I’ve always thought that ‘the pause’ seemed much longer live in attendance than listening back to shows at home, in the car, running or whatever.
The pause at MSG 12.31.02 seemed like hours (okay, maybe not hours but especially long)…maybe the crowd’s energy and growing anticipation made it seem so. That show does have a real long pause but not nearly as long as I remembered it when I was there.
Totally agree Taboot. The wait feels like nothing Live because the anticipation is so great but waiting on disc is like, alright when is this shit gonna start up again.
everytime ive seen it they just stand still…
I don’t like the pause at all… I’m sure it was really fun on stage though.
The sustain of silence, or “The Pause”, is like being stuck at the top of a roller coaster lift just leaning over the edge and seeing the drop in front of you. Then the “Note” hits and the car drops and it is just such a sweet ride.
The pause is more annoying when you’re actively listening to it; if I have a Sky on when I’m typing a paper I hardly even notice it.
i like the pause in sky. he provides a buildup for the end of the song.
the pause is quite annoying, agreed, but they could have done more with it… maybe sat down and played cards for a minute and then get back up and played (just a thought)
All this being said, we all still agree that seeing DIVIDED SKY live was always an awesome spectacle, right?
I’ve seen some smokin’ versions back in the old days. And there are some stellar post-hiatus versions as well.
Great tune, always…
Divided Sky. YAWN. More like Bathroom Break.
j/k! 
at 12/31/02 the pause was really long. How do I know? Because there was a kid in front of me who was TIMING IT on his watch. After it was over, he claimed out loud that it was the longest pause ever!! Only at a phish show…
I enjoy it while I’m at the show… I guess the energy and seeing Trey into it with his eye closed. Not into it on playback…I just want to hear the next part.
The pause is loong but at a show everyone just keeps grooving but in a car you reallly notice how long the pause is.
sometimes i like the suspense of waiting for it while driving. but it really depends on the traffic flow and what kind of mood i’m in.
but that goes for lots of stuff too.
have you ever tried to dip into a “Dark Star” during rush hour? it doesn’t work so well.
I like the pause…it gives them a chance to let the tension build from zero…I prefer it on Soundboards just so I’m not bombarded by idiots yelling and ruining the silence, but I believe that silence is as integral a part of music as the notes themselves are.
I think it would’ve been hilarious for them at one time to have opened with Divided Sky, get to the pause, then say “good night” and walk off the stage.
(Of course it would totally suck if they didn’t come back.)
one word…“GLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE” just fuckin sing it allready and play the next song please!
I think the pause is the best part of the song.
Great post.
The pause is alright in my book. It is unique.
The pause hits me like a tired joke, honestly. It was awesome the first time.
After that it’s like, “I get it. You’re gonna play that A or whatever note it is and it’s gonna be real dramatic since there was a long pause connecting it to the rest of the phrase, and everyone’s gonna cheer.”
It seems very un-spontaneous. Not that everything needs to be spontaneous, but that seems like a spontaneous-type of move, doesn’t it?
I dunno, maybe it’s me. I’m kinda crotchety when it comes to subtle changes in material on stage. For example, it makes me nuts that Fish has to clunk the cowbell to count in the a capella section of Split Open & Melt. Sounds elementary in the midst of an otherwise musically impressive bit of music, doesn’t it? The studio album goes atonal fugue>a capella bridge. Live they go atonal fugue>kindergarten>a capella bridge.
/crotchety rant