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Round Room Lyrics

My room is round when I lay down, when I wake up it's square
When I go outside it's on a spiral set of stairs
The people that surround me are waiting out there
In a round room they can't find me anywhere

Right angle rooms drive me crazier each day
Put me in a box I know I'm never going to play
Put me in a square room and I won't know what to say
I want a round room at the end of the day

I had an apartment, four corners on the walls
Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep there at all
I want a curve to the place where I stay
I want a round room at the end of the day

If I pass out take me to the Round Church
Where echoes resound
And my spirit is found
And when I float high
Take my arm and I'll fly you by
The outskirts of town, to a garden that's round

I went to the lighthouse and I liked the view
I looked out the window and I could see you
Put me in a square house and I won't have a clue
I want a round room just to be with you.
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Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

OK, so this is totally a stab in the dark, but I've always had this theory about "Round Room." Could the symbolic round room represent being on drugs...? Don't attack, just listen, first line: "My room is round when I lay down/ When I wake up it's square" When he goes to bed, he's on drugs from that night, but not the next morning, so his room is square again.

Then it gets to be sad... when he repeats over and over at the end, "I want a round room just to be with you." He only feels as if he is with her when he's high (or otherwise intoxicated). There could be countless OTHER meanings, I'm just saying that this one makes some sense. Now, contradict! I want some other opinions.

@Buddha of Suburbia I was listening to this disc today and I also got a flash that it was about drugs - more specifically herb. At the end of the day Mike wants to smoke out and fall asleep in his now "round room". Also the line about how he can "float high" and him flying with his love - probably some allusions to lucid dreaming too. I also think the "round church" and the "garden that's round" is a reference to Madison Square GARDEN (and maybe Hampton Coliseum too) where his "spirit is found". There's definitely some love interest stuff in the...

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

I'm pretty sure this song refers to the method in which they recorded "Round Room", which was in a circle. It's about how their creativity comes out best when they are with each other in a circle rather than trapped in some "square room" trying in vain to write a song.

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

hehe, sounds good, but i like ur name buddha :), but i dont like green day :(

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

Me neither, not so much. Buddha of Suburbia is actually a little-known David Bowie song from a few years back. Ironic that Green Day has Jesus of Suburbia, eh?

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

First, a casset tape is square. A cd or record is round. the information of cd's and records are in a spiral, but not quite a set of stairs. Maybe mike has a fetish for good quality audio? or warm sounds? he might really really dislike tapes (like my dad)

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

After more thought i think it could be the square room is a live venue, and the round room is a cd. I dont know if he is refering to himself, or putting shit on another person or band that cant play live, but a lot of his songs (if not all) can be linked somehow to this topic Maybe a recording is a more personal experience?

"The people that souround me are waiting out there In a round room they can't find me anywhere "

It just has to be that.

"Put me in a square room and I won't know what to say I want a round room at the end of the day"

"Right angle rooms drive me craizer each day Put me in a box I know I'm never going to play "

Could be chess?

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

I think it's about playing live. The venues are round, the bus is square. the bus also has spiral stairs that I'm sure fans wait at the bottom of. On stage, Mike is one guy relating to thousands, outside the bus is more personal (Round room they can't find me anywhere). Not sure where he's going from there.

Cover art for Round Room lyrics by Phish

I think both the "round room = venue" and the drug metaphor make a lot of sense.