Back in the U.S.S.R.

• Performances
• History
• Lyrics
• Artist
  • Phish
  • Fish
  • Mike
  • Page
  • Trey
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Originally Performed By	The Beatles
Original Album	The Beatles (a.k.a. The White Album) (1968)
Appears On
Music/Lyrics	Lennon/McCartney
Vocals	Trey (lead), Mike, Page (backing)
Last Update	2023-11-21

History

The all-important opener for 10/31/94 set II – perhaps one of the most anticipated set openers in the history of Phish. 1994 marked the first Halloween Phish would wear a “musical costume.” Electricity filled the air – the excitement of that evening simply cannot be described in words. As the tape loops and sound effects of Pink Floyd’s “Speak to Me” buzzed through the air, many were justifiably convinced that the band would be doing their trick-or-treating in the guise of Dark Side of the Moon.

"Back in the U.S.S.R." – 10/31/94, Glens Falls, NY

However, as should have been expected on Halloween, this one was a trick. The real treat came when the band confidently soared into a rocking rendition of “Back In the U.S.S.R.,” the opening track from The Beatles’ eponymous 1968 White Album. 

“Back In the U.S.S.R.” graced the Phish stage for encore performance on 12/6/94 in Santa Barbara, CA but would then hit the mothballs for almost two decades. Phish’s 2013 fall tour included the first return visit to the Glen Falls Civic Center since Halloween ‘94, and the band wasted no time offering a nod to the White Album; the first “Back In the U.S.S.R.” in 687 shows opened the 10/23/13 gig, gaining an especially vocal fan reaction to the “gee it's good to be back home” line.

"Back in the U.S.S.R." – 10/23/13, Glens Falls, NY

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