Actually, the song is written for Tom Marshall, childhood friend of Trey's and longtime phish lyricist. It is a description of the tradition that the two of them have had since they were 8 and 9. On the other guy's birthday, they either call, write down, or sing in person a new birthday song each year. The only rule is that the SONG begins,
"Happy, happy, oh my friend". Hence the lyrics, the writer/singer decides what it contains, how long, etc. Song was written because the two had a small falling out following the apparent demise of phish in 2004
Phish also played a new song on March 6th. "Backwards Down the Number Line" is a crisp, bright gallop that started as an e—mail Phish lyricist Tom Marshall sent Anastasio on the guitarist's birthday while he was under house arrest, living alone for more than a year in a small apartment...
Phish also played a new song on March 6th. "Backwards Down the Number Line" is a crisp, bright gallop that started as an e—mail Phish lyricist Tom Marshall sent Anastasio on the guitarist's birthday while he was under house arrest, living alone for more than a year in a small apartment in upstate New York, apart from his wife and two daughters in Manhattan. "As soon as I read it, I put it to music," Anastasio says. "It summed up how I feel not only about Tom but the band and our audience. It's about getting younger: Let's take a step back together – and simultaneously a step forward.
"That's what these shows feel like. I had to play that song."
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I also think it's a song about why friends stay together for years, through good and bad. Tom is celebrating Trey getting another year ("Happy, happy, oh my friend") which is something I've been doing for some years now. I always tell friends and family that I'm happy God gave them another year (instead of the usual "and many more" sentiment which is about the future....though that's in there too).
But in the end it's Tom fulfilling the deal they made when they were kids (and they have been friends that long) to write a song for each other at every birthday. It even starts with the lyric it's supposed to (so joejeffrey is right about it having a "mathematical aspect") and is a great slice of Phish pop-rock (not unlike "The Connection" off their previous release Undermind).
Actually, the song is written for Tom Marshall, childhood friend of Trey's and longtime phish lyricist. It is a description of the tradition that the two of them have had since they were 8 and 9. On the other guy's birthday, they either call, write down, or sing in person a new birthday song each year. The only rule is that the SONG begins, "Happy, happy, oh my friend". Hence the lyrics, the writer/singer decides what it contains, how long, etc. Song was written because the two had a small falling out following the apparent demise of phish in 2004
Actually, Tom Marshall sent the lyrics to Trey while he was serving his sentence on the 2005 drug possession charges (and also in rehab).
Actually, Tom Marshall sent the lyrics to Trey while he was serving his sentence on the 2005 drug possession charges (and also in rehab).
From the Rolling Stone article on the band's return from retirement in Hampton back in April:
From the Rolling Stone article on the band's return from retirement in Hampton back in April:
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http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/26841624/phish_reunite_hippie_nation/2
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http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/26841624/phish_reunite_hippie_nation/2
Phish also played a new song on March 6th. "Backwards Down the Number Line" is a crisp, bright gallop that started as an e—mail Phish lyricist Tom Marshall sent Anastasio on the guitarist's birthday while he was under house arrest, living alone for more than a year in a small apartment...
Phish also played a new song on March 6th. "Backwards Down the Number Line" is a crisp, bright gallop that started as an e—mail Phish lyricist Tom Marshall sent Anastasio on the guitarist's birthday while he was under house arrest, living alone for more than a year in a small apartment in upstate New York, apart from his wife and two daughters in Manhattan. "As soon as I read it, I put it to music," Anastasio says. "It summed up how I feel not only about Tom but the band and our audience. It's about getting younger: Let's take a step back together – and simultaneously a step forward.
"That's what these shows feel like. I had to play that song."
/>
I also think it's a song about why friends stay together for years, through good and bad. Tom is celebrating Trey getting another year ("Happy, happy, oh my friend") which is something I've been doing for some years now. I always tell friends and family that I'm happy God gave them another year (instead of the usual "and many more" sentiment which is about the future....though that's in there too).
But in the end it's Tom fulfilling the deal they made when they were kids (and they have been friends that long) to write a song for each other at every birthday. It even starts with the lyric it's supposed to (so joejeffrey is right about it having a "mathematical aspect") and is a great slice of Phish pop-rock (not unlike "The Connection" off their previous release Undermind).