Tags: Hebrew, Songs

Foreign languages frequently show up in Phish lyrics. The chorus to "You Enjoy Myself" includes some Italian. Reba might be Russian, "Yamar" might include some, and "Meatstick" now includes Japanese lyrics.

But Hebrew is most prominent, including a musical version of the prayer "Avenu Malkenu" as the fixed middle of "TMWSIY", and "Yerushelem Shel Zahav" both stand-alone and as the end of "Demand" on Hoist, as well as Mike's "Passover solo" on 4/18/92.

This frequent connection makes sense: Mike and Fish are Jewish, and one group claims that Phish audiences may be 30% Jewish.

"Suddenly it's hip -- or at least acceptable -- to be Jewish. ... The most explicit reflection of a mainstream group's Jewish identity may be a few lines of the High Holidays prayer `Avinu Malkeinu' in the middle of a song by Phish, added in by band member -- and Conservative day school alumnus -- Mike Gordon."
-- Debra Nussbaum Cohen for Jewish Telegraphic Agency