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."
Star Spangled Banner
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming
And the rockers' red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave
The Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics of the song, written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, describe the American flag flying over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. The first verse of the song, often the only one performed, starts with the question, "Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light," asking whether or not someone is able to see the flag still flying after a night of intense fighting.
The second line of the first verse, "What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming," references the pride felt by Americans as they watched the flag, still standing, at the end of the battle. The following lines remark on the flag's "broad stripes and bright stars" flying during "the perilous fight" and how "the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air" gave proof that the flag was still there. The final line of the verse poses the question again, asking if the star-spangled banner still waves over the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
Overall, the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner capture the resilient spirit of the American people in the face of danger and uncertainty. The image of the flag flying even as bombs explode around it represents a symbol of hope and determination, and the song serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for the country's freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light
Can you see what's happening in the early hours of the morning?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
We proudly celebrated our country's achievements in the last moments of the day.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight
The flag's stripes and stars were seen through a dangerous battle.
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming
We watched as the flag waved bravely over the fortifications.
And the rockers' red glare, the bombs bursting in air
The bright red flashes of rockets and exploding bombs lit up the night sky.
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there
The flag survived the night and was still standing by morning.
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
Does the flag representing our country still fly proudly?
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave
Over the country where people are free and courageous.
Lyrics © HAL LEONARD LLC
Written by: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
graminator100
Haha. Somewhat unrelated but at my first phish show some dude was shooting off fireworks in the parking lot after the show and I started screaming "MURICA!". I ended up getting like 30 people to scream it with me whenever one was shot off. Good times.
Matthew Rosenfield
Atlantic City, 10/29/2010 I believe
Nate
Where and when is this taken from?
Nate
@Gibnah97 Cool, closest I'll ever make it to the Smithsonian
Booger T Washington
AC 2010
Ella Brookes
Can anyone tell me who this band is, have they got some sort of cultural significance ? Also why is the crowd hysterical?
Ella Brookes
@Satire Wars Thanks for replying. I'm British so that's probably why I've not heard of them.
Satire Wars
Phish is a band that became popular in the 90's. They have a cult following because of their relentless creativity and musicianship. In 2017 they sold out Madison Square Garden for 13 nights. They're dorks. They bring a lot of joy to a lot of folks.
Phluffhead
Merica
Wesley Hodges
America.