The Epic Story Behind Phish's Legendary "You Enjoy Myself" Song

The Story Behind Phish's Iconic "You Enjoy Myself" Song

For decades, "You Enjoy Myself" has been one of the most beloved songs by jam band Phish. With its notoriously complex and improvisational structure, "You Enjoy Myself" epitomizes everything that Phish's dedicated fans love about the band's live performances.

But how did this unusual and eccentric composition come about? What's the meaning behind its cryptic title and lyrics? And what accounts for its enduring popularity among Phishheads?

The Early Origins of "You Enjoy Myself"

"You Enjoy Myself" first began taking shape in the early 1980s when Phish was just getting its start in Burlington, Vermont. Guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio penned the song sometime around 1984, crafting an intricate structure containing multiple sections that allowed room for improvisation.

The early performances of "You Enjoy Myself" were quite different from the massive jam vehicle it would later become. Clocked in at just 6-7 minutes, the embryonic versions focused on the composed sections including the a cappella vocal "Boy, Man, God, Shit" segment which has remained a signature part of the song.

The Lyrics - A Nonsensical Mystery

The lyrics of "You Enjoy Myself" have puzzled and delighted Phish fans for decades. Lines like "Boy, Man, God, Shit" and "Wash Uffizi, drive me to Firenze" seem nonsensical at first glance. Fans have devoted endless hours to decoding their meaning, usually without reaching any definite conclusions.

In an interview with The Mockingbird Foundation, Anastasio shed some light on the song's enigmatic words. He shared that the lyrics were crafted through the Surrealist technique of automatic writing, where one writes continuously without judgment or attempting to make sense. Many of the resulting lines were essentially random phrases Anastasio dreamed up in the moment.

Live Performances - "You Enjoy Myself" Becomes a Juggernaut

When Phish began regularly covering "You Enjoy Myself" live in the late 1980s, they quickly realized the song's potential for open-ended improvisation. Over time, the composed sections were expanded to set up vast, experimental jams sometimes stretching over 20 minutes.

These marathon "You Enjoy Myself" jams gave Phish a vehicle to blend funk, rock, jazz, and ambient music into mesmerizing improvisational journeys. The vocal "Boy, Man, God, Shit" segment also provided the perfect launching point for silly audience interaction and games.

Thanks to its flexibility, "You Enjoy Myself" became Phish's most played live song by far. Fans began traveling to shows just on the hopes of experiencing a monumental "You Enjoy Myself" jam. The song was routinely played as a set closer, sending audiences into a frenzy.

Why "You Enjoy Myself" Endures

There are several factors that explain the lasting popularity of "You Enjoy Myself" among Phishheads:

• Its unusual structure lends itself to endless improvisation, making every version unique.
• The lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation, sparking constant fan debates.
• It often serves as a showcase of Phish's musical virtuosity and group improv skills.
• The a cappella segment and audience hijinks create a feeling of community and Phishy absurdity.
• It's Phish's most iconic song, performed over 600 times, giving it a legendary status.

For these reasons, "You Enjoy Myself" remains woven into the fabric of Phish history. Nearly 40 years after it was penned, fans still eagerly anticipate the next monumental "You Enjoy Myself" jam waiting around the corner.

How to Play "You Enjoy Myself" on Guitar

With its epic length, myriad sections, and improvisational nature, "You Enjoy Myself" may seem like an impossible Phish song to tackle on guitar. However, with some practice, even novice guitarists can get a handle on the basics and begin jamming on this beloved Phish staple.

Focus on Learning the Composed Parts

When learning "You Enjoy Myself," it's wise to start by studying recordings of the song and mastering the main composed sections. These parts include:

• The opening 5/4 riff
• The funky syncopated riff after the lyrics
• The major key jam segment
• The chromatic build up riff returning to the 5/4 theme
• The a cappella vocal segment
• The outro riff and final chords

Practicing slowly while listening to live Phish versions will help cement these intricate themes. Pay attention to unusual rhythms and chord changes.

Improvise on Pentatonic Scales

Once the composed sections are locked in, it's time to work on jamming. Improvising a solo over the funky syncopated riff is a great starting point. Since that riff is in E minor, soloing using the E minor pentatonic scale is a good framework.

When the song shifts to a major key jam segment, experiment with major pentatonic scales. For example, the main chords are often D major so D major pentatonic is a solid choice. Listen to Trey's live solos and mimic his melodic phrasing.

Know How Sections Fit Together

Paying close attention to the way the composed parts are arranged in different Phish versions of "You Enjoy Myself" will help you start connecting them and building your own renditions. The vocal segment often flows into an ambient jam before reprising the opening riff, for instance.

Experiment with the order of sections and how to transition between them smoothly. With practice, you'll be able to stitch together the parts of "You Enjoy Myself" in creative ways for your own live guitar journeys.

Tips for Memorizing "You Enjoy Myself" Lyrics

With its endless strings of nonsensical phrases, the eccentric lyrics of Phish's "You Enjoy Myself" present a formidable memorization challenge. However, with some clever tricks, anyone can learn to sing along to every "Wash Uffizi" and "Boy, Man, God, Shit."

Break the Lyrics Into Small Chunks

Don't try to memorize the lyrics of "You Enjoy Myself" as one giant block of text. Break them into smaller, digestible line-by-line chunks. Work on nailing down just a few lines at a time, like "Wash uffizi, drive me to Firenze" or "Boy, Man, God, Shit."

Set the Lyrics to Music

It's much easier to memorize words when they're paired with a melody. Practice singing the lyrics along with an audio recording or YouTube video of "You Enjoy Myself." The musical cues will help encode each line into your memory.

Quiz Yourself

Test yourself often to see which lyric sections you've fully memorized. Cover part of the lyrics and try singing that part from memory. Identify any sticky spots that need more practice. Apps like Quizlet can help create lyric-quizzing flashcards.

Learn the Vocal Cues

Pay attention to the vocal sounds Trey Anastasio makes between lyric sections, like the "ayy" and "ohhh" leads. These will cue you on the upcoming lines. Also nail down the a cappella "Boy, Man, God, Shit" breakdown since it's often repeated.

Sing Along Whenever You Can

Any chance you get, sing the lyrics out loud - in the car, shower, while doing chores, etc. The more you reinforce them, the more they'll stick. You'll be yelling "Wash Uffizi" in no time!

With dedication, anyone can achieve their goal of searing every twisty-turny lyric into memory. Just remember to break it down line by line and turn it into a fun challenge rather than a chore.

FAQs

How long is a typical "You Enjoy Myself" performance?

In the 1980s, "You Enjoy Myself" performances were 6-7 minutes long. Over time, the song grew to regularly exceed 20+ minutes thanks to extended improvisational jams. The longest version Phish has played clocked in at over 60 minutes!

What is the meaning of the nonsense lyrics?

The lyrics were crafted through automatic writing and contain surreal, abstract phrases with no concrete meaning. Some fans have theorized hidden meanings, but songwriter Trey Anastasio said the words were randomly dreamed up with no specific interpretation intended.

What are some signature elements of a live "YEM"?

Signature live moments include the a cappella vocal jam, trampoline antics on stage, teases of other songs, and bandmembers playing each other's instruments. No two versions are ever exactly the same!

Why does Trey often jam using pentatonic scales?

Major and minor pentatonic scales work well over the funky syncopated riff and major key jam as they provide a strong melodic framework for Trey to improvise while allowing flexibility to hit chord tones and bring in outside notes.

How can I best memorize the eccentric lyrics?

Strategies like breaking the lyrics into short chunks, setting them to music, constantly singing along, and self-quizzing work great. Vocal cues help connect the odd phrases so you can memorize the lyrics from start to finish.