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.
Frost
Trey Anastasio Lyrics
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With her solitary pawn
Who lingers on, then is gone
With no word and no one heard
Where he went to this day
Maybe he will sail away
The children of the sun having fun
Didn't realize they were done
Because the pawn chanced to wander through the camp
Just like a tramp
He left his stamp there to this day
Maybe he will sail away
Gone are silent summer rains
Wind is rolling off the plains
Bringing ice upon the breeze
Making flowing water freeze
The minstrel of the land made a stand
In a castle made of sand
Watched it fall in the frost
And the message was lost
With one last word to deliver
Under ice upon the river
It lies frozen to this day
Maybe it will sail away
Sail away
Frozen to this day
Maybe it will sail away
Maybe it will sail away
Maybe it will sail away
Maybe it will sail away...
The lyrics of Trey Anastasio's song "Frost" convey a sense of fleetingness and uncertainty, with vivid imagery of natural elements like ice and wind that are constantly changing and challenging our perceptions of time and space. The song opens with a haunting reference to the mistress of the dawn, who is often associated with renewal and rebirth, but in this context seems to be accompanied by a lonely and transient figure, a "solitary pawn" who moves on without leaving a trace. The lyrics suggest that even the most momentous events can pass us by without our noticing, and that the imprints we leave behind may be far more subtle and elusive than we imagine.
The second verse shifts the focus to the "children of the sun", who are seen as carefree and oblivious to the dangers and uncertainties of life. The pawn's presence among them is described as accidental and inconsequential, yet it leaves a lasting mark on their surroundings, like a temporary visitor who disrupts the status quo without intending to. The chorus highlights the paradoxical nature of the passage of time, as the frozen river seems to be both motionless and poised for action, both trapped in the present and open to future possibilities. The lyrics suggest that our fate is shaped by forces beyond our control, and that even the most seemingly trivial events can have a profound impact on our lives.
Overall, the lyrics of "Frost" suggest that we are all pawns in a larger game, subject to the whims of fate and chance. Despite the uncertainties and challenges we face, we are invited to embrace the transience and beauty of life, and to find meaning in the small moments that define our existence.
Line by Line Meaning
The mistress of the dawn strides along
The sun rises and shines its light on the earth
With her solitary pawn
A lone figure on the earth
Who lingers on, then is gone
The sun rises and sets quickly each day
With no word and no one heard
The sun has no voice and no one listens anyway
Where he went to this day
Nobody knows where the sun goes each night
Maybe he will sail away
Perhaps the sun will disappear one day
The children of the sun having fun
People enjoy the warmth of the sun
Didn't realize they were done
People don't realize when summer ends
Because the pawn chanced to wander through the camp
The sun's light shines on everything
Just like a tramp
The sun travels aimlessly
He left his stamp there to this day
The sun's light leaves an impact on everything it touches
Gone are silent summer rains
Summer has ended and the rain has stopped
Wind is rolling off the plains
Cold winds are blowing in from far away
Bringing ice upon the breeze
The cold wind is freezing everything it touches
The minstrel of the land made a stand
A musician takes a stand and speaks out
In a castle made of sand
In a fragile and temporary place
Watched it fall in the frost
Watched it crumble in the cold
And the message was lost
The musician's message was not heard or understood
With one last word to deliver
The musician has one final message
Under ice upon the river
His message is frozen and forgotten
It lies frozen to this day
The message is still unheard and forgotten
Maybe it will sail away
Perhaps the message will never be heard
Sail away
Disappear
Frozen to this day
The message remains forgotten
Maybe it will sail away
Perhaps the message will never be heard
Maybe it will sail away
Perhaps the message will never be heard
Maybe it will sail away
Perhaps the message will never be heard
Maybe it will sail away...
Perhaps the message will never be heard
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.