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."
Weekapaug Groove
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walked on down the hall
He said, "Mother..."
"Father, I want to kill you..."
"Mother...
I want to cook you breakfast...
I want to cook you breakfast, Mother...
Then I wanna...I wanna borrow the car...
Then I wanna borrow the car...
Then I wanna..."
Ooooooooooh
Trying to make a woman match your moves
Ooooooooooh
And I'm sharing in the Weekapaug groove
Trying to make a woman match your moves
Ooooooooooh
And I'm sharing in the Weekapaug groove
Trying to make a woman match your moves
Ooooooooooh
And I'm sharing in the Weekapaug groove
Weekapaug Groove by Phish is a nonsensical, stream of consciousness song with bizarre and surreal lyrics that is open to interpretation. The song starts with Brett, who is in the bathtub making soup for the ambassadors, possibly a reference to someone trying to please everyone but failing. Meanwhile, the singer is in the hallway singing to the troubadours, suggesting that everyone is pursuing their own interests without interacting with each other. The arrival of the kings outside the gate and the ringing of the autumn bells signify an important event, however, they’ll have to wait as everyone is busy with their own activities.
Line by Line Meaning
Brett is in the bathtub
Brett is doing something private that he is not willing to share with others
Making soup for the ambassadors
Brett is doing something that is important and valuable, possibly for someone else
And I am in the hallway
I am admiring Brett or waiting for him to finish what he's doing
Singing to the troubadours
I am passing the time by engaging with art or music
The kings are all lined up
Powerful people are waiting patiently for something
Outside the gate
These powerful people are outside of some kind of boundary or limit
And the autumn bells are ringing
The passage of time is bringing change and perhaps new opportunities
But they'll just have to wait
Even though they are powerful, they cannot always get what they want when they want it
Where is the joker?
Someone is looking for someone else who is known for being silly or amusing
Have you seen him around
This search is not urgent, but is idle curiosity
With his three coned cap
This man has a peculiar style or wardrobe
That he wears like a clown?
His outfit makes him stand out as someone who might not be taken seriously
Have you seen his stripped stockings
This man has other items of clothing that make him noticeable, possibly in a flamboyant way
And heard his sad tale
This man has a story or a history that is complicated or atypical
About the kids under the carpet
This story has hidden or unusual elements to it, something unexpected
And the purple humpbacked whales
This story may include fantastic or mythical elements as well
Here come the ambassadors
Those Brett was making soup for are now arriving
They show up one by one
The people arriving have their own schedules and priorities
Brett is tasting all the soup
Brett is doing something practical and responsible, ensuring that the soup is good enough for the guests
To see if it is done
Brett is applying his expertise to ensure that the soup is the best it can be
Wendy's on the windowsill
Someone is waiting patiently and perhaps eagerly to be let in or included in the group
Waiting to be let in
This person desires to join the group that has already begun doing something together
And we're all in the bathtub now
Everyone has come together and is now doing something irreverent, perhaps enjoyable but definitely informal
Making bathtub gin
Everyone is doing something that is unregulated and may be illegal or immoral
The kings storm the hallway
The powerful people who were waiting have now become impatient and are making their presence known
They've climbed up through the gate
These powerful people have broken through boundaries or restrictions to get what they want
They didn't mean to be impolite
These powerful people acknowledge that they are disrupting something but feel their own needs are more important
But they just couldn't wait
Their desire for what they want is overwhelming any consideration for others
Here comes the joker
The silly or amusing person has finally arrived
With his silly grin
This person is not concerned with the seriousness of the situation and has a carefree attitude
He carries a martini
This person has a drink in hand, possibly indicating a celebratory mood
Made of bathtub gin
This person has joined in the unlawful or immoral activity that the group is engaging in
We all must laugh
The group has relaxed and is now able to find the humor in the situation
Cause we're all in this together
Everyone is involved and implicated in the situation, and so everyone must take responsibility for their own unique role
And we love to take a bath
Everyone enjoys the lighthearted, irreverent activity that they are doing together
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, JONATHAN FISHMAN, MICHAEL GORDON, PAGE MCCONNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SaucednFoundVintage
Ive only been listening to phish for almost 2 years and every new song i find I always fall in love with, Add another to that list.
@cathiker
Welcome to the Phamily!
@ngerstein
Weekapaug is one of their finest non-studio songs.
@jackstraw5602
Sand, down with disease, tube, first etc and wheels on the bus...
The Other One...☮️🍭
@weinbda
they are the greatest live rock band in the world
@Smegma_pirate
You’ve got a lot of catching up to do, watch out for people who want to welcome you to the “Phamily” they’re waiting for you to fall asleep soo they can steal your pills and your liquor.
@transtremm
Jon Fishman, wow, beyond amazing.
@tomflorczakjr.5353
They attack!
The drummer is really underrated. Dude plays a vacuum in a muumuu too. These guys have fun but are great musicians.
@scottsimmons6656
His right foot belongs in the rock and roll hall of fame.
@Bee-hf3fc
Yeah, Fishman is very deceptive. Follows the others so well. Don't know how he does it. Also, he hits hard when he needs to. Very full sound. He reminds me of the way Phil Lesh plays bass. Perfectly in tune and pitch with the rest of band. My opinion.