Trey Anastasio has released another new song, “When The Words Go Away”, on his social media accounts. The song joins Wednesday’s “Lost In The Pack“, both in chronological proximity as well as in theme.

Trey noted in the video’s description that this song was also written by him, longtime Phish lyricist Tom Marshall, and fellow longtime collaborator, Scott Herman, and was also recorded on March 17th. This song, much like “Lost In The Pack”, finds Trey in a vulnerable, acoustic environment and was shared along with the same photo of him working barefoot in what appears to be a home office, credited to his wife, Sue Anastasio.

The song’s lyrics seem to directly reference the global uncertainty, panic, and isolation that hundreds of millions of people around the world are feeling every waking moment. The song’s very title and accompanying refrain, “When The Words Go Away”, are allusions to the self-quarantine many are enduring for the sake of their health (“We decided to part, each make a new start/But I didn’t know what you take when you go/Now I’m beholden to silence not golden there’s nothing to say/When the words go away.”)

The song’s second and final verse most directly acknowledges the current concept of “social distancing” and other preventative measures (“Embraced isolation is never a choice/I long for the comfort I get from your voice/The vacuum of sound that you leave when you go/Is spreading the silence around us like snow”).

Listen to “When The Words Go Away”, the newest song from Trey Anastasio.

Trey Anastasio – “When The Words Go Away”

“When The Words Go Away” Lyrics

The snow’s coming faster, my view ’round the bend

A beautiful valley tucked into a glenn

Can barely be seen

But where is the wind, where is the noise, where are the voices again?

Locked in a capsule for time without end

Watching the world through a pain or a lens

There’s nothing to fear when there’s nobody near

But silence can kill and there’s lots of it here

We decided to part, each make a new start

But I didn’t know what you take when you go

Now I’m beholden to silence not golden there’s nothing to say

When the words go away

Embraced isolation is never a choice

I long for the comfort I get from your voice

The vacuum of sound that you leave when you go

Is spreading the silence around us like snow

We decided to part, each make a new start

But I didn’t know what you take when you go

Now I’m beholden to silence not golden there’s nothing to say

When the words go away

View Lyrics

Anastasio is one of many hundreds of thousands of musicians whose tour plans have been dramatically affected by the nation’s ever-evolving response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the disease that it causes, COVID-19. Earlier this week, all of Oysterhead‘s April shows were canceled or rescheduled, and Bonnaroo, the festival the trio was set to headline, has been postponed until September. Head to Trey’s website for up-to-date tour information and announcements.