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Phish — Theme From The Bottom
Album: Billy Breathes
Avg rating:
5.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 121









Released: 1996
Length: 6:18
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I feed from the bottom, you feed from the top
I live upon morsels you happen to drop
And coffee that somehow leaks out of your cup
If nothing comes down then I'm forced to swim up
On the way upwards, the colors come back
But all along the bottom is blue, grey, and black
The darkness is cold and perception goes wrong
And the night seems to go on incredibly long

So I ask you why if I'm swimming by,
Don't you see anything you'd like to try?

Pantomime mixtures of heaven and earth
Jumbled events that have less than no worth
Time in the forest to dig under rocks
Or float in the ocean asleep in a box

Or sink just below all the churning and froth
And swim to the light source or fly like a moth
So toss away stuff you don't need in the end
But keep what's important and know who's your friend

So I ask you why if I'm swimming by,
Don't you see anything that you'd like to try?

If I'm swimming by

From the bottom, from the top ( x 8 )
Comments (25)add comment
elokin2141 wrote:
this is a great cd, the best song on it is "Waste" all their songs are excellent, play more phish
A dream it's true But I'd see it through If I could be wasting my time with you!
Posted 19 years ago by JoJopugs    [ Reply ]
I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE SO MANY FRICKEN PIANO TUNERS IN THE WORLD! YOU GUYS MUST HAVE A TOUGH TIME FINDING JOBS!
Posted 19 years ago by JoJopugs    [ Reply ]
this is a great cd, the best song on it is "Waste" all their songs are excellent, play more phish
Posted 19 years ago by elokin2141    [ Reply ]
southern_duality wrote:
This is the album that brought the Phan out in me. I was a freshman in college when this came out and I bought this on recommendation from a friend. After 8 years of collecting as much of their live shows as I could and many long drives to concerts, I still count this album as my favorite Phish recording...
ABSOLUTLY!!!! THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PHAVORITE PHISH ALBUM! IT HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERY ONE... FOR ME IT HOLDS MANY GREAT MEMORIES AND A WHOLE LOT OF TICKET STUBS! :nodhead:
Posted 19 years ago by JoJopugs    [ Reply ]
Platypus wrote:
bah.... let's go out to dinner and see a movie, instead.
no kidding.....
Posted 19 years ago by beardp    [ Reply ]
My ears hurt. This song reminds me of all the trustafarian hippies who live in Montana.
Posted 19 years ago by Byakuren    [ Reply ]
This is the album that brought the Phan out in me. I was a freshman in college when this came out and I bought this on recommendation from a friend. After 8 years of collecting as much of their live shows as I could and many long drives to concerts, I still count this album as my favorite Phish recording...
Posted 19 years ago by southern_duality    [ Reply ]
i would have liked it more, but my tone deaf 8 year old was banging on the piano throughout the entire song!! ....hold on, i don't have a piano ...or an 8 year old!!
Posted 19 years ago by MaxxConfusion    [ Reply ]
Mugro wrote:
Untuned piano and nursery rhyme lyrics. Great mix. They must be mocking us, all the way to the bank.
Amazing how that "untuned" piano is in tune during the awesome jam at the end of the song. Never listened to Phish, but I like this tune. Get Phish.
Posted 19 years ago by bwanab    [ Reply ]
Mugro wrote:
Untuned piano and nursery rhyme lyrics. Great mix. They must be mocking us, all the way to the bank.
I know these guys...and feel certain they simply wanted the recording not to sound too "slick". They probably felt that out-of-tune-piano was more "organic". Or they just didn't notice, feeling so caught up in the moment, recording in their old barn in Vermont. They're really sweet guys.
Posted 19 years ago by radiomao    [ Reply ]
bah.... let's go out to dinner and see a movie, instead.
Posted 19 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Mugro wrote:
Untuned piano and nursery rhyme lyrics. Great mix. They must be mocking us, all the way to the bank.
There is a difference between "untuned" and dissonant. The dissonance does set up the vocal harmonies, at least in my opinion. I'm never been the biggest Phish fan, but "Free" off this album is an undeniably excellent piece of harmony rock, and I like this tune as well.
Posted 19 years ago by ashbyman    [ Reply ]
Overall, I don't like Phish. I respect their playing, but I would never sit down to listen to one of their albums...except this one. Billy Breathes is an amazing album, one of the best of the 90's in my opinion. The producer was Steve Lillywhite and he might be the reason the album was more "approachable" to non-Phish-lovers like me. Either way, the album works on so many levels. I highly recommend you pick up this album and make sure to listen to it as a whole. For some reason it plays better in one sitting than just listening to one or two tracks. Rock on. ebhp
Posted 19 years ago by ebhp    [ Reply ]
Even if you didn't recognize the unique harmonies, the lyrics would quickly tell you this is a Phish song. Nice!
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
Grondar wrote:
Why the un-tuned piano? Does it set up the rest of the song, so that it sounds better in comparison?
Untuned piano and nursery rhyme lyrics. Great mix. They must be mocking us, all the way to the bank.
Posted 19 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Why the un-tuned piano? Does it set up the rest of the song, so that it sounds better in comparison?
Posted 19 years ago by Grondar    [ Reply ]
redeyespy wrote:
I've noticed that too. I have always loved the transitions between songs on BILLY, nicely modulated. "Free" and "Character Zero" really rock, then songs such as this and "Bliss" create a dreamy set. Perhaps I'm not a true Phish phile? I dunno, but I dig this album along with all the others.
I third the notion
Posted 20 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
wxman wrote:
I've noticed a lot of the die hard phish phans don't like this album, but its by far my favorite. The harmonies they do are amazing.
I've noticed that too. I have always loved the transitions between songs on BILLY, nicely modulated. "Free" and "Character Zero" really rock, then songs such as this and "Bliss" create a dreamy set. Perhaps I'm not a true Phish phile? I dunno, but I dig this album along with all the others.
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Do you have to be high to like this song?????
Posted 20 years ago by ralpki    [ Reply ]
Not digging this tuneless piano.
Posted 20 years ago by maryann    [ Reply ]
I've noticed a lot of the die hard phish phans don't like this album, but its by far my favorite. The harmonies they do are amazing.
Posted 20 years ago by wxman    [ Reply ]
rulebritannia wrote:
These guys just aren't the same w/o Country Joe McDonald.
Posted 20 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
Ah, one of my favorites from this album. I love the acappella break towards the end.
Posted 20 years ago by bigpomp    [ Reply ]
Tuneless crap.
Posted 20 years ago by Whit    [ Reply ]
These guys just aren't the same w/o Country Joe McDonald.
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]