“AC/DC Bag” figures centrally in songwriter Trey Anastasio’s senior thesis project The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday, taking place in the fictional world of Gamehendge. However, the song predates the assembly of that project, suggesting that the song was most likely incorporated into the story after it was written.

Described lyrically as an “electrified robot-hangman with a black bag over his head,” the AC/DC Bag is the executioner serving the evil King Wilson, from whose perspective comes the song’s lyrics. Wilson directs his singing toward Mr. Palmer, a revolutionary accountant condemned to death by the evil king, who rejoices in the moment. The character name is based on the song’s chord progression, although the chord is actually an F-major rather than a B-major (A-C-D-C-F-A-G).

“AC/DC Bag” has been a staple of Phish’s live repertoire since its debut on April 1, 1986. Most live performances of the song are comparable to the version of “AC/DC Bag” found on The White Album in that they do not feature the introductory narration that is found in The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday. But on the few occasions when Phish has performed the entire Gamehendge saga, variations on that narration have occurred.

Intro to “AC/DC Bag” with narration