I thought that 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
I thought that 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