Samson and Delilah

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History

It is October 18, 2016, in Nashville, TN. It is night 1 of a 2 night stint in Music City, and Bob Weir was set to rock out at The Ryman Auditorium the following evening. Much was ado about rumors of a second Weir guest appearance, and when the band struck up “Walkin’ Blues” during soundcheck, we all ran over to see and sure enough, Bobby was right there signing and playing. Rumors were considered confirmed, and word spread like fire. 

The first set was great, but we were (almost painfully) aware of what was to come. In the fog of it all, like the legend Col. Forbin as he stepped through the doorway with his faithful hound, McGrupp, my mind…

… lifted… 

… and into it entered…

A riddle: “From the eater came out food, and out of the strong came sweetness.”

Video by Grateful Dead

Let’s take a trip back in time, shall we? The year is 951 BCE. A man from a small town called Zorah, named Samson, is appointed as head judge, beginning his 20 year reign. 

Samson rules fairly and justly, albeit with an iron fist of true justice. 

He is unshakeable and unbreakable, unfakeable yet unmistakable. Unflappable, not unkind - simply undeterred, yet unresigned. Until he meets a woman named Delilah.

Another riddle, in response: “What is sweeter than honey and stronger than a lion?”

Love, of course. It is the strongest force imaginable, perhaps only second to lust. Enter, Delilah, whose immaculate beauty was whispered of across the land. 

The source of Samson’s strength was in following a code which included not cutting his hair. His adversaries colluded with Delilah to… “encourage” Samson to cut off his locks as a testament to his love for her. In a moment of blind foolishness he agreed and was taken captive once his strength evaporated with his eviscerated curls no longer attached to his head.

A plea, for an answer: “Give me strength this once. Let me avenge myself …. It matters not if I die with them!"

In captivity, ashamed, humiliated, beaten mentally and physically, Samson prayed the words above and was so answered. Samson was on display, his captivity a trophy for all to see. In one final act of Samsonian strength, after his prayer was answered, he ripped down the beams he was affixed to which held up the building in which he was on display. 

And so, in one final act, came the end of Samson and many, many of his enemies.

Though this is not a tale truly as old as time, as the saying goes, it has been around for centuries. It was an honor to be there in person as Phish joined forces with the great Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead to relay the tale to us. After all, he’s been playing the song since at least 1976 when it debuted with the band.

It is October 18, 2016, and the band is 3 songs into their 2nd set when, finally, it happens – out comes Mr. Robert Weir – much to the sheer delight of the packed house that night at Ascend Amphitheatre. How would they begin a segment of music which, by all rights (given the strength of both Phish at that time and Bobby’s recent touring with The Wolf Brothers as well) was anticipated to be an all-timer?

Fishman answered that as the applause died down, shortly before it shot back up again. Loudly, at that. As an audience, we all collectively came to recognize that opening shuffle of a tale we all knew so well already. But boy (!) was Fishman putting some extra mustard on it? Or was it just because IT was actually happening before our very eyes? 

Before we knew it, we were screaming together that we “would tear this whole building down! (good God almighty!)!” What a glorious moment. I recall feeling, as it dawned on me what song it was, that it was a story I grew up with, a story thousands of years old, one I knew oh so well. 

Yet it somehow felt like, that evening, I once again learned it for the very first time.

Video by LazyLightninng55a

Last significant update: 12/14/25

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