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Phish.netShow of Life
Show of Life has not been seen in 52 Phish shows.
It was last played: 2023-08-31.
It was played at 1.62% of live shows.
It has been performed live 33 time(s).
Music/Lyrics: Anastasio, Pollak
Original Artist: Trey Anastasio
Vocals: Trey (lead), Mike, Page (backing)
Debut: 2010-06-11
Historian: Phillip Zerbo (pzerbo)
"Show of Life" represents the first songwriting collaboration by members of Phish and Steve Pollak, a.k.a. "The Dude of Life" in over 15 years. A radical departure from earlier, more whimsical efforts such as "Suzy Greenberg" or "Dinner and a Movie" (much less "Bitchin' Again" or "Self"), "Show of Life" gives the first hints of a more mature "Dude."
Similar in musical structure to "Waste" and "Prince Caspian" with a solitary guitar intro, slow build, and space for a climactic jam should they desire, "Show of Life" is outwardly heartfelt and clearly self-referential. While stylistically a very traditional pop/rock song, it's origins were decidedly modern: while strolling through Manhattan's Upper West Side after lunch, Trey and Steve recorded a demo on Trey's iPhone with the FourTrack app, and the essential structure of the song recorded that afternoon remains in the live version.
"Show of Life" made its debut with Trey's solo outfit on 2/8/10, and it was played in eleven of the sixteen shows on that tour, usually late in the second set or as an encore. Indeed the song seems to have a very intentional late second set/set ending/encore vibe, with the expression of thanks and reflective ending chorus that we all "Find ourselves right here, in the show of life." "Show of Life" assumed the prominent second-set closing slot on its first two performances (6/11/10 at Toyota Park and 6/19/10 at SPAC) and then leading the encore at Merriweather on 6/26/10.
Albums: TAB at the TAB
Lyrics:
Who Is She? Music, BMI
It's no easy road
this struggle and strife
We find ourselves in the show of life
What's on the schedule
What's on your plan
Do you ever ignore
What you don't understand?
Don't ask me 'cause I don't know
I just fasten my seat belt wherever I go
It's been perfectly planned
it's completely insane
it's a revolving cast
but it's the same old game
Waves of people
They come and they go
Shine for a while
In this marvelous show
It's a limited time that we exist
We slowly make our way into the mist
My thoughts are racing
I see faces of the friends that I recall
I'd like to take this time to thank you all
Just as the blind imagine
what it is to have sight
We slowly take a stroll into the night
It's no easy road
This struggle an strife
We find ourselves in the show of life
In the show of life
In the show of life
(Find myself right here)
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