If You're Walking

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Originally Performed By	Trey Anastasio
Appears On
Music/Lyrics	Anastasio
Vocals	Trey
Historian	lumpblockclod
Last Update	2011-09-27

History

There are some songs whose jamming potential is obvious right out the gate. In the Phish world, “Ghost” is probably the quintessential example, with versions stretching over 20 minutes within a week of its debut. “Gotta Jibboo” and “Sand” share a similar trajectory with TAB. Other songs never quite make it into the band’s comfort zone. Songs like “Thunderhead” or “Shafty” were all but dead on arrival. “If You’re Walking” doesn’t fit neatly into either of those boxes.

As the second track on Bar 17, “If You’re Walking” does little to stand out from strange hodgepodge of songs on that album. Mildly poppy, but with no real hook or memorable lyrics, it seems almost like album filler. The debut version from the Tabernacle on 4/27/06 did little to dispel that notion. Clocking in at a bit over five minutes, it served as little more than a “soft opener” getting the crowd to their seats before “Burlap Sack and Pumps” got them moving. Unsurprisingly, the song stayed on the shelf that summer, both while Trey hit the road with G.R.A.B. and also during the abbreviated sets TAB played opening for Tom Petty.

So, who could have predicted that when “If You’re Walking” reappeared on the Fall ‘06 TAB tour, it would do so as a second set centerpiece. Both 10/18/06 and 11/2/06 are must hear versions. On a tour where many songs see Trey go straight to shred (in a good way!), the jams out of “If You’re Walking” are more layered and meandering, before building in intensity. The 10/18/06 version, in particular, stands out for its eventual resolution into “Sand” (also don’t miss the “Cincinnati” from this gig). Sadly, the 11/2/06 performance would prove to be the fourth and final offering of the song to date. 

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