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 Squirming Coil
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep within my reach
Tried yesterday to get away
And hitchhiked to the beach
I saw Satan on the beach
Trying to catch a ray
He wasn't quite the speed of light
It got away
The muscles flex the mother's ring
She fastens children to her king
And sends him down the crooked street
When he returns, the birth's complete
Jimmy holds the Tannis root
The forest's tasty nectar shoot
The sun tips off the monarch's suit
From sequined sash to shiny boot
"I'd like to lick the coil some day
Like Icarus, who had to pay
With melting wax and feathers brown
He tasted it on his way down"
Stun the puppy!
Burn the whale!
Bark a scruff and go to jail!
Forge the coin and lick the stamp!
Little Jimmy's off to camp
The Squirming Coil is a song that is full of poetic, yet obscure lyrics that require some careful analysis to unravel and interpret. The opening verse speaks of a sunset, and the singer's desire to keep the Squirming Coil within their reach - this could be a metaphor for an elusive or ambiguous goal that is hard to grasp or attain. The second verse describes an encounter with Satan on the beach, who is trying to catch a ray of light. This could be a reference to the devil's eternal quest for power and knowledge, or perhaps it represents the never-ending pursuit of something unattainable.
The third verse is perhaps the most challenging to decipher, as it talks about a mother's ring, children, and the birth being complete when the king returns down the crooked street. This could represent the cycle of life and death, or the passing down of a family legacy from one generation to the next. The fourth verse mentions Jimmy holding the Tannis root, which could be a reference to a magical or mythical substance that is used to gain enlightenment or insight. The sun tips off the monarch's suit, which could signify a change of power or a shift in the balance of control.
The final verse ends with a series of nonsensical statements, such as "Stun the puppy!" and "Bark a scruff and go to jail!" These could be interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the absurdity of life, or perhaps a nod to the surrealistic style of the lyrics throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The Squirming Coil of sunset
Refers to the sunset's striking colors that resemble a squirming coil.
I keep within my reach
The singer is always surrounded by this mesmerizing sight.
Tried yesterday to get away And hitchhiked to the beach
The singer tried to escape the coil, but couldn't and ended up at the beach.
I saw Satan on the beach Trying to catch a ray He wasn't quite the speed of light And the squirming coil It got away
The devil was trying to catch the sun rays but couldn't because the coil was obstructing the view.
The muscles flex the mother's ring She fastens children to her king And sends him down the crooked street When he returns, the birth's complete
The mother's ring represents her nurturing and protective nature towards her children. She sends her king (husband/father) out to work and complete the family circle.
Jimmy holds the Tannis root The forest's tasty nectar shoot The sun tips off the monarch's suit From sequined sash to shiny boot
Jimmy is enjoying nature's gifts, including the Tannis root and the forest's nectar. The sun shining on the monarch's suit brings out its stunning details.
"I'd like to lick the coil some day Like Icarus, who had to pay With melting wax and feathers brown He tasted it on his way down"
The singer wants to experience the beauty of the sunset, but fears that like Icarus, he might get burned and suffer consequences.
Stun the puppy! Burn the whale! Bark a scruff and go to jail! Forge the coin and lick the stamp! Little Jimmy's off to camp
This stanza is about random, nonsensical commands that can't be taken too seriously. Jimmy is going off to summer camp soon.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: TOM MARSHALL, TREY ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind