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."
The Horse
Phish Lyrics
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Sink my toes into the ground and set a different course
'Cause if I were here and you were there
I'd meet you in between
And not until my dying day, confess what I have seen.
The opening lines of Phish's song The Horse depict a significant moment of realization and decision-making. The singer, who seems to be carrying a heavy load on a horse, wants to relieve the horse of its burden by taking the baskets off. This gesture can symbolize the singer's desire to free themselves from something that has been weighing them down for too long. By setting a different course and sinking their toes into the ground, the singer suggests a change of direction and a connection with nature, perhaps implying that being in touch with the earth will help them find their way.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time I sling the baskets off this overburdened horse
I feel it's time for me to relieve myself of the heavy burdens that have been weighing me down for so long.
Sink my toes into the ground and set a different course
I need to start fresh, change the direction in which I'm heading and find new beginnings.
'Cause if I were here and you were there
In this situation, if I were in my current state, and you were in a different or better state,
I'd meet you in between
I would try to bridge the gap between us and meet halfway to find a common ground.
And not until my dying day, confess what I have seen.
I vow to carry the burden of my knowledge, secrets, and experiences to the grave, never to reveal them to anyone.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind