Dragonfly

• Performances
• History
• Lyrics
• Artist
  • Phish
  • Fish
  • Mike
  • Page
  • Trey
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Originally Performed By	Trey, Mike and The Duo
Appears On
Music/Lyrics	Anastasio, Benevento, Gordon, Russo
Vocals	Trey
Historian	Jeff Schultz (phan21) and Mockingbird Staff
Last Update	2011-10-20

History

“Dragonfly” is a simple but powerful tune about just going out and having fun and not staying home all day, suggesting that you only get one chance at life and you better have fun while you are alive. It is also one of four songs written by Trey, Mike, Marco Benevento and Joe Russo and in advance of the G.R.A.B tour. It was also recorded by those four and released (and was the first single from) Trey’s Bar 17.

TAB, “Dragonfly” – 2/18/11, Portland, ME

“Dragonfly” made its live debut with TAB on 4/26/06 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. “Dragonfly” was in heavy rotation in 2006, taking flight at almost every show. (it was played at every G.R.A.B. show other than 7/20/06). “Dragonfly” was also played at 11 out of 25 shows on TAB’s 2006 Fall Tour and two additional times on the New Years run. Trey also chose to play “Dragonfly” on The Late Show with David Letterman on 10/6/06. The flight of the “Dragonfly” has slowed significantly since 2006, though it has remained in light rotation.

“Dragonfly” is a straight up four chord rock and roll song in the key of F# major. It is usually played as a set closer or an encore. Most versions are relatively standard and around 5-7 minutes, but it is always played with a lot of energy (not to mention with many nice guitar licks). A very special version is the 10/9/06 Webster Hall encore, which followed a “Divided Sky” featuring just Trey and a string quintet. All of the G.R.A.B. versions are great, but check out the 7/12/06 version that preceded a “Who Are You?” encore with Page on the keyboards.

Although it may not be played as often in recent “Dragonfly” remains a fan favorite. Trey played it as the encore on 3/4/11, "because you guys having been calling for it all night." It is a song with a very important message that can be summed up in one sentence: Live your life to the fullest everyday.

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