Phish is a rock band which formed in 1983 in Burlington, Vermont, United St… Read Full Bio ↴Phish is a rock band which formed in 1983 in Burlington, Vermont, United States. For most of their career, the group's lineup has consisted of Trey Anastasio (guitar, vocals), Page McConnell (keyboards, vocals), Mike Gordon (bass, vocals) and Jon Fishman (drums, vocals, vacuum cleaner).

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."

Wading in the Velvet Sea
Phish Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the

I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the

I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the

I took a moment from my day
And wrapped it up in things you say
And mailed it off to your address
You'll get it pretty soon unless

The packaging begins to break
And all the points I tried to make
Are tossed with thoughts into a bin
And time leaks out my life leaks in

You won't find moments in a box
And someone else will set your clocks
I took a moment from my day
And wrapped it up in things you say
And mailed it off to you

You won't find moments in a box
And someone else will set your clocks
I took a moment from my day

I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the

I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been wading in the velvet sea

I've been wading in the
I've been wading in the

Overall Meaning

Phish's "Wading in the Velvet Sea" is a song about taking a break from the chaos of life to reflect on the moments that matter. The repetition of the line "I've been wading in the velvet sea" creates a dreamy and hypnotic effect, as if the singer is floating in a calm and peaceful state of mind. The metaphor of the "velvet sea" describes a sensation of luxury and comfort, like sinking into a soft and plush surface. The chorus evokes a feeling of surrender and acceptance, as the singer lets go of the stresses of daily life and immerses themselves in something soothing and tranquil.

The verses add a layer of complexity to the song's meaning, as the lyrics describe the difficulty of communicating and connecting with others. The singer tries to capture a moment of their day in what they say, but they are aware that it might get lost or misunderstood. The act of mailing this moment to someone else feels like a desperate attempt to bridge a gap, but the packaging might break or the metaphorical message might get tossed aside. The line "time leaks out my life leaks in" suggests that the singer is aware of their own mortality and the fleeting nature of existence. The song acknowledges the limitations of language and human contact, but also celebrates the preciousness of individual experiences in a world where time is constantly slipping away.

In summary, "Wading in the Velvet Sea" is a song that invites us to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the beauty around us. It acknowledges the challenges of communication and the inevitability of passing through time, but it also offers a sense of peace and comfort in the face of uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been wading in the velvet sea
I've been immersed in a luxurious, comfortable, and easy life

I took a moment from my day
I paused my busy life for a short time

And wrapped it up in things you say
I reflected on your words and took them with me

And mailed it off to your address
I sent my thoughts and reflections to you

You'll get it pretty soon unless
Unless there is some delay, you will receive my message soon

The packaging begins to break
The message might not be delivered intact or it might not be received as intended

And all the points I tried to make
The main ideas I wanted to communicate

Are tossed with thoughts into a bin
The ideas are discarded or mixed up with other thoughts

And time leaks out my life leaks in
As time passes, my life is passing by me

You won't find moments in a box
You won't find precious experiences or memories by looking in a box

And someone else will set your clocks
If you rely on someone else to manage your time, they will dictate what you do with your life