Brian And Robert

I think it's a beautiful way of extending some love to lonely people. A very meaningful song.

this is about about someone who is just kind of uncomfortable around other people. this person is happiest and most comfortable when alone. many can relate to this

depression, for sure. been through it, and this number exactally sums it up, precisely.

depression! this song perfectly captures the feeling of being completely uninspired. i think at some point in life everyone can relate to this.

beautiful tune. apparently the title refers to Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, who collaborated on a couple of albums way back when. this one sounds a lot like the music they used to make together. definitely a highlight on the Ghost album.

This song most certainly describes the experience of deep depression, REAL depression, not just sadness, but hopelessness, numbness, a complete lack of inspiration and motivation, going through the motions, and hating all of the reminders around you of the opportunities for joy that you are simply NOT able to appreciate, and, because they remind you of your deformity, just sound annoying. It is completely believable that the name of the song refers to Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, two of the pioneers of the early blend of existential goth rock that also described the experience of real depression, rather than just the dramatic, romantic vision of the tortured existential artist. The title certainly does not seem to represent the experience of a gay couple, since it really describes becoming comfortably numb with depression, so I don't really understand why it has become the "song" to represent the LGBTQ Phish community. However, I think we create our own meanings and symbols, so I'm open to information. To me, the song is a genius description of depression, just like the work of Brian and Robert. On the same album, the song "Frankie Says" is reminiscent of the big white t-shirts in the early 80's reminding us that "Frankie Says Relax", yet the chorus in the Phish song seems to be more about giving up and letting the world spin around you, rather than trying to gain control over an ecstatic explosion. Also a depressing thought, one that Brian Eno explored at length. One of the things I LOVE about Phish.... they make you think!!

@atrpnstn1 - your analysis of Brian and Robert is spot on and really well crafted. Phish also make me think but this happens most often while listening to their complex compositions and/ or while dissecting their jams in real time. I find many of their lyrics to have little meaning to none at all ie: Reba - YEM - SOAM; or shallow ideas like in Kill Devil Falls, Chalkdust.......

I find their story tunes like Esther, Fee and the Gamehenge catalogue to be lyrically interesting (not from depth or making profound comments on life) but from a storytelling perspective which also builds phish culture through the creation of a secret language.

With all that said they have a few deep lyrical gems such as Brian and Robert, Sleep and Its Ice....

And a few honest and straightforward tunes with strong messages - More,

Braian Robert was adopted by gay fans sometime after story of the ghost came out and the end of their first hiatus. A time when gay people were beginnning to make some progress with visibility and acceptance. The internet had been instrumental in building both phish and gay culture during the 90s as it made finding like minded folks so easy and affirming. Both cultures were crazy early adopters of Social platforms and used them to share and connect. As a gay person who had been going to see shows nonstop since 91, I knew statistically there had to be gay fans but never met any Outside my circle of friends or at shows ( met heads at bars) but Brian and Robert changed all that.

Clearly phish related language for the site was a need and I think Brian and Robert was a brilliant choice. Two rand om male names kept in line with phish’s culture of secteet language while also being clear and implicitly visible. Think about songs with two names in it Ruben and Cherise... they are love songs. When STORY came out there were threads and conversation about the B&R lyrics and some phans floated the idea that it was about two gay men. People shared the idea that Brian Eno and Robert were lovers and the threads were lively as fans (who most often present mostly heteronormative beliefs) were talking about gay people, debating civil rights, expressing their beliefs which ranged from devoured allies to deep homophobis. People came out, soapboxes were always present and it got real.

I appreciate the of “take it back” approach of peaceful protest found in bomth African American and gay American history- where victims of perpetration, discrimination and hate had had enough and took some of the poisonous language and it’s power away from Those who used it to hurt by taking it and using it in their culture almost secretly and with rules. This was for survival and smart and while not the most productive, it had its place.

Using the name Brian and Robert for a gay fan board is itself a clever selection but when you add in a homophobic history on PT (greenboard) on threads directly concerned with the name of the song and rampant that’s gay , trey is gay.......language for years......... the name makes total sense and