Historian: Chris Bertolet (bertoletdown), Craig DeLucia
Last Update: 2011-09-11
What would relationships be like if the burden of time were lifted, and with it the pressure to hurry forward to the next milestone, the next crisis, the next resolution? In “Fast Enough for You,” Tom Marshall supposes that we wouldn’t burden each other as we do with weighty expectations and needs unmet, and things would be a whole lot happier. But that’s not the way it is, and the lover to whom our narrator speaks is not content with the pace of the affair. He is thus a target for her scorn.
Like relationships themselves, Phish ballads seem to run a common course (“familiarity breeds contempt breeds solitude breeds reconciliation,” perhaps) and so it has been with “FEFY.” Upon its introduction in 1992, it became a regular fixture in setlists for the next year and a half, along with “Horse” > “Silent.” As several new ballads were introduced in early 1994, including “Lifeboy” and “If I Could,” those songs tended to find favor in the down-tempo slots, and by 1997 (on the heels of the ballad-spangled Billy Breathes), “Fast Enough” had become downright rare. Since Phish's return to the stage in 2009, "FEFY" has settled into a very light rotation of two times a year, with recent versions to be found in excellent shows including 10/19/10 Augusta and 9/3/11 in Colorado.
Though “FEFY” only varies slightly in the outro solo, there’s a discernible difference between an impassioned take and a phoned-in reading. It’s all about the energy, which means that 1993-94 versions often get the nod from fans. Many regard the 11/19/92 debut as the most distinctive version, as it features Gordon Stone’s silken pedal steel textures (as also heard on Rift).
Seek out versions from the summer of 99. While this was the first tour where the enthusiastic sloppiness began to morph into something less inspired. FEFY was one of a handful of songs that benefited from the languid narcotic overtones Phish was dabbling in at times. While the summer 99 versions aren't the tightest, they feature a meditative patience that fits the song perfectly. 7/4 from Atlanta and 7/23 from Columbus are the most unique versions since the debut.
Also, the 1/4/03 DWD-> FEFY from the return run of shows is a great pairing of songs that tmake certain fans ears burn when being played on the other side of the country. Did I hear my name?
Of course, I have also heard that the funk embedded in the DNA of 100 songs before 1997 was all an elaborate joke making fun of unsophisticated music and that it was a real shame when they earnestly got into funk in 1997- but the thing is, it may have just been an elaborate 15 year joke on fans who want every song to be Antelope like some sort of ersatz Disco Biscuits.
I have also heard another interpretation of this song's significance in the Phish catalog: By the early 90's, as their fanbase grew, fans became more demanding and critical (a trend that has unfortunately continued to the present) of shows and song selection. One theory on "FEFY" is that it was the bands response to people always wanting furious and intricate jam songs throughout shows. So, they answer with one of their most beautiful ballads, playfully mocking that "it isn't nearly fast enough for you"
Note: FEFY was played on 6/26/10 at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD
Performances
Song History
Lyrics
Seek out versions from the summer of 99. While this was the first tour where the enthusiastic sloppiness began to morph into something less inspired. FEFY was one of a handful of songs that benefited from the languid narcotic overtones Phish was dabbling in at times. While the summer 99 versions aren't the tightest, they feature a meditative patience that fits the song perfectly. 7/4 from Atlanta and 7/23 from Columbus are the most unique versions since the debut.
