This song, which came out on (hung like a) Hoist, after Phish had reached a stadium sized following, with variously dreadlocked/ bearded/ hairy corduroy pant wearing young gentlemen faithfully following the band around. One can imagine various levels of access to the band, and a sort of hippie paparazzi press to get backstage or into exclusive parties.
This is what I always imagined the song to be about-- these furry guys I'd see at every show and at every party I went to back then.
Thus, the sound similar to "the high pitched cavitation of propellers from afar" would be the roar of the crowd, a crowd with some of the qualities of a hurricane, and a ship that's run aground-- the song really gave me some insight how it might feel to be in the eye of that hurricane, perhaps while watching the ship-running-aground self-destructive actions of many of the folks in that crowd.
Not sure if it's about an ostensibly hairy brother of Jon Fishman... and no idea about the phone call, other than unwanted phone calls from rabid fans who get ahold of a star's phone number.
the side street and stairway to the stars invites an image of a rock star ascending some metal back steps into some venue in through a door marked with a star-- like some old b'way dressing room-- when he is discovered by the crowd outside.
See also the lyrics to "birds of a feather." I think it's talking about similar experiences. Ever been to a show?
This song, which came out on (hung like a) Hoist, after Phish had reached a stadium sized following, with variously dreadlocked/ bearded/ hairy corduroy pant wearing young gentlemen faithfully following the band around. One can imagine various levels of access to the band, and a sort of hippie paparazzi press to get backstage or into exclusive parties.
This is what I always imagined the song to be about-- these furry guys I'd see at every show and at every party I went to back then.
Thus, the sound similar to "the high pitched cavitation of propellers from afar" would be the roar of the crowd, a crowd with some of the qualities of a hurricane, and a ship that's run aground-- the song really gave me some insight how it might feel to be in the eye of that hurricane, perhaps while watching the ship-running-aground self-destructive actions of many of the folks in that crowd.
Not sure if it's about an ostensibly hairy brother of Jon Fishman... and no idea about the phone call, other than unwanted phone calls from rabid fans who get ahold of a star's phone number.
the side street and stairway to the stars invites an image of a rock star ascending some metal back steps into some venue in through a door marked with a star-- like some old b'way dressing room-- when he is discovered by the crowd outside.
See also the lyrics to "birds of a feather." I think it's talking about similar experiences. Ever been to a show?