The Philosofee of Phish Part 1
As a die hard Phish phan, I have often been bothered by what I see as a plague of the bands misunderstood spiritual nature. The lyrics, I once read in a review by the Philadelphia Inquirer were understood to be "nonsense" and "lacking any meaning". On the contrary, I have always found a good deal of spiritual meaning behind the bands lyrics. It is with this spirit, that I take on the task of writing the Philosofee of Phish. Is this phor Phree or Phee? Well, as a writer I hope one day to take these compiled writings to the band themselves and get it published for those soon coming Sony Readers.
The essence of Phish, I believe stems alot from both Eastern and Western Philosophy. There seems to be alot more Eastern and Buddhist Philosophy if you ask me, thus alot of Americans unschooled in these ways may have a hard time identifying the references.
For instance: "The Moment Ends Still I Feel Winds..." OBVIOUSLY a reference to Buddhism and the state of "No Wind" sought after by Buddha, these lyrics also remind us to "observe our breath", or STAY IN THE MOMENT.
Of course the first and most blatant reference to Buddhism is from the bands first release: Junta in which we learn of a Buddhist Weasel prodigy named Fee. Long past the age of maturity, he knew someday it would set him free like it did for Floyd, the chimpanzee. The Floyd reference here is a blatant reference to Pink Floyd, who under Roger Waters have often used the images of Chimps and Apes as from the dawn of man in reference to the evolution of our species. Later the reference gives credit to the yin and yang of Pink Floyd versus the Grateful Dead with a reference to the spiritual anthem "Ripple" in the line ..."Floyd is Dead, he's nothing but a Ripple..." and then of course makes a sardonic point about the materialistic values set in our world both coupled with a mirroring reference to the Kali, the female object of desire in the story of Buddha when "Milly took that paper and sliced him on the nipple..."
The point being, that there is a backing Philosophy, it is not all nonsense. It is in fact a very high form of riddling us with spiritual references some quaint, some direct. But above and beyond all else, Inquirer critic. There is meaning. There is a spirit to Phish. Why else would they be the most successful jam band since The Grateful Dead?!
The essence of Phish, I believe stems alot from both Eastern and Western Philosophy. There seems to be alot more Eastern and Buddhist Philosophy if you ask me, thus alot of Americans unschooled in these ways may have a hard time identifying the references.
For instance: "The Moment Ends Still I Feel Winds..." OBVIOUSLY a reference to Buddhism and the state of "No Wind" sought after by Buddha, these lyrics also remind us to "observe our breath", or STAY IN THE MOMENT.
Of course the first and most blatant reference to Buddhism is from the bands first release: Junta in which we learn of a Buddhist Weasel prodigy named Fee. Long past the age of maturity, he knew someday it would set him free like it did for Floyd, the chimpanzee. The Floyd reference here is a blatant reference to Pink Floyd, who under Roger Waters have often used the images of Chimps and Apes as from the dawn of man in reference to the evolution of our species. Later the reference gives credit to the yin and yang of Pink Floyd versus the Grateful Dead with a reference to the spiritual anthem "Ripple" in the line ..."Floyd is Dead, he's nothing but a Ripple..." and then of course makes a sardonic point about the materialistic values set in our world both coupled with a mirroring reference to the Kali, the female object of desire in the story of Buddha when "Milly took that paper and sliced him on the nipple..."
The point being, that there is a backing Philosophy, it is not all nonsense. It is in fact a very high form of riddling us with spiritual references some quaint, some direct. But above and beyond all else, Inquirer critic. There is meaning. There is a spirit to Phish. Why else would they be the most successful jam band since The Grateful Dead?!
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