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Fish Out Of Water Lyrics
You always said you were the compassionate one
But now you're laughing at the sun
With all your high class friends you think you've got it made
The only thing you made was that tanned look on your face
With all your cigarettes and fancy cars
You ain't a clue who or what you are
You're dreaming your life away
Fish out of water
Go swim in the tide today
Fish out of water
We used to sit and talk about primal scream
To exorsice our past was our adolescent dream
But now it's sink or swim since your memory fails
Now in Neptune's kitchen you will be food for killer whales
And on the crucifix his mother made
Hangs one more martyr to the hit parade
You're dreaming you're life away
Fish out of water
Go swim in the tide today
Fish out of water
You're dreaming you're life away
Fish out of water
Go swim in the tide today
Fish out of water
But now you're laughing at the sun
With all your high class friends you think you've got it made
The only thing you made was that tanned look on your face
With all your cigarettes and fancy cars
You ain't a clue who or what you are
Fish out of water
Go swim in the tide today
Fish out of water
To exorsice our past was our adolescent dream
But now it's sink or swim since your memory fails
Now in Neptune's kitchen you will be food for killer whales
And on the crucifix his mother made
Hangs one more martyr to the hit parade
Fish out of water
Go swim in the tide today
Fish out of water
Fish out of water
Go swim in the tide today
Fish out of water
Song Info
Submitted by
ruben On Jun 11, 2002
More Tears for Fears
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Head Over Heels
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Shout
Woman In Chains
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I especially like the lines "We used to sit and talk about primal scream / To exorcise our past was our adolescent dream" - this actually refers to a form of psychotherapy Curt and Roland allegedly participated in when they were younger, where they get out all of their repressed feelings and emotions in an intense screaming session. This was also the basis for their 1985 hit "Shout." To me, it seemed sharing an experience like that brought Roland close to Curt, and he is therefore hurt by the differences that grew between them as the years passed.
I also like "Now in Neptune's kitchen you will be food for killer whales." Neptune's Kitchen was the name of Roland's recording studio in the UK, where the classic 80s Tears for Fears albums were recorded. He also used that studio to record this song, and calling Curt "food for killer whales" refers to the fact that Curt is now being badgered in this song. :)
These are just my opinions. Someone feel free to let me know if I'm wrong about something.
coryoon - spot on description. I still find it hard to listen to this song now that they are back together which is brilliant!
Its just so bitter but I'm glad that they made up.
Interestingly, Curt did a response to this on his album track with his band Mayfield called 'Sun King'
@Mrs_Orzabal i totally agree. i took it off my playlist because it was mean and divulged a lot of personal information. I truly believe, although they are naysayers, Goodnight Song was also about Curt. that son was emotional.
@Mrs_Orzabal i totally agree. i took it off my playlist because it was mean and divulged a lot of personal information. I truly believe, although they are naysayers, Goodnight Song was also about Curt. that son was emotional.
Curt Smith did answer him back with the song Sun King. He wrote the song after he heard Fish Out of the Water. It was later put out on the album, Mayfield - a band Curt formed circa 1997 which featured him on vocals and bass (duh), Charlton Pettus on guitar (also his writing partner), Doug Petty (brother of Dan Petty from Marry Me Jane) and Russ Irwin (he toured with Aerosmith once as one of their backup vocals) on keys, and Shawn Pelton (SNL drummer) on drums.
I've always wondered whether Roland used a Curt Smith vocal recorded around the time of the 'big chair' sessions for the 'you're dreaming your life away' and 'go swim in your tide today' parts, overlaying them or writing the track around them. It's definitely not Roland singing and it sounds a lot like Curt. Can anyone confirm or deny?
I think Roland gets the last laugh. 'Fish Out of Water' is a killer track, whereas 'Sun King' is pretty average. Roland was always the better songwriter in Tears for Fears.
Roland Orzabal wrote this song about Curt Smith after the two split up.
The lines "with all your high class friends... with all your cigarettes and fancy cars" seem particularly stinging. I think Smith just left. Wikipedia says that the two of them traded barbs against each other through their songs before the split. "You walked into the room. I just had to laugh"?
LOL @ Curt Smith.. He got told !! Its a good song though.
ithink roland calls curt "fish out of water"because curt is a pisces ascendant in astrology.indeed curt responded to roland with"sun king"probably because roland is a leo
Listen to "How do you sleep" by John Lennon. A song written to dig Paul McCartney. No prizes for guessing Roland's inspiration for this song.