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.
Pigtail
Trey Anastasio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right beside and just a hair's breadth, in between, next to and closer
I'm approximately, roughly, more or less, about exactly
Almost close by and adjacent
Handy local, within hailing
But the cloud then passes over
And you're vague aloof and distant
Isolated and secluded
You're faint and hazy indistinct
Your pigtail has been dipped in ink
Dipped in ink
Dipped in ink
Reserved you wander unattached,
Till the sun comes out at last
Somehow, you comprehend, and I'm becoming conscious again
I'm becoming conscious again
Unconscious again
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
Unconscious again
Appreciate, grasp, and recognize our mutually proximate prize
And if the stars line up tonight
Then you and I will be all right
If the planets don't align
You go your way, I'll go mine
I don't mind
I don't mind
I don't mind
Your pigtail dipped in ink
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
Your pigtail dipped in ink
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
Your pigtail dipped in ink
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
Your pigtail dipped in ink
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
Your pigtail dipped in ink
Dipped in ink, dipped in ink
Your pigtail dipped in ink
I'm conscious again
Unconscious again
[x4]
Your pigtail
The lyrics to Trey Anastasio's song Pigtail offer a unique and abstract perspective on the concept of proximity and distance in relationships. The opening verse lists a variety of descriptive words and phrases that all express a level of being close to someone, yet still not quite being fully connected to them. The imagery of a cloud passing over and creating a sense of isolation and distance further emphasizes this idea of fluctuating closeness. The repeated line "Your pigtail has been dipped in ink" adds a layer of mysticism and intrigue to the lyrics, suggesting that there is something dark or unknown about the person the singer is addressing.
The chorus shifts the tone slightly, with the singer expressing a hope that they and the object of their affection will be "alright" if the stars align. This creates a sense of optimism and possibility but also leaves open the chance of disappointment and separation if things don't work out. The repeated line "I'm conscious again, unconscious again" reflects the back and forth nature of the singer's emotional state, as they vacillate between feeling connected and disconnected to the person they are addressing.
Overall, Pigtail offers a unique and intriguing meditation on the complexities of relationships and the often intangible nature of emotional closeness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm halfway, fully, nearly, close to just beyond it
I am very close to achieving my goal, almost there but still slightly short
Right beside and just a hair's breadth, in between, next to and closer
I am in very close proximity, a mere distance away from it
I'm approximately, roughly, more or less, about exactly
I am uncertain of the exact measurement, but it is close enough to estimate
Almost close by and adjacent
I am very close, almost bordering on being exact and adjacent beside it
Handy local, within hailing
I am conveniently located and within shouting distance
But the cloud then passes over
Suddenly, an obstacle arises and obstructs my path
And you're vague aloof and distant
You become distant and indifferent, like a stranger
Isolated and secluded, far flung, far off and remote
You are completely isolated, far away and unreachable
You're faint and hazy indistinct
You become blurry and indiscernible, unable to be recognized
Your pigtail has been dipped in ink
This line is repeated several times, possibly referring to the idea that something has changed or is being altered
Reserved you wander unattached,
You wander around detached from everything, uninvolved and uncommitted
Till the sun comes out at last
Until a moment of clarity or enlightenment arrives
Somehow, you comprehend, and I'm becoming conscious again
Suddenly, there is understanding and a moment of clarity, leading me to become aware once more
Appreciate, grasp, and recognize our mutually proximate prize
We need to understand and acknowledge the value of what we have, understanding that we are both very close to it
And if the stars line up tonight, then you and I will be all right
If everything falls into place, we may finally achieve our goal and be happy
If the planets don't align, you go your way, I'll go mine
If we do not achieve our goal, we must part ways and move on
I don't mind
I am okay with whatever outcome arises
Your pigtail dipped in ink
This line is repeated several times, possibly referring to the idea that something has changed or is being altered
Contributed by Lillian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.