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A quintessential example of Billy Breathes’ stripped down simplicity, “Waste” hints of a slacker anthem. Starting with Trey’s solitary guitar, the song’s protagonist casts aside the masks of role and occupation, expressing longing to waste time with the object of her love. An optimistic interpretation suggests a love song with a thinly veiled ironic twist because, in this view, love isn’t a waste at all. More cynical views hold that the song isn’t ironic in the slightest: both the song and love itself represent a “waste”; or, alternatively that the song represents a superficial sentimentality targeted to the lowest common denominator. 

Cherished by many fans, “Waste” certainly has its share of detractors. The potentially tender moments of the song and it's almost pop-like qualities gnaw at the soft underbelly of many in Phish’s hyper-geek fan intelligentsia. On the other hand, Billy Breathes in general – and “Waste” in particular – sparked an appreciation of Phish by mainstream media, who praised the “new-found accessibility” of both the music and lyrics. Rather than representing a temporary departure from the generally more complex and cerebral nature of their previous offerings, “Waste” in many ways represented a turning point, a new layer to Phish’s stylistic onion, and a precursor to later offerings such as “Bug,” “Secret Smile," and "Joy."

Watch Waste on YouTube Phish, “Waste” – 2/16/97, Cologne, Germany

“Waste” made its Phish concert debut at a unique performance, the stealth “Third Ball” gig in Woodstock, NY on 6/6/96. At this show Trey noted that “Waste” still didn’t have an ending. While on all other occasions performed in Phish’s typical electric setup, “Waste” was performed as part of mini acoustic sets on 8/5/96, 8/13/96, and 8/16/96. An outstanding version of "Waste" can be found on 6/14/97 in Dublin, including an extended improvisational segment that led joyfully astray from the normal bounds of the song’s concluding jam. Representative versions can be found on 8/13/96 (Live Phish 12), 12/11/97 in the encore slot, prominently closing the second set at the 20th Anniversary gig on 12/2/03, late in the second set of the 3/6/09 comeback gig at Hampton, and in the middle of the highly-regarded second set from 6/3/11 in Clarkston, MI. “Waste” has remained in light to moderate rotation in Phish’s repertoire since its debut, with no notable gaps to date.

Watch Waste on YouTube Phish, “Waste” – 5/23/00, New York, NY

“Waste” has also made a number of noteworthy appearances in contexts other than Phish. On the Mockingbird Foundation’s first CD, Sharin’ in the Groove, Dave Matthews offers a solo, acoustic interpretation of “Waste.” The Dave Matthews Band subsequently covered “Waste” seventeen times during 2001 and 2002. “Waste” also found prominent placement in Dave Matthews and Friends performances with Trey during their winter 2003-04 tours; Trey and Dave performed “Waste” acoustic and shared vocals during the encores of 12/16/03 in Boston and 1/12/04 in Seattle, among others. 

Co-authors Trey and Tom Marshall have performed the song as a duet twice, during Trey’s acoustic sets on 5/13/99 in Binghamton, NY, and on 11/14/05 in Princeton, NJ. Duets with Trey and Mike can be found on 5/14/05 Hammerstein Ballroom and 7/18/06 in Toronto during the G.R.A.B. set, the latter with Mike on banjo. The Phil Lesh & Phriends April ’99 lineup that included Trey and Page performed “Waste” during a private rehearsal on 4/12/99; however, it didn’t make the cut for any of the three live performances of this quintet at the Warfield Theatre. Trey has also performed "Waste" solo acoustic on the majority of his solo tours.

(Anastasio, Marshall)
© Who Is She? Music, BMI

don't want to be an actor, pretending on the stage
don't want to be a writer with my thought out on the page
don't want to be a painter 'cause everyone comes to look
don't want to be anything where my life's an open book

don't want to be a farmer, working in the sun
don't want to be an outlaw, always on the run
don't want to be a climber, reaching for the top
don't want to be anything where I don't know when to stop

a dream it's true
but I'd see it through
if I could be
wasting my time with you

so if I'm inside your head
don't believe what you might have read
you'll see what I might have said
to hear it
come waste your time with me