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Instrumentally, Phish's version of “Daniel Saw the Stone” is faithful to the customary, upbeat, bluegrass spiritual. Lyrically, however, they trim the spiritual a bit. For example, they repeat: “Daniel saw the stone” in each chorus, rather than the customary changes (to “Jesus was the stone” and “I found the stone”) without which the (rock of ages, born again) meaning is unclear.

Watch Daniel Saw the Stone on YouTube Atlanta's Chorale New Creation, “Daniel Saw the Stone”

Phish versions did not vary greatly, in accuracy or energy, though two notable appearances include 7/31/93 – which followed the religious lyrics with AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” – and 8/21/93, which featured a guest appearance by The Flecktones. After fourteen appearances on the summer 1993 tour, including both the first and last nights (7/15 and 8/28), “Daniel” was soundchecked several times on 12/28/93 but then slipped away. It appeared on 2/23/97 after 288 shows, though, and again on 7/29/03 after 285 shows. And then a mere four shows later, on 8/3/03, it opened the show. Someone at IT must have seen the stone, too. Thankfully, “Daniel” has been played a number of times since 2.0, including on 6/11/11 at MPP and on 6/30/12 Alpine Valley, as well as four times in 2016 and once in 2017.

Watch Daniel Saw the Stone on YouTube Phish, “Daniel Saw the Stone” – 7/29/03, Burgettstown, PA

[Phish performs only the first version of the chorus and two verses:]

Oh Daniel saw the stone that was hewed out the mountain
Daniel saw the stone that came rolling through Babylon
Daniel saw the stone that was hewed out the mountain
Coming down to redeem a mighty world
[repeat above 4 lines]

Well, meet me, Jesus, meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
'Cause now if these wings should fail me
Lord, I want to hitch on another pair

Well, I saw a weary traveler
He was walking on down the road
Well, I saw him later that evening
He was walking on down that road
[followed by the "walk, walk, walk..." part]

[The full version of this traditional includes these additional chorus variations and verses:]

Oh Jesus was the stone that was hewed out the mountain
Jesus was the stone that came rolling through Babylon
Jesus was the stone that was hewed out the mountain
Coming down to redeem a mighty world
[repeat above 4 lines]

Oh, well the tree it was bending
Up in the heavenly land
Well, my God spoke unto the Holy Ghost
He said, "Come on and let's make man"

I'm looking for the stone that was hewed out the mountain
I'm looking for the stone that came rolling through Babylon
I'm looking for the stone that was hewed out the mountain
Coming down to redeem a mighty world
[repeat above 4 lines]

Well, now, early in the morning the trumpet's gonna sound
The dead and Christ is gonna rise
Well, if you ain't got good religion
Lord, then hell you'll open your eyes

I found that stone that was hewed out the mountain
I found the stone that came rolling through Babylon
I found the stone that was hewed out the mountain
Coming down to redeem a mighty world
[repeat above 4 lines]