It’s been a little quiet on the Phish front since Trey Anastasio wrapped up his eight-week Beacon Jams residency at New York’s Beacon Theatre last November. Aside from a recent cryptic interview in which the guitarist essentially told fans something by ultimately telling them nothing, he has stayed largely out of sight in 2021.

On Thursday, Trey let everyone know what he’s been up to with the surprise release of a sprawling, 14-minute piece, “Forward People”. The song arrived on March 18th, the one-year anniversary of Trey’s first quarantine song, “Lost In The Pack“.

Immediately apparent on the track, other than the thumbnail image of his-now famous cat Joey, is the presence of a full band complete with horns and strings—a far cry from the DIY tunes he churned out at a rapid pace from his Manhattan apartment last spring. While the video shared by Trey lacks a listing of band personnel, it seems safe to assume that the string parts were provided by surprise Beacon Jams stars, the Rescue Squad Strings, while the horns were likely provided by the Trey Anastasio Band horn section (Jennifer HartswickNatalie Cressman, and James Casey), all of whom also appeared during The Beacon Jams.

Besides being a beautiful orchestral arrangement, “Forward People” is part epic poem and part love letter in a bottle sent to fans. As summer approaches, it is still up in the air whether fans will be able to see Phish at all this year, let alone on the band’s currently-scheduled tour, which was initially bumped to 2021 from last summer. Trey is certainly no stranger to fans’ anticipation for tour to start, as he has noted on various occasions how eager he is to get back out there.

While we may or may not get to see Big Red on tour this summer, “Forward People” is his way of communicating with us as a fan base and saying that—whatever happens—we’re going to move “Forward People”.

Listen to “Forward People” below and read along with the extensive lyrics below. Along with the song, Trey shared a message saying “Hope to see you soon” and the fingers crossed emoji.

Trey Anastasio – “Forward People”

[Video: Trey Anastasio]

“Forward People” Lyrics

We are one
You are not alone
All things are connected
And we are reaping what we’ve sown
but even out there on your own
We cannot be divided
You are not alone
You’re never really alone

But if they’re true
These platitudes and hallmark poems
why am I so lonesome?
And feel so far from home?
I’m sending messages they’re woven in these tones
I’m sending messages they’re braided in these lines
I hope this bottle finds
some winding Way to you

The tide moves in and out
And what goes up comes down
Misty childhood memories
I was far too young to know
Then came the lies
the Howling wind blew in
now the green fields are frozen
The path we have chosen led us here

Don’t bother saying it
I just can’t stop staring
I won’t waste another day
But I just won’t stop caring
I miss you too
There’s nothing more to say now
I’m Focused on the new
I know we’ll find
I know we’ll find
A way

So I try to let it go now
But Planted on this pavement
As I watch the fires grow
I recall cool water
We would dip our toes in
Now we’re following the path
But the path that we have chosen didn’t last
How could it all all have gone
so fast

Steel Sharpens Steel
The cross and wheel
I hear a voice
“we have a choice”
This fading light
Is my Prison or my redemption
it’s up to me
birds taking flight
A new dawn is breaking
Move thru the morning mist
my hopeful heart is aching
Sway in the light
Sway in the light
I hear a voice

An invisible hand
Is Conducting the melody
We think that we are composing
But the music is pointing beyond me now
And I’m trying to let go
The worst part is not knowing
And something keeps pulling me Down down down
down down down down

Down at the edge of your mind
Down at the edge of your mind
The truth lies
Down at the edge of your mind
Down at the edge of your mind
Beneath the lies

Down at the edge of your mind
Down at the edge of your mind
The truth lies
Down at the edge of your mind
Down at the edge of your mind

Celestial melody
roar of Thunder
Speak to me
Your timeless poetry
The sky is Orange chemistry
As I lay Burning
A sleepy moon is turning
Her indifferent face away from me
Till I’m left with only memories
and these waves exploding
and visions turning
they never stop
and they never stop
and we’re moving
and the waves exploding
they never stop
and I’m on the edge
Of your Perfect Order
your secrets told to me
waves exploding
And moving
and we’re moving
and it never stops
the waves exploding
they never stop
they never stop
and I hear a voice
and it’s calling out to me
Roaring
And booming
I hear a voice
and it’s calling out to me

Love
Now
Forward people
We’re all one people now
Love
Move Forward people
We’re all one people
Love
Now
Forward people
We’re all one people now
Love
We’re all one people now

And we all can see
what love can be
And we all will move as one

And when we all can see
what love can be
we all will move as one

Love Now
Forward people
We’re all one people now
Love
Move forward people
We’re all one people
Love
Now
Forward people
all one people now
Love
We’re all one people now

Now
We’re gonna move
We’re gonna move
We’re done waiting for it
Forward people
Forward people
Now
Now
We’re gonna move
We’re gonna move
We’re done waiting for it
Forward people
Forward people

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