Throughout his career, Anastasio has participated in various projects outside of Phish, furthering his reputation as a multifaceted composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist. He continues to thrill fans with powerful live performances, and is by no means close to being finished.
Come As Melody
Trey Anastasio Lyrics
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Calls me up to say hello
These kinds of fantasies,
Long enough that laid below
Come as melody
Come as energy
Come as memories
Come at all...
Fall away and stay below
In shadow energy
Long enough today to go
And try to see
What's wrong with me
Or never know
Come as melody
Come as energy
Come as memories
Come at all...
And now will lead
To all you prayed for
Why, to say what's come
What's made to last...
To cry for, live,
You'll see what's one
To be, what's done
What will be last
To see and why...
To make one one
Come as melody...
Come as melody...
One one will be love now
I'm free
Undone
Unheard from...
Love, will beg
Will see...
Will cry for will
Will try to be
To all of one
Thru all to love...
The opening lines of Trey Anastasio's song "Come As Melody" suggest a conversation taking place between the singer and his muse, referred to here as "melody." The initial reference to "fantasies laid below" implies hidden desires or unrealized potential, which are summoned by the music that Melody provides, represented by the repeated phrase "come as melody, come as energy." The singer is motivated to explore these depths, represented by "what's wrong with me," but it's never entirely clear what these "shadows" might be. All that is known is that there is a sense of urgency and possibility, as the memories "fall away" and promise to "lead to all you prayed for."
As the song continues, the lyrics become even more abstract and poetic, though the sense of searching and longing remains. The repeated phrase "to cry for, live" suggests a cycle of emotions and experience that are central to the human condition. The repeated reference to "what's one" could be interpreted in many ways, but perhaps refers to the singer's desire to find unity and meaning in life, or to find a sense of continuity in the face of change.
Overall, "Come As Melody" is a song that explores the power of music to evoke memories, emotions, and deeper truths. For the singer, melody is a conduit to a richer, more meaningful existence, and he reaches out to it with openness and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
This time, when melody
As of now, when the creation of a rhythmical succession, a.k.a Melody, is produced
Calls me up to say hello
Prompting me to react or respond for a greeting
These kinds of fantasies,
Characters and events that were created in a person's mind that are unrealistic or improbable, usually preoccupied with daydreaming.
Long enough that laid below
Existing for a significant amount of time but still ignored and haven't risen or surfaced yet
Come as melody
It connects and arranges the pitches and rhythms to create a musical composition
Come as energy
A vibe or aura that brings a lively feeling or enthusiasm
Come as memories
Past occurrence that lingers in the mind due to evocation, associated emotions, and attitudes
Come at all...
All of these influences coming in, in any form
In time the memories
As time lapse, the past recollections are transformed, and some eventually vanish
Fall away and stay below
Gradually disappearing and hidden in the person's consciousness
In shadow energy
A faint, obscure, or imperceptible dynamic that is present deep inside.
Long enough today to go
The duration of today's time is adequate to be able to pass on and be transformed.
And try to see
Putting an effort to observe and scrutinize the present situation and context.
What's wrong with me
Inquiring about what deficiency or flaw is present in oneself.
Or never know
Ignorant of the nuances of oneself.
And now will lead
At this moment in time, it will move forward
To all you prayed for
Towards everything one has asked for through prayer or appeal.
Why, to say what's come
The answer why it came to be; to verbalize what has occurred.
What's made to last...
The things that were designed and constructed to endure or persist through time.
To cry for, live,
Either it is worth crying or living for.
You'll see what's one
It will become evident what is the ultimate and singular purpose.
To be, what's done
One must become what they were designed to be, and do what they were meant to do.
What will be last
In the end, what will be the final result or outcome.
To see and why...
To understand what occurred and its rationale.
To make one one
To join and become united as one.
Come as melody...
All the influences, stimulation, and notions will join together to create a musical composition, sequence or combination.
Come as melody...
Repeating the idea of all the influences, stimulation, and notions will join together to create a musical composition, sequence, or combination.
One one will be love now
What was one will now become or embody love.
I'm free
Now unrestrained and emancipated.
Undone
Not completed, finished or achieved
Unheard from...
Remained covert, hidden, or undetected.
Love, will beg
The force or emotion of love would make a request or entreaty.
Will see...
Will perceive or comprehend.
Will cry for will
Love will provoke crying or wailing.
Will try to be
An effort will be made to become better or improve oneself.
To all of one
To merge into one.
Thru all to love...
Through every means and expression, it will lead to love.
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.