Mull

• Performances
• History
• Lyrics
• Jam Chart
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  • Phish
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  • Mike
  • Page
  • Trey
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Originally Performed By	Phish
Appears On
Music/Lyrics	Gordon
Vocals	Mike (lead); Page (backing)
Phish Debut	2021-08-03
Last Played	2026-01-31
Current Gap	0
Historian	relax_inn
Last Update	2026-03-21

History

Semantic Satiation: the technical term for what happens when you say a word over and over until it starts to sound funny and lose its meaning. Go ahead, give it a try! Mull mull mull mull mull…

This song, although not explicitly an ode to this psychological experience (Mike reports that it “is partly about being wish-washy in situations where you’re not sure how to deal with someone who’s frustrating you”), makes clever use of semantic satiation as Mike mull mull, mull mulls it over. What exactly is it that he is mulling over? Well, that’s hard to say, but it is certainly relatable anyways. Who among us hasn’t become lost in thought, tied ourselves in mental knots, or simply daydreamt until the words in our head become meaningless and abstract?

In many respects, “Mull” is the quintessential modern-era Mike song. The sassy, lumbering groove. The vocal melodies that merge pop sensibilities with vaguely Thelonious Monk-ian “oh, you put that note there?” songwriting. The BPM that comfortably lounges right in the middle of the tempo bell curve. And, of course, lyrics that are enjoyed by many but probably understood by few. These are colors that Mike has been painting with more often than not in post-reunion Phish. 

So what sets it apart? While many Mike songs have been played on the Phish stage only a few times before being shelved, “Mull” has staying power. It seems that the band and the fans want a steady dose of “Mull”, something that was apparent to some listeners right away. In the setlist thread for the 8/3/21 show in Nashville (where “Mull” made its first appearance), netter @JakeB declared “Mull is like the new transfer student who shows up on his first day and does skateboard tricks and has all the Garbage Pail Kids and makes a bunch of friends right away.” 

“Mull” has already carved out a true identity for itself in its Phish career thus far. As of press time, it has exclusively been played in the first set. It is almost always played during Mexico runs (will someone *please* pass Mike a taco?). It is structured in such a way that it lends itself to both leg-stretching type I excursions and diverse type II micro-jams. And Trey really seems to love the chorus melody, as he quotes it numerous times during his solos in almost every version. 

For those curious to explore Mull’s past, there are several versions worth hearing. It first went type II in Santa Barbara on 10/26/21…a short and weird jam in a show that is chock full of brief yet unique jams. Perhaps its most widely acclaimed jam is from the 6/3/22 show at Deer Creek. This jam charted version has a cinematic quality to it and sounds like a seaside coming-of-age film that would likely be rated PG for mild peril. 

Video by Phish

Only a few weeks later at MPP on 7/31/22 “Mull” got the jam chart treatment again, with an improvisation that comes to a chugging and momentous conclusion. Lastly, the 7/24/24 version from the Mohegan Sun Arena is worth mentioning for its slowed-down Tequila tease that becomes a launch pad for some of the song’s finest type I jamming to date, underpinned by generous hammond organ layers from Page. 

Two years after debuting with Phish, Mike showed “Mull” off on his 2023 album Flying Games, releasing it as the second single. Mike, as always, makes great use of the studio here, with a take on the song that is replete with ear candy and unusual instrument tones. Case in point: the beat in this version apparently was created in part by Mike “banging wrenches on tractors in his garage.”

It has also become something of a staple in Mike’s solo live sets, including a version in Woodstock on 3/13/26 with longtime collaborator Marco Benevento making a guest appearance on the keys. Marco takes an extended and virtuosic carnival-sounding solo, making this version a real treat.

Video by Jamie Merrill

Last significant update: 3/19/26

 

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