Phish.net

"Breathe," indeed. That's precisely what the fans at the 11/2/98 show had trouble doing when they heard Phish unload into this song, for they had just knocked the wind out of every fan in attendance at the half-sold ‘E’ Centre. Though a “Breathy” jam had made a single appearance three years before in the middle of a “Mike’s Song,” the post-Halloween Utah version has only a tiny bit more import – it opened the surprise performance of the entire Dark Side of the Moon album!

The half-full venue was thoroughly blown away when they heard the opening sound effects and voice bites of “Speak To Me,” but it took the first few minutes of “Breathe” (and perhaps “On the Run”) to fully clue them in about what was going to be happening over the course of the second set. The crowd eventually caught their breath… sometime the following morning. 

(Waters/Gilmour/Wright)
© Hampshire House Publishing Corp (ASCAP)

Breathe, breathe in the air
Don't be afraid to care
Leave, but don't leave me
Look around and chose your own ground

For long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be

Run, run rabbit run
Dig that hole, forget the sun
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one

For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balance on the biggest wave
You race toward an early grave