You Enjoy Myself
Encyclopedia
You Enjoy Myself, commonly abbreviated to "YEM" is a Phish
song written by Trey Anastasio
. It is the band's most frequently played song, having been featured —as of August 2011— at about 36% of their 1,496 shows. The song is also one of the oldest in Phish's catalog, having been first performed live on February 3, 1986. Keyboardist Page McConnell
revealed on Nightline with Ted Koppel
that "You Enjoy Myself" was his favorite Phish song.
The song was featured on Phish's first album Junta
, although a shorter, a cappella
version appeared on their 1986 self-titled debut commonly known as The White Tape
. "You Enjoy Myself" is a staple of the group's popular live performances, and while the version that appears on Junta is under ten minutes long, live versions (especially after 1995) have regularly exceeded 25 minutes in length. The longest live version of the song to date, performed on October 31, 1995 during the band's Halloween show in Rosemont, IL, clocks in at over 40 minutes. The show was officially released as Live Phish Volume 14
.
Like "The Divided Sky" —another largely instrumental song from the same era— "YEM" is a classically structured piece, and fans have dubbed each section of the song with names like "Pre-Nirvana," "Nirvana," "The Note," "The Second Note" and "The Charge". When the song is performed live, one section features Anastasio and bassist Mike Gordon
jumping on trampolines in tandem. It is also known as one of Anastasio's most astute, complex and masterful compositions, weaving throughout different keys and themes. It begins with a spacy, arpeggiated intro in B flat major, weaves through a "Nirvana" segment and eventually culminates in a funky progression where the lyrics and jam begin.
One feature of the song beloved by fans is the so-called "vocal jam" occurring after the instrumental portion of the song has ended and extending over several minutes. This segment is absent from the studio recording but is a consistent part of live performances. The vocal jam features the four members of Phish performing a capella and harmonizing, but typically avoids singing of melodic lines, favoring instead techniques such as vocal percussion
and rhythmic repetition of short syllabic sequences. Sometimes a few discernible words are woven into the jam, often referencing songs or jokes occurring earlier in the show.
The song was ranked #85 in the list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time of Rolling Stone
.
when they toured Europe
in 1985
, playing in the streets. Supposedly, this was a too-literal translation from Italian
into English
for "best wishes."
The song's roots were deeply influenced by an LSD experience with a German man named Jurgen while they were in Florence
. The LSD was apparently very potent, and Trey & Fishman had a particularly memorable time. You Enjoy Myself was written partially during this experience.
Halfway through the song are the only clearly comprehensible lyrics in the song: "Boy! … Man! … God! … Shit!," followed by a line whose meaning has perpetually been subject to discussion until it was settled by an issue of Guitar World. After many interpretations including, "Wash your feet then drive me into a frenzy", it was revealed to be "wash Uffizi drive me to Firenze" in a Guitar World issue that included the tablature for the song.
One possible explanation for this line is that "Uffizi" is a pun on an Italian-accented pronunciation of the words "your feet." The Uffizi
is a museum the pair visited in Firenze, or Florence
, Italy. At a spring near the Uffizi, it is reported that they washed their feet. One theory is that the quoted Italian hailed from this area — in which case the meaning of the song as a whole becomes clearer.
Others believe that Fishman and Anastasio picked up a hitchhiker while in Italy, and the man kept saying "Wash uffitzi, drive me to Firenze." meaning "Would you please drive me to Florence?"
A rumor has it that the song was influenced by an experience Anastasio and Fishman had while swimming in the Mediterranean, and Fishman got a bit too far out to sea. Anastasio was a bit alarmed, and the main introduction to the song was composed as a consequence.
In an issue of Rolling Stone magazine, Trey stated the intro was inspired by Robert Fripp
.
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
song written by Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
. It is the band's most frequently played song, having been featured —as of August 2011— at about 36% of their 1,496 shows. The song is also one of the oldest in Phish's catalog, having been first performed live on February 3, 1986. Keyboardist Page McConnell
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
revealed on Nightline with Ted Koppel
Ted Koppel
Edward James "Ted" Koppel is an English-born American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor for Nightline from the program's inception in 1980 until his retirement in late 2005. After leaving Nightline, Koppel worked as managing editor for the Discovery Channel before resigning in 2008...
that "You Enjoy Myself" was his favorite Phish song.
The song was featured on Phish's first album Junta
Junta (album)
Junta is the first official studio release from the American rock band Phish. The album was independently recorded and released on tape in 1988, and did not appear in stores officially until May 8, 1989. The album was re-released by Elektra Records on October 26, 1992...
, although a shorter, a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
version appeared on their 1986 self-titled debut commonly known as The White Tape
Phish (album)
Phish is a self-produced album released by the American rock band Phish on cassette in 1986. Often cited as the first Phish "album", The White Tape was originally a collection of original material that the band used as a demo/sample tape for venues, and was sometimes labelled "Phish" or simply...
. "You Enjoy Myself" is a staple of the group's popular live performances, and while the version that appears on Junta is under ten minutes long, live versions (especially after 1995) have regularly exceeded 25 minutes in length. The longest live version of the song to date, performed on October 31, 1995 during the band's Halloween show in Rosemont, IL, clocks in at over 40 minutes. The show was officially released as Live Phish Volume 14
Live Phish Volume 14
Live Phish Vol. 14 was recorded live at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago, Illinois, on Halloween night, 1995....
.
Like "The Divided Sky" —another largely instrumental song from the same era— "YEM" is a classically structured piece, and fans have dubbed each section of the song with names like "Pre-Nirvana," "Nirvana," "The Note," "The Second Note" and "The Charge". When the song is performed live, one section features Anastasio and bassist Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
jumping on trampolines in tandem. It is also known as one of Anastasio's most astute, complex and masterful compositions, weaving throughout different keys and themes. It begins with a spacy, arpeggiated intro in B flat major, weaves through a "Nirvana" segment and eventually culminates in a funky progression where the lyrics and jam begin.
One feature of the song beloved by fans is the so-called "vocal jam" occurring after the instrumental portion of the song has ended and extending over several minutes. This segment is absent from the studio recording but is a consistent part of live performances. The vocal jam features the four members of Phish performing a capella and harmonizing, but typically avoids singing of melodic lines, favoring instead techniques such as vocal percussion
Vocal percussion
Vocal percussion is the art of creating sounds with one's mouth that approximate, imitate, or otherwise serve the same purpose as a percussion instrument, whether in a group of singers, an instrumental ensemble, or solo.-In Western music:...
and rhythmic repetition of short syllabic sequences. Sometimes a few discernible words are woven into the jam, often referencing songs or jokes occurring earlier in the show.
The song was ranked #85 in the list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
.
History
Some speculate that the title came from an Italian who said "You enjoy myself, yes?" to Anastasio and Jon FishmanJon Fishman
Jon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....
when they toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
, playing in the streets. Supposedly, this was a too-literal translation from Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
for "best wishes."
The song's roots were deeply influenced by an LSD experience with a German man named Jurgen while they were in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. The LSD was apparently very potent, and Trey & Fishman had a particularly memorable time. You Enjoy Myself was written partially during this experience.
Halfway through the song are the only clearly comprehensible lyrics in the song: "Boy! … Man! … God! … Shit!," followed by a line whose meaning has perpetually been subject to discussion until it was settled by an issue of Guitar World. After many interpretations including, "Wash your feet then drive me into a frenzy", it was revealed to be "wash Uffizi drive me to Firenze" in a Guitar World issue that included the tablature for the song.
One possible explanation for this line is that "Uffizi" is a pun on an Italian-accented pronunciation of the words "your feet." The Uffizi
Uffizi
The Uffizi Gallery , is a museum in Florence, Italy. It is one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western world.-History:...
is a museum the pair visited in Firenze, or Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy. At a spring near the Uffizi, it is reported that they washed their feet. One theory is that the quoted Italian hailed from this area — in which case the meaning of the song as a whole becomes clearer.
Others believe that Fishman and Anastasio picked up a hitchhiker while in Italy, and the man kept saying "Wash uffitzi, drive me to Firenze." meaning "Would you please drive me to Florence?"
A rumor has it that the song was influenced by an experience Anastasio and Fishman had while swimming in the Mediterranean, and Fishman got a bit too far out to sea. Anastasio was a bit alarmed, and the main introduction to the song was composed as a consequence.
In an issue of Rolling Stone magazine, Trey stated the intro was inspired by Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
.
Appears on
- The White TapePhish (album)Phish is a self-produced album released by the American rock band Phish on cassette in 1986. Often cited as the first Phish "album", The White Tape was originally a collection of original material that the band used as a demo/sample tape for venues, and was sometimes labelled "Phish" or simply...
- JuntaJunta (album)Junta is the first official studio release from the American rock band Phish. The album was independently recorded and released on tape in 1988, and did not appear in stores officially until May 8, 1989. The album was re-released by Elektra Records on October 26, 1992...
- Stash
- A Live OneA Live OneA Live One is a live album by the American rock band Phish, released on June 27, 1995, by Elektra Records. The album was the Phish's first official live release, and the band's only "traditional" live album, wherein songs from several different shows are compiled into one composite "set"...
- Live PhishLive Phish SeriesLivePhish is an ongoing series of complete Phish concert recordings. The original twenty-volume series was released by Elektra Records and launched while Phish was on hiatus from recording and touring ....
Volumes 7Live Phish Volume 7Live Phish Vol. 7 was recorded live at the World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Illinois, on August 14, 1993.Almost immediately, this concert became a sought after collectors item on the Phish bootleg circuit, as it seemed to define an era when Phish began breaking down many of its live performance...
, 9Live Phish Volume 9Live Phish Vol. 9 was recorded live at the Townshend Family Park in Townshend, Vermont on August 26, 1989.When the band begin choosing concerts for the Live Phish Series, guitarist Trey Anastasio required at least one release from the 1980s...
, 11Live Phish Volume 11Live Phish Vol. 11 was recorded live at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado on November 17, 1997.The 1997 fall tour will always be remembered by fans as the funky era of Phish, during which the band de-emphasized their often technical approach in favor of more simple, groove-based jams...
, 14Live Phish Volume 14Live Phish Vol. 14 was recorded live at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago, Illinois, on Halloween night, 1995....
, 15Live Phish Volume 15Live Phish Vol. 15 was recorded live at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, on Halloween night, 1996.This show marks the third in a series of Halloween shows in which Phish dressed up in a "musical costume" by performing an album from another artist in its entirety...
, and Live Phish 4-5-98Live Phish 4-5-98Live Phish 04.05.98 is the final night of the four-night "Island Tour", recorded live at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island, on April 5, 1998....
. - New Year's Eve 1995 — Live at Madison Square GardenPhish: New Year's Eve 1995 - Live at Madison Square GardenNew Year's Eve 1995 - Live at Madison Square Garden is a live concert release by the American rock band Phish, released in 2005. The album comprises the band's entire December 31, 1995 show at Madison Square Garden, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the "Greatest Concerts of the '90s".The...
- Vegas 96Vegas 96Vegas 96 is a triple live album from the American jam band Phish, recorded live at the Aladdin Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 6, 1996...
- Colorado '88Colorado '88Colorado '88 is a 3-CD live album from the rock band Phish, recorded over several nights in summer 1988. Despite having only traveled outside Vermont occasionally, in the New England college and club circuit, Phish embarked on a tour in the west. The band played seven shows in ten days to tiny...
- At the RoxyAt the RoxyAt the Roxy is an 8-disc box set from the rock band Phish recorded live over the course of their three-show run at the Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, from February 19 to February 21, 1993.-Disc one :...