Down With Disease by Phish

Album: Hoist (1994)

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

Supposedly, this is the only Phish song to be given music video treatment. Directed by bassist Mike Gordon, it failed to get any airplay and has been hugely ignored (MTV2 played it occasionally). It did, however, appear on Beavis & Butthead, only to be turned off a second later. Beavis & Butthead made sure to mention that fish swim in their own poop. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jeff - Kendall Park, NJ
Tom Marshall, who wrote the lyrics to this and many other Phish songs, has said in interviews that this is about the time he had mono and was sick in bed for weeks. >>
Suggestion credit:
Timothy - Columbus, OH

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Comments: 10

Orion from Independence, Mo Before you make up your mind about Phish, go see them live. They are a jam band, improv a lot, and that is a large source of their magic. The guitarist, Trey, is a master of tension release. They are all masters of manifesting shamanic ecstasy into sound. That doesn't really translate onto plastic circles that are shot by lasers. See them live. Oh yeah, the song, ok, down with disease is always fun, the end.
Karl from Ingatestone, United KingdomThis is my favourite Phish song ever recorded, i know it sounds a bit like Primus, but i have to love it
and my wife Barbara, also known as James Green, stop meddling with it
Zach from Chicago, IlAWESOME SONG! SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE PRIMUS IN THE BEGINING. LES AND TRE HAVE OYSTER HEAD. STASH AND BATHTUB GIN ARE GOOD SONGS TOO...
Barry from New York, NyMy favorite version of this song was at Oswego County Airport in the summer of 99. What an amazing weekend that was... my first Phish festival. It was played at the end of day one as I recall
Kelli from Columbus, OhThe video is...not great. Marley (Trey's dog) makes an appearance though. If memory serves, Page sticks him in a fish tank. I have no idea what the video has to do with the song itself. It's too bad they didn't make more videos though. Their combined creativeness probably could have resulted in some pretty cool videos.
Jeff from Barrington, IlI downloaded the music video one time. It was a few years ago so I don't remember it too well, but it was basically just the band all jumping into a small fish tank with scuba gear on and then playing at the bottom. Not a great video, but Phish still rocks and so does this song.
Chris from Topeka, KsI like this song a lot, probably one of the better ones off Hoist. One time I heard it on the satellite radio at work and couldn't believe that I was hearing a Phish song on the radio. These guys rock and I wish I could've seen them in concert, it would've been one Heck of a time.
Elliot from Toronto, CanadaGreat song. I'm not too familiar with Phish, but this song (as well as Free) is really getting me to like them a lot more. I've never seen the video... can someone tell me what the video is like?
Chris from Philadelphia, PaI gave up trying to talk people into "liking" this band, as well as The Grateful Dead. You either "get it," or you don't. Neither band ever had a problem selling out concerts, or keeping a few bucks in thier pocket, so they need no "word of mouth." I just honestly feel sorry for people who don't "get it" because they are missing out on an awesomely intense/spiritual/positive experience in their lives -- one which will open that other door to your soul, where you can see what it really is "all about." Imagine trying to get there through pop music or any of that other MTV nonsense!!?? Someone once tried to explain what kind of music the Grateful Dead played, and I think that description applies equally as well to Phish: "They're not the best at what they do; they're the only ones that do what they do."
Nick from Shelton, CtPeople gotta start sticking up for one of the best bands ever,I added the lyrics as good as i knew them off the top of my head,, Phish is awesome they deserve so much more credit then they get just because they don't cooperate with MTV doesn't meen there not good . listen to the music and you'll be amazed,, this song has the most unique bass line i have ever heard, And as a bass player i have found it almost imposible to duplicate, they are amazing people need to start listen to Phish instead listening to what people say about them,

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