Alumni Blues
Written by Trey, Alumni Blues was first played on October 17, 1985. This was Finbars, in Burlington, Vermont. It was written around the time that everyone in Phish was graduating from college. That shouldn't be hard to see now why it was called "Alumni Blues." It was a showpiece of Phish for almost every show in the 1980's. The version of Alumni Blues as of "Big Break" has stayed preactically the same, yet there was a change post 1989, where a second lyrical verse was added. Prior to this addition, the Letter to Jimmy Page was played within the song as an instrumental piece. Roadies who wrote the setlists set the Letter apart from Alumni Blues, making it look like Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues.
Letter apart from Alumni Blues, making it look like Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues. Being a showpiece of Phish within its opening years, Alumni Blues was played practically at every show in the 80's, until it started to fade in 1990 and 91, until it disappeared from their rotation for a good number of years. When reading the Pharmer's Almanac Vol. 6, it said that it was played less because Fishman disliked it. To check this piece out, get the original album "Phish.
Woke up this morning and I had those Walking Blues (x2)
I wasn't walkin' nowhere 'cause I didn't have no floor!
Staring over the edge of the bed
My old lady lying next to me, I started to cry (x2)
She said "I'm gonna take this diploma,
I'm gonna slice you in the eye!"
Well I'm alright (he's alright) (x9)
'cause I got a degree!
Escaping through my window
There's a policeman on the lawn outside my home (x2)
I opened my mouth to scream
But my throat was full of foam
So I'm sittin' in this cell
My fortune dwindled to a thimble full of filth (x2)
I may spend the rest of my life in jail
But at least it's got a floor!