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“Peggy” tells the story of a potential Hoarders subject who carries a torch for 1968 Olympic Figure Skating Champion, Peggy Fleming, that falls somewhere between innocent crush and Robert De Niro-in-Taxi Driver obsession. Plumbing the story more than that probably yields more questions than answers. Why the obsession with Peggy Fleming? Why was the poster defaced? Why does the protagonist own a lemming (or, in any event, a cage bought for a lemming)? And that’s to say nothing about the presence of CDs: are they an anachronism or an indication that the protagonist has a thing for... a more mature Peggy?

In fact, if it weren’t for the delightfully peculiar subject matter, perhaps the essence of “Peggy” would be easier to appreciate: “Peggy” is one of the more accessible and catchy pop songs from Trey and Tom. Making its debut during Trey’s solo, acoustic set on 8/2/08 at the Newport Folk Festival and appearing at roughly half of 2008 TAB shows, “Peggy” seemed well on it’s way toward entering the Phish rotation. Puzzlingly, the song disappeared when Phish returned in 2009. “Peggy” never did grace the Phish stage and has made only two more appearances at TAB shows, both augmented by the flute stylings of Russell Remmington. In addition to the aforementioned acoustic debut, fans should seek out the electric debut five days later on 8/7/08 and the fantastic acoustic TAB rendition from New York’s Terminal 5 on 2/22/11. 

(Anastasio, Marshall)
© Who Is She? Music, Inc. (BMI)

Somewhere under all this junk is a cage bought for the lemming
And here's box of bottles that never made it from the room
Skillfully defaced there hangs a shot of Peggy Flemming
And dusty tapestries don't let the light invade the gloom

CDs without cases cover every single surface
Cases without CDs are strewn across the floor
Magazines, and Plastic things, and too much stuff to mention
Sits in piles while Peggy smiles and stares out through the door

And when I hear you calling over air and over wire
I will take a running leap and barely clear the fire
Others watch and point and laugh, he stumbles now he slips
And Peggy I will follow in thin air and off of cliffs
Peggy I will follow

Somewhere under all this dust are long lost good intentions
Looking for them now can only agitate the mess
I got a note from Peggy and you were indirectly mentioned
And why you changed her image I won't even want to guess

But when I hear you calling over air and over wire
I will take a running leap and barely clear the fire
Others watch and point and laugh he stumbles now he slips
And Peggy I will follow in thin air and off of cliffs
Peggy I will follow

And when I hear you calling over air and over wire
I will take a running leap and barely clear the fire
Others watch and point and laugh he stumbles now he slips
And Peggy I will follow in thin air and off of cliffs
Peggy I will follow... Peggy Peggy