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."
Waste
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't want to be a writer with my thoughts out on the page
Don't want to be a painter 'cause everyone comes to look
Don't want to be anything where my life's an open book
A dream it's true
But I'd see it through
If I could be
Don't want to be a farmer working in the sun
Don't want to be an outlaw always on the run
Don't want to be a climber reaching for the top
Don't want to be anything where I don't know when to stop
A dream it's true
But I'd see it through
If I could be
Wasting my time with you
So if I'm inside your head
Don't believe what you might have read
You'll see what I might have said
To hear it
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
So if I'm inside your head
Don't believe what you might have read
You'll see what I might have said
To hear it
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
The lyrics to Phish's song Waste are an expression of the desire for simplicity, for a life removed from the pressure of success and recognition. The singer rejects the idea of being a performer, because he does not want to pretend to be someone else or expose his inner thoughts and feelings to the scrutiny of others. Similarly, he rejects the idea of being an artist or a farmer, because both professions require a dedication and a pursuit of excellence that might detract from the enjoyment of life. He does not want to reach for the top or be always on the run, because those objectives might prove to be hollow achievements.
The central theme of the song is a call for intimacy and companionship, a plea for someone to waste his time with, that is, to spend time in simple pleasures and everyday joys without any specific goal or purpose. The singer acknowledges that this is a dream, perhaps an unrealistic one, but he is willing to pursue it nonetheless. He wishes to be with someone who shares this vision of life, who does not judge him based on the outside world's standards but accepts him for who he is.
The song's melancholy tone is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "come waste your time with me," a refrain that echoes the sentiment of the lyrics and emphasizes the singer's longing for connection. The use of the conditional tense ("if I could be") also suggests a sense of distance between the singer and this ideal life, as if it were an unattainable fantasy rather than a realistic option.
Phish's Waste was released in 2000 and became a fan favorite, featuring regularly in the band's live performances. The song was included in the album Farmhouse, which received critical acclaim for its blend of Americana, folk, and rock influences. Waste stands out as a more introspective and subdued track on the album, contrasting with the more upbeat and energetic songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't want to be an actor pretending on the stage
I don't want to fake my emotions to entertain others
Don't want to be a writer with my thoughts out on the page
I don't want to expose my deepest feelings and opinions to the world
Don't want to be a painter 'cause everyone comes to look
I don't want to create art that is constantly being scrutinized by others
Don't want to be anything where my life's an open book
I don't want to live a life that is constantly being watched and judged by others
A dream it's true
This is a dream I have
But I'd see it through
But if given the chance, I would pursue it
If I could be
If I had the opportunity
Wasting my time with you
To spend time with you doing nothing would be worth it
Don't want to be a farmer working in the sun
I don't want to work outside in the heat all day
Don't want to be an outlaw always on the run
I don't want to be constantly looking over my shoulder
Don't want to be a climber reaching for the top
I don't want to be constantly striving for success and chasing after goals
Don't want to be anything where I don't know when to stop
I don't want to pursue something without knowing when to quit or take a break
So if I'm inside your head
If you are thinking about me
Don't believe what you might have read
Don't trust what you may have heard or read about me
You'll see what I might have said
You will see what I actually said or did if you spend time with me
To hear it
To hear the truth about me from me directly
Come waste your time with me
Spend time with me doing nothing productive or meaningful
Come waste your time with me
Spend time with me doing nothing productive or meaningful
Come waste your time with me
Spend time with me doing nothing productive or meaningful
Come waste your time with me
Spend time with me doing nothing productive or meaningful
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PopADoseYo
Don't want to be an actor pretending on the stage
Don't want to be a writer with my thoughts out on the page
Don't want to be a painter 'cause everyone comes to look
Don't want to be anything where my life's an open book
A dream it's true
But I'd see it through
If I could be
Wasting my time with you
Don't want to be a farmer working in the sun
Don't want to be an outlaw always on the run
Don't want to be a climber reaching for the top
Don't want to be anything where I don't know when to stop
A dream it's true
But I'd see it through
If I could be
Wasting my time with you
So if I'm inside your head
Don't believe what you might have read
You'll see what I might have said
To hear it
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
So if I'm inside your head
Don't believe what you might have read
You'll see what I might have said
To hear it
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
Come waste your time with me
@DudeJunks
This song reminds me of my best bud... he died from Leukemia 3 years ago. He was about 26 years old. I miss ya, Johny Boy! This was one of our jams.
@OGFlipperbaby
<3
@mitchellthegoat6879
🙁
@mattyc.9332
I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing....❤️
@thumbprintn2413
Thinkin of you guys with love
@teresa4786
That’s so life changing, losing your best bud. So young to fly away…remember the good times. God bless.
@caroleesloan1580
I lost my best friend of 25 yrs this was our song .. here's to you my Besty Leonard
@cloksin
My wife and I had our first dance at our wedding last week to this song, now I can't listen to it without tearing up! :-)
@alexsalvato1799
+cloksin Beautiful! I plan on the doing the same!
@redfishbluefish4973
cloksin I played this song for one of my buddies at his wedding. Congrats (2 years later haha)!