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."
Theme From the Bottom
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live upon morsels you happen to drop
And coffee that somehow leaks out of your cup
If nothing comes down then I'm forced to swim up
On the way upwards, the colors come back
But all along the bottom is blue, grey, and black
The darkness is cold and perception goes wrong
And the night seems to go on incredibly long
So I ask you why if I'm swimming by,
Don't you see anything you'd like to try?
Pantomime mixtures of heaven and earth
Jumbled events that have less than no worth
Time in the forest to dig under rocks
Or float in the ocean asleep in a box
Or sink just below all the churning and froth
And swim to the light source or fly like a moth
So toss away stuff you don't need in the end
But keep what's important and know who's your friend
So I ask you why if I'm swimming by,
Don't you see anything that you'd like to try?
If I'm swimming by
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
From the bottom, from the top
Theme From the Bottom is a song by Phish with lyrics that express a sense of longing for a more meaningful life. The opening lines highlight how the singer feels like they are just getting the scraps in life, feeding from the bottom while others are getting the best. The reference to coffee leaking out of a cup adds to the imagery of wasted opportunity that the singer feels. But despite all this, the singer still sees potential for a more fulfilling life, symbolized by swimming up to the surface where the colors are brighter.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more surreal, describing a world where there are mixtures of heaven and earth, and time to float in the ocean in a box. The imagery of sinking below the churning froth and swimming towards the light source is a powerful metaphor for finding meaning in life. The final verse brings everything full circle, advising us to toss away what we don't need, keep what's important, and know who our friends are.
Overall, Theme From the Bottom is a song about finding meaning and purpose in life despite feeling like you're getting the short end of the stick. It's a call to action to take control of your destiny and seek out the things that make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
I feed from the bottom, you feed from the top
I rely on the scraps you leave behind, while you enjoy the best of everything
I live upon morsels you happen to drop
I survive on the small bits and pieces of your abundance that fall my way
And coffee that somehow leaks out of your cup
Even the seemingly insignificant things that you discard are useful to me
If nothing comes down then I'm forced to swim up
If you hold everything to yourself, I am forced to struggle and try to reach the surface on my own
On the way upwards, the colors come back
As I rise to the surface, my perspective changes and I start to appreciate the beauty of life
But all along the bottom is blue, grey, and black
The depths of despair are dark and gloomy, filled with sadness and uncertainties
The darkness is cold and perception goes wrong
The darkness of despair numbs the senses and makes it difficult to see things clearly
And the night seems to go on incredibly long
The pain and agony of despair can feel endless and unrelenting
So I ask you why if I'm swimming by, Don't you see anything you'd like to try?
As I struggle to survive, I wonder why you don't seem to notice my efforts, or why you don't try to help me
Pantomime mixtures of heaven and earth
I fantasize about a world where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual are blurred
Jumbled events that have less than no worth
The chaos and confusion of life events makes it hard to see any meaning in them
Time in the forest to dig under rocks
Sometimes one must look below the surface to find hidden opportunities
Or float in the ocean asleep in a box
Sometimes surrendering to the forces of life can provide peace and tranquility
Or sink just below all the churning and froth
Escaping from the chaos, one can find solace by going deeper
And swim to the light source or fly like a moth
Finding the light at the end of the tunnel, or chasing one's dreams, can lead to a sense of fulfillment
So toss away stuff you don't need in the end
Prioritizing what is really important, and discarding the rest, can lead to a simpler and more fulfilling life
But keep what's important and know who's your friend
The true distinction between what you need and what is extraneous is knowing who are the people who truly care about you
So I ask you why if I'm swimming by, Don't you see anything that you'd like to try?
As I struggle to survive, I wonder whether you are oblivious to my struggle or whether you simply don't care
If I'm swimming by
Despite being unnoticed by others, I persist in my struggle for survival
From the bottom, from the top From the bottom, from the top From the bottom, from the top From the bottom, from the top
Repeating these phrases emphasizes how the disparity between those with plenty and those with very little permeates every part of life
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, JONATHAN FISHMAN, MICHAEL GORDON, PAGE MCCONNELL, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt Clinton
One of those more subtle, gentler jams that grows on you each time you listen. I like how Trey doesn’t hog the floor… when he does play it doesn’t overshadow the others and there is good balance in the band. I’ve noticed this more this tour and I’m really digging it.. light and fluffy jams like this are great to play at work or in the car
Dan Kachelries
Well I glad you found phish. The other part, I’m not sure what you mean. Maybe I’m “that” elitist ahole that’s seen over a hundred shows but it’s never about overplaying another member. Does Trey play too many note? Ask Cactus lol… but seriously, glad you jumped in, waters nice.. now go listen to a S&SS for that nice balance
Missy Templeman
🙂
Shane Rabideau
My new favorite Theme...it took many many years to be able to make this statement but this Theme...wow! Beautiful
Ribrack TV
Probably one of the most under rated songs from the tour
herbythechef
I was there for this one, it was certainly an awesome vibe for this jam. Everyone around me was passing joints around and people were just grooving to it. Its a moment i wont forget
Billy
This was a feeling
Bee
Please come to Peru 🇵🇪
Starwind
I’m loving these larger melodic themes Treys been bringing into these explorations. Turn on the MIDI and it’s psychedelic heaven
David Lawrence
All I want when I see Phish is that they jam and I get one beloved song. Mission accomplished.