Frankie Says

• Performances
• History
• Lyrics
• Jam Chart
• Artist
  • Phish
  • Fish
  • Mike
  • Page
  • Trey
  • All

Originally Performed By	Phish
Appears On
Music/Lyrics	Anastasio/Fishman/Gordon/McConnell/Marshall
Vocals	Page (lead), Mike, Trey, Fish (backing)
Phish Debut	1998-04-02
Last Played	2023-07-30
Current Gap	63
Recommended Versions	1998-08-16, 1998-10-31, 2003-12-28
Historian	Grant Calof (That_Guy)
Last Update	2024-01-27

History

A long time ago, in a social media-free galaxy far, far away… 

Back in the Before Times®, unconfirmed rumors surrounding the next tour (Spring dates? Europe? Japan mini tour?) were the stuff of dreams… and the source of endless debate on rec.music.phish. But in 1998, rumors of a mini Spring tour thankfully proved true. The four night “Island Tour” was over in a flash, but it left the east coast with a handful of new tunes… and a handful of new arguments over their correct titles. 

Phish "Frankie Says" – 10/20/98, Sessions at West 54th, New York, NY. Video by Phasinated.

“Frankie Says” was first misidentified en masse as “Roggae” partly due to a confusing conversation between Tom Marshall and two fans. Somewhere amidst the haze after the Rhode Island show on 04/04/98, said fans asked Tom the name of that new “Page” song. Tom wasn’t in attendance that night, so the fans did their best to describe the song… and Tom did his best to be helpful-- but apparently thought the fans were referring to “Roggae” (pronounced “rouge” at the time, btw) versus “Frankie Says.” 

From that conversation forward, people assumed they had divine confirmation and started spreading the news: “That Page song last night was called ‘Roggae!’” The long-running but good natured dispute over the title was ultimately laid to rest when the band released their seventh studio album, Story of the Ghost in October, 1998 and fans could finally match the song to the correct title.

As to the origin of the song’s title… The answer depends on who you ask. To some, the title is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the 1980’s English band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Others see it as a clever way to avoid confusion with FGTH’s biggest hit (“Relax”). 

Atmospheric and haunting, “Frankie Says” weaves a complex tapestry that delves into darker realms of the psyche than most Phish songs. The lyrics philosophically toy with notions of the self and the cyclical nature of life, painting time as an eternally flowing river; where consciousness is your only guide as the melody’s tendrils stretch out from infinity to pull you into the abyss.

Phish "Frankie Says" – 12/28/03 Miami, FL. Video by silverchair97.

The first studio version of “Frankie Says” appeared on a tape commonly known as the “Ghost Outtakes” or “Bearsville Sessions” that circulated around the community before Story of the Ghost was released. But, the first time it appeared on stage, at least partially, was in the middle of the ambient post- “Timber (Jerry the Mule)” / pre- “Simple” jam on 11/16/97 in Denver. As the band ascends out of “Timber,” Trey plays the first few notes of “Frankie Says” while Mike subtly drops in, and Page’s hands trace the melody (the man in the dress, keeping the beat all the while). They play the first few notes of “Frankie Says” through the moments preceding the first refrain, then effortlessly glide into “Simple.”

“Frankie Says” was played thirteen times in 1998 (check out the dreamy version from 8/16/98 or when it filled the space between “Mike’s Song” and “Weekapaug Groove” on 10/31/98), but only twice in 1999 (try 10/07/99). And while the song appears predominantly as a first set tune, it surfaced twice during the 2000 summer tour, both occurring amidst the second sets in Atlanta (06/24/00) and Ohio (07/14/00). 

Phish "Frankie Says" – 11/01/14, Las Vegas, NV. Video by LazyLightning55a.

A favorite for late-night listening in a darkened room, there was little variation to the manner or length of the tune... until 2003. “Frankie Says” was ushered back into circulation in the ‘City of Sin’ on 02/15/03. The song was played sporadically throughout the rest of 2003 (like 02/25/03, 07/08/03, 11/28/03), but it wasn’t until 12/28/03 that the band finally unlocked the trap-door beneath “Frankie Says” and let the song run for over eleven exploratory minutes, earning the its first noteworthy spot on the jam chart.

After another long hiatus, "Frankie Says" thankfully crept its way back into the second set on 06/16/09 at the Fabulous Fox Theater. The performances from 12/28/10 in Worcester, 08/28/12 in St. Louis (with full segues from “Chalk Dust” and into “Undermind”), and 11/01/14 in Las Vegas are all worthy of attention. 

"Frankie Says" made its grand return to the stage in San Francisco on 10/16/21. Launching into an expansive and emotional 17-minute version that features notable movements of improvisation, effects pedals, and animal sounds, the song winds into an enthusiastic “woo” call and response from the audience, effectively bringing everything full circle to the "Bathtub Gin" that started out the set.

Phish “Frankie Says” - 10/16/21, San Francisco, CA. Video by Phish 

Last significant update: 12/19/2023

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