Phish.net

“Can’t Always Listen” (co-written by Trey and The Dude of Life) is perhaps Phish’s most straightforward blues song. The lyrics are a simple ode to doing things your own way and not getting hung up on material possessions: “Can’t always listen to what people say / If you wish to wind up where you hope to be someday; The stars are sitting pretty and the world is spinning fine / Forget about what’s yours and don’t worry about what’s mine.” The music, while pleasant, is nothing fancy: a standard blues chord progression, a “Sugar Magnolia”-esque riff from Trey, a piano solo, and a guitar solo.

While probably destined to be a first set rocker, the debut of the tune was more interesting: sandwiched in the middle of a second set “Ghost” on 12/30/15. This placement caught everyone off guard, sending the more curious to their phones in search of the title. There were some grumbles – when are there not? – about “Ghost” being disrupted, but the re-entry into “Ghost” was a lot of fun, and worth a spin. After a 142 show gap, “Can’t Always Listen” returned to the stage to open the first night of the annual Labor Day weekend run at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on 8/30/19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAXDdIwicWY" target="_blank">Watch Can't Always Listen on YouTube Phish ”Ghost” > “Can’t Always Listen” (@ 5:45) – 12/30/15, New York, NY. Video by notmkdevo

(Anastasio/Pollak)
© Who Is She? Music, Inc. (BMI)

Can't always listen to what people say
Can't always listen to what people say
If you wish to wind up where you hope to be someday
Can't always listen to what people say

The stars are sitting pretty and the world is spinning fine
The stars are sitting pretty and the world is spinning fine
Forget about what's yours and don't worry about what's mine
The stars are sitting pretty and the world is spinning fine

Watch my dog bark at his own shadow on the ground
Watch my dog bark at his own shadow on the ground
Sometimes I think I'm chasing my own tail around
Watch my dog bark at his own shadow on the ground

Can't always listen to what people say
Can't always listen to what people say
If you wish to wind up where you hope to be someday
Can't always listen to what people say