Roggae

To give my meaning of "If life were easy and not so fast, I wouldn't think about the past":

(Keep that IF in mind)

How can folks not get this?  They must not be old enough or must not have hit rough times or lost love.  This sentence describes how I feel these days actually.  It's a feeling that comes about when things in the present aren't going how we pictured it - when things aren't going how we thought that they would.

If things were going well and everything was chill in the present and time didn't fly by so much as it does as we get into our mid 20s and later, we wouldn't think as much about past times when we were younger, we wouldn't think as much about our past loves, we wouldn't reflect on our childhoods to try to figure this stuff out.  I know that when times are really good for me, I don't think about the past as much - especially when it comes to love and especially when it comes to looking back on the 'glory days'.  

Therefore, as the line goes, if life were easy and not so fast, I wouldn't think about the past.  

 

~Blessings, Rachel


Okay -- I'll take a crack at it.

First of all -- I love the multiple spellings of this song...

Dan wrote:
 >"if life were easy and not so fast, I wouldn't think about the past"
 >I don't see how this applies to anyone.  I see quite the opposite,
 >actually.
 >If life is going by slowly, easy, as when one is of older age, one has
 >more time to reflect upon the past.  Whereas if life is going by fast
 >(when one is busy and/or having lots of fun) one does not have as much
 >time to think about the past.  I'd appreciate someone explaining the
 >sense of this line.
==========
okay Dan...imagine a REAL EASY life...something we can't even conceive of in
this lifetime as TV-watching North Americans...perhaps life as it would be in
heaven or when you've achieved Nirvana, etc...you wouldn't think about the
past -- what that might mean is -- you wouldn't base your thoughts or actions
on any notion or concept that you've ever thought of before.  Think of it --
everything you do is compared by you and the people you're with to things
you've done before.  I like thinking about the idea of separating your actions
and thoughts from any store of knowledge -- like a newborn infant can (and no
one else).  Life is easy for them -- they don't think about the past...(don't
say "so why do they cry all the time?")  I like the phrase "no basis for
comparison".  If I were a lawyer I would use that frequently (probably to my
detriment and subsequent disbarment).
TM



I first want to say I think this page could be lots of fun if people 
would participate    
more.  This is my first entry so come on I want to hear what you freaks 
think about this shit.  I mean there are so many ways that every song 
could be interpreted. I don't guess there is any right answer but some 
are definately better than others. I want to comment on ROGET first.  
This song really grabs me by the balls and it feels so damn good.  Hope 
that didn't sound perverted. It just really has some power to it.  I 
literally feel the shiny music descending from overhead. I think the guy 
who explained the first four verses hit this on the nail when he said 
each member is reflecting on their own roles and they seem to put it in 
some sort of perspective that just semms perfect.  Let's face it the guys 
are getting older and these new songs definately reflect a new ever 
evolving perspective on life and it just reminds us that we are all 
changing constantly. We all must find the "vantage point" where things 
are now a little turned around and learn how to adapt to what ever it may 
be. The chorus just really hits home and the boys souls seem to shine 
when they sing the lines " If life were easy and not so fast, I wouldn't 
think about the past"  You can just really feel their truest sincerity, 
because they know that life is so fast and that every moment counts. We 
all know that life is not easy, yes even when your a member of a great 
fucking band, life is not easy and I think the main thing there saying 
here is that you can't dwell on the past. Yes we all will think of the 
past and things we shoula coulda done, but the point is we must move on 
even we don't really want to.  Lord I got to keep on groovin. In the 
second verse when they say provoking dreams that don't exist, I think 
their saying that yes they are a circus of light, a place to visit and 
get some soul, but that they don't mean to provoke any dreams. I mean 
there are so many people on tour that really are chasing dreams that 
aren't even there. Come on people Phish juyst shines the light for us 
all, we have to capture our own dreams and that doesn't happen being a 
tour rat all your life. watch and learn man we all have to face life and 
it's ain't easy.  I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE ON MY COMMENTs 
ggrantham@mindspring.com
OH YEAH
THE CIRCUS IS THE only PLACE FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-George G.

Roggae (maybe spelled Roget) is my favorite song of the 98 crop.  It's
not only well composed and beautiful, but the lyrics SPEAK TO ME.  I
believe, quite simply, that the lyrics are Phish's interpretation of the
PHISH EXPERIENCE.  It's probably easier to see this if they are written
out:

-Circus is the Place for me with bears and clowns and noise (Fishman
sings)
-I Love the shiny music that descends from overhead (Trey sings)
-Gordon Knew the moment when the stars all turned around (Page sings)
-Caught From that vantage point I found (Mike Sings)

This is the first verse, and it is one of the most poignant.  Each Band
Member seems to be reflecting on their own position in the band.  Fish
is definitely like a Circus clown.  Trey has said MANY times that he
feels that the music descends from overhead and he channels it out into
the audience.  Page talks about Mike - supposedly Mike had a
musical/religious experience back in '85 where he "saw the light."  I'm
not sure exactly what transpired, though.  And Mike simply reflects on
that experience.  

-If life were easy and not so fast, I wouldn't think about the past.

These are simply words of Truth.
The 2nd verse seems to be The Phish-head's point of view at a Phish
show:

-I wander all the grounds of light and heat and sounds and mist
-Provoking Dreams that don't exist
-A Circus of light, where dreams can take flight
-In the peacefulness dreaming of dreams (explained?)

IF YOU HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE THIS AT A PHISH SHOW - THAN YOU HAVE NEVER
BEEN TO ONE, OR AT LEAST NEVER TRULY EXPERIENCED ONE.


"if life were easy and not so fast, i wouldn't think about the past"

peace
Justin


"if life were easy and not so fast, I wouldn't think about the past"

I don't see how this applies to anyone.  I see quite the opposite,
actually.
If life is going by slowly, easy, as when one is of older age, one has
more time to reflect upon the past.  Whereas if life is going by fast
(when one is busy and/or having lots of fun) one does not have as much
time to think about the past.  I'd appreciate someone explaining the
sense of this line.

cheers,

dan