces the idea of a moving target that the singer is trying to hit. They also describe the sense of being squashed with fear by a force of divine creation, implying a struggle between the self and a higher power.
Overall, the song creates a sensation of tension and unease that is only temporarily relieved by moments of peace and stillness.
Line by Line Meaning
My glance is always darting, when I stroll the avenue
I am always alert and watchful, scanning my surroundings when I walk outside
Avoiding all the obstacles that terrorize my view
I try to avoid anything that causes me fear or anxiety, such as potential dangers or triggering sights
If you are here with me, I trust you to lead the way
I feel safe and secure when I am with someone I trust to guide me
When you're not I follow you, and always go astray
When I am without that trusted person, I tend to lose my way and become uncertain
Silent in the morning
The calmness and stillness of the morning brings peace
Suspended in the trees
The trees and nature around me give me a feeling of being suspended or weightless
Lunch time comes you've found your voice
During the busy mid-day hours, the noise and activity picks up and becomes more chaotic
It brings me to my knees
This frenzied environment can be overwhelming, leaving me feeling exhausted or defeated
The volume just increases
The noise and activity continues to grow louder and more intense
The resounding echoes grow
The sounds and effects of this environment reverberate and intensify
Till once again I bask in morning stillness, I love so
I long for the calm and peacefulness of the morning once again
The target that I shoot for seems to move with every breath
The goals and aspirations I have seem to constantly shift and change
I tighten all my arteries and make one last request
I become anxious and tense, making one final plea for success
Divine creation hears me, and he squashes me with fear
Although I pray for success, I am often met with fear and uncertainty
I think that this exact thing happened to me, just last year
I have experienced this same cycle of anxiety and fear before
I will not dismiss you, shelter you, speak with you
I will not ignore, protect or communicate with someone who causes me anxiety or fear
Smile at you, trust in me, He'd like to brush you off, and I'd agree
Although others may want to ignore or dismiss that person, I agree that it is important to acknowledge their presence and work through my own fears and anxieties
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind