Down With Disease

Phish · Hampton/winston-Salem '97 [2011]

Down with disease

Three weeks in my bed

Trying to stop these demons that keep

Dancing in my head



Down with disease

And I'm up before the dawn

A thousand barefoot children outside

Dancing on my lawn

Dancing on my lawn, and I keep



Chorus

Waiting for the time when I can finally say

This has all been wonderful but now I'm on my way

But when I think it's time to leave it all behind

I try to find a way to

But there's nothing I can say to

Make it stop

(Stop, stop, stop, stop)

(Stop, stop, stop, stop)

(Stop, stop, stop, stop)

(Stop, stop, stop)



Down with disease

And the jungles in my mind

They're climbing up my waterfalls and

Swingin' on my vines



So I try to hear the music

But I'm always losing time

'Cause they're stepping on my rhythm and they're

Stealin' all my lines

Stealin' all my lines and I keep



[chorus]

Down With Disease

Phish's "Down With Disease" stands as a quintessential example of the band's improvisational mastery, recorded during their 1997 Hampton/Winston-Salem tour. The track exemplifies the group's signature blend of blues, rock, and jazz, characterized by extended instrumental explorations and a dynamic interplay between musicians. As a staple of their live catalog, the song showcases the band's ability to build tension and release within a single performance, often evolving organically from a simple blues progression into a complex, multi-layered composition. Its enduring popularity reflects the collective's commitment to live innovation and their unique approach to songwriting that prioritizes collective improvisation over rigid structure.