"Set the gear shift for the high gear of your soul."
If you've ever been to a Phish show, you've felt it — that moment when the opening notes of Run Like an Antelope hit and the entire venue transforms. Bodies start moving. Arms go up. And somewhere in the crowd, someone is absolutely losing their mind because they've been chasing this song for 47 shows.
Run Like an Antelope (officially titled "Run Like an Antelope" but known to phans as simply "Antelope") is one of Phish's most iconic and enduring songs. It's a set-closer. A show-stopper. A jam vehicle that has taken fans on some of the wildest musical journeys in the band's 40+ year history.
The Origins
Run Like an Antelope dates back to Phish's earliest days. Written by Trey Anastasio and Tom Marshall, the song first appeared in Phish's setlists in the mid-1980s. The lyrics are playful and absurd — quintessentially Phish — built around the image of a guy named Marco Esquandolas and the immortal instruction to "run like an antelope, out of control."
The Lyrics Everyone Knows
The song's most famous line isn't even in the verses — it's the chant that opens the song:
"Set the gear shift for the high gear of your soul. You've got to run like an antelope, out of control."
This chant has become a mantra for Phish fans. You'll see it on t-shirts, tattoos, bumper stickers, and yes — embroidered on hoodies and joggers (we may know something about that).
Why Antelope Is Special
What makes Run Like an Antelope special isn't just the song itself — it's what happens DURING the song. Antelope is a Type II jam vehicle, meaning the band regularly takes it far beyond its composed structure into extended improvisational territory. A 7-minute studio version can become a 25-minute live epic.
The song typically builds through several phases: 1. The Chant — "Set the gear shift..." 2. The Composed Section — the verses and Marco Esquandolas 3. The Jam — where things get wild 4. The Peak — pure energy, the crowd going absolutely nuts 5. The Resolution — the band bringing it home
Some of the most legendary Phish jams of all time have happened during Antelope.
Antelope in the Wild
Phish fans track their favorite versions obsessively. Some all-time greats include the New Year's Eve versions, the festival versions, and various tour openers and closers where the band used Antelope to make a statement.
The song has been a constant through every era of Phish — from the early bar days through the hiatus, the reunion, and into the modern era. It's one of those songs that connects every generation of Phish fan.
Wearing Your Antelope Love
At Dynamic Intuition, Run Like an Antelope is our biggest collection — because it's a song that resonates so deeply with fans. We've created everything from embroidered joggers with the antelope and mountains and "RUN" stitched underneath, to all-over print leggings, slip-on shoes, tank tops, athletic shorts, a tie-dye beanie, and even an 18 gauge steel antelope wall art piece.
Every piece is designed to capture that feeling — the gear shift, the high gear, the running out of control.
Shop the full Run Like an Antelope collection →
Dynamic Intuition is a Phish-inspired lifestyle brand creating original, handmade-to-order apparel and accessories for Phish fans. Every piece is made just for you when you order.