I'd like to cut your head off so I could weigh it, what do ya say?
Five pounds, six, pounds, seven pounds
I'd like to go to your house and gather all your razors and pick all the
little prickly hairs so I can weigh them, what do ya say?
Five pounds, six pounds, seven pounds
I'd like to gather all your friends and squish them all into a small
swimming pool so I can weigh them, what do ya say?
Five pounds, six pounds, seven pounds
Why weigh on a sunny day?
So much to do so why, why weigh?
On a sunny day, why wei-igh-hey?
Why weigh, why weigh?
I'd like to hear my options, so I can weigh them, what do ya say?
Five pounds, six pounds, seven pounds
Why weigh on a sunny day?
So much to do, so why, why weigh?
On a sunny day, why wei-gh-hey?
Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why

Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Oh Why
Why weigh?


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Weigh Lyrics as written by Mike Gordon

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Weigh song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Rift is a concept album, meaning that every song is a part of a broad thematic vision. In this case, Phish has taken on the "break-up album".

    Mike Gordon's lyrics are always humorous, absurd, and strikingly clever. I believe that the narrator of the song is simply conveying the extent of his emotion towards his ex-girlfriend. He is so angry, and frustrated, that he wants to do these cruel things to get even and/or pay attention.

    The emotional reverse in the chorus ( "why weigh on a sunny day") expresses the return of reason and the lapsing of unbridled irrationality.

    bjengles3on March 18, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it means, so much is per say 'on your shoulders' take for instance the line, "i'd like to gather all your friends and squish them into a small swimming pool so i can way them, what do you say? 5 pounds..." meaning... how do they really effect you? by putting -weight- on your shoulders, giving you stress or something to worry about? How much do they 'weigh' on your shoulders? r pounds? 6 pounds? Are they benificial at all? Yea i deffinitaly think thats what its saying.. THINK ABOUT IT

    OysterPhishyheadon September 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    whoa.........oysterphishyhead was my songmeanings sn 2 years ago

    sooooooooo weirddddddddddd

    hi me two years ago :)

    whatshernameon November 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    bjengles3 is correct...I never actually had proof, but I always listend to this album thinking about a breakup I went through....ironic...

    This is a hate song....everything is 5, 6 or 7 pounds..

    Your head = you are not bright (average head weighs about 10 pounds or more)

    stubbles in a razor = you got hairy legs, girl (how many stubbles would it take to weigh 5 pounds, imagine that many in one razor)

    friends in a swimming pool = you got no friends (even 1 would weigh 100lbs min)

    Elahrairahon March 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This has always meant as a song that is "mocking science" in a way. There are so many things going on and so many things to enjoy (sunny days), why weigh? Why must we spend our time worrying how things fit into the systems we have developed (weights and measures). F@CK it! go outside and play! Phish has always been about making the absolute best out of every moment and this song exemplifies that.

    mkisupaon November 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This has always meant as a song that is "mocking science" in a way. There are so many things going on and so many things to enjoy (sunny days), why weigh? Why must we spend our time worrying how things fit into the systems we have developed (weights and measures). F@CK it! go outside and play! Phish has always been about making the absolute best out of every moment and this song exemplifies that.

    mkisupaon November 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I had recently been contemplating the meaning of this song within the context of the break up theme and came up with this thought. The song could be about avoidance by asking completely unrelated questions. Maybe he doesn't care about the state of the relationship, or is oblivious about the situation in the same way he casually sleeps diagonal when his partner isn't there. For at least one person, a break up begins in a whirlwind of doubt. "I'd like to know my options, so I can weigh them. What do you say?"

    Oh Injury!on August 25, 2015   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    I'd like to cut your head off so I could way it" - Cutting the 'head' or main cola from a marijuana plant.

    "pick all the prickly little hairs so I could weigh them" - little hairs on marijuana plants.

    "squish them into a small swimming pool so I could weigh them" Indeed a good idea for weighing pounds, using a kid size pool. :)

    "I'd like to hear my options so I could weigh them" If I had options during a situation like this, I'd like my 'options' to be Haze, Sour Diesel and some Blueberry please.

    "Why weigh on a sunny day" - Exactly. If you have that much, no need to weigh.

    Interesting to see the interpretations of this song. After you've grown lots of marijuana plants, it all makes sense! I didn't get it at first...for a long time.

    TheFolderon August 04, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/