Phish.net

This bluegrass number of Tim O’Brien and Hot Rize fame made its one and only Phish concert appearance in Vancouver on 11/23/96. Trey introduces the song in the middle of the first set by saying they “learned this one this morning, specifically for you” after “kind of a long night coming through the border [where] we met up with some funny people at the border.” It seems that a long and laborious Canadian border crossing for the tour late in the evening allowed Mike to teach the band this highly appropriate road song. The song was obviously fresh on the bassist’s mind since he recently played it on at least two occasions during some memorable acoustic shows featuring Mike on bass, Gordon Stone on banjo and Doug Perkins on guitar. This trio performed “Midnight on the Highway” on 10/1/96 at University of Vermont’s Slade Hall and 10/3/96 at the Last Elm Cafe in Burlington.

(O'Brien)
© Howdy Skies Music (ASCAP)

Midnight on the highway and the stars are all aglow
And it seems I'm always drivin, and I miss my darlin' so

Midnight on the highway, big bright moon above
It lights the white lines for me, all the way home to my love

Can't you hear the wheels a hummin' as we roll on through the night
My desire is to hold you and I'll be home before daylight

Now the shadows quickly fadin' as a town comes into view
Three more miles my journey's over and again I'll be with you