In less than two weeks, Trey Anastasio has released half an album’s worth of new songs while adhering to the countrywide self-quarantine guidelines in place amid the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. On Friday, Anastasio shared another new original via his Instagram entitled, “Lotus”, making it the sixth quarantine track the Phish guitarist has given fans since first releasing “Lost In The Pack” on March 18th.

“Lotus” follows the aforementioned “Lost In The Pack”, as well as “When The Words Go Away”, “Timeless”, “I Never Needed You Like This Before”, and “The Greater Good” as songs released during the country’s quarantine efforts, and like the others, was written by longtime collaborator, Tom Marshall. The song stands on its own, however, in that it is by far the longest and most exploratory of the bunch, and also features rhythm work from Phish drummer Jon Fishman.

As Anastasio notes in his video caption,

In quarantine, you tend to think a lot. The fate of humanity…what’s going to happen?

This song is about escaping earth, to a different planet, and arriving to find a civilization that has advanced enough to survive its flaws, but in the process, has lost its ability to experience beauty love, art, and even hope. They’ve sacrificed all their flaws in favor of being completely transparent.

Wishing you all Love, health, and Hope.

“Lotus” is an epic tale, both lyrically and musically. The lyrics, which are transcribed below, take the listener on a journey of literal trials and tribulations. Trey’s musical arrangement also wanders far into space, much like the advanced civilization described in the lyrics. Listen to the entire 13+ minute track below.

Trey Anastasio – “Lotus”

In addition to all of the new songs, Phish recently launched their new Dinner and a Movie webcast and culinary archival concert video series. Each Tuesday, the band will air a free rebroadcast of a past show and share a dinner recipe for fans to make and eat as they watch.

“Lotus” Lyrics

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

Blood pumps through veins

Lava flows quite the same

With no beating heart left to feed on the flames

Pieces of shattered art

Slide through the square

Count from the right, they speak abacus there

Gloats flying by, a random glyph strikes my eye

Reflections of the people inside

Their skin seems to shine

Memories are left behind

I’ve raised my hand

Can I grab a vibe?

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

Count up all the dots

There’s no time to waste

The comets come circling around for a taste

The feel us from deep in space

Sensing their chance

Most rush on by, too confused by the dance

We’re moving fast, this is our time

People will be left behind

‘Round their feet are growing vines

World’s are strung out side-by-side

Jump to the next one waiting in line

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

Alone, this pebble in the wind a blossom in the stream

The morning dew falls on my face and wakes me from my dream

It was land not far from here where everyone was glass

I saw right through their bodies but they would not let me pass

They told me to abandon hope, to wish it was a mistake

Their hopelessness was very clear, but I remained opaque

The (?) reached beyond them as I tried to slither past

The harder they would push me until I gave up at last

But then I saw beneath my skin through veins and through my bones

As my body turned to glass

They left me there alone

Just as my last ray of hope attempted to depart

The flower in the breeze awoke the beating of my heart

I reached with my transparent hand and pulled it from the air

And suddenly a council made of glass was standing there

My color has returned again

And clearly I was not like them

Underneath a lotus was where trial was meant to be

My crime was I did not renounce the hope that they all lived without

Their evidence was my lone flower that strengthened me and gave me power

The verdict came with no delay

I was guilty, I should pay

Before the sentencing could be

I ran and shook the lotus tree

The blossoms along the snow

Upon the heads of those below

Screams rang out as bodies scattered

Flowers fell and people shattered

The flowers they could not withstand

Reduced their glassy forms to sand

And soon a blissful silence fell upon the sandy lotus knell

A wind came up and gently blew the petals all around

A lightly falling mist then reached the sand

Into the ground

I watched the petals flutter by and land upon the stream

I raised my face and let the water wash my body clean

Wash my body clean

Wash my body clean

Wash my body clean

Wash my body clean

Wash my body clean

Wash my body clean

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

A tiny dot behind the sun

Now fills the sky, is this the one?

Move aside, I’m packing light

Heaven’s calling, space is tight

View Lyrics