The fish song
Underscores Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Just outside the city
I was holding something
No one's ever seen before
Its eyes looked kind of pretty
Its irises were blacked out
And its scales were made of gold
Even through the flash floods
I spared it every harvest 'Cause I wanted it to grow
The scientists came knocking
And something deep within me
That refused to let it go

I know you are
Onto something, onto something
I know you are
Onto something, onto somеthing

So I gave it to the city
And hoped that maybе one day
It'd pass its children all its luck
It was something of a mascot
Till one day they had found
Its silver belly facing up
For a week they kept it quiet
And without a proper burial
They kept it in a jar
It was stressed until it passed
The pump had overfilled with sand
And then they spoiled a lucky charm

I know you are
Onto something, onto something
I know you are

Onto something, onto something
I know you are something new

Overall Meaning

The Fish Song by Underscores is a thought-provoking story that speaks volumes about the consequences of exploiting nature for human gains. The song is centered around a mysterious fish that the singer finds just outside the city. This fish is described as having an otherworldly appearance with pretty eyes, blacked-out irises, and scales made of gold. Despite the relentless flash floods, the singer chooses to protect it out of care for its growth. Soon enough, scientists come hunting for the fish, but the singer cannot bear to let it go.

At this point, the singer realizes that there is something about the fish that defies explanation. It's as if the fish holds the secret to something entirely new. Eventually, the singer gives the fish to the city to become a mascot, hoping that it will pass its luck to future generations. Things take a turn for the worse when the fish is found belly-up, and the city officials keep its death a secret. The fish is eventually preserved in a jar and destroyed in the process. The lyrics "I know you are onto something, onto something. I know you are onto something new" highlight the mystery that surrounds the fish and its symbolism in the song.

The Fish Song is a powerful piece of storytelling that drives home the theme of environmental protection. It reminds listeners that every living creature has a role to play in the natural balance of things, and it's vital to respect that balance. The song prompts us to think about the consequences of exploiting nature for our gains and speaks to the growing need for a sustainable relationship with the environment.

Line by Line Meaning

Just outside the city
The singer found something extraordinary near a city.

I was holding something
The singer was in possession of this mysterious thing.

No one's ever seen before
The object was unique and had not been seen by anyone.

Its eyes looked kind of pretty
The object had attractive eyes.

Its irises were blacked out
The eyes were dark and could not be seen through.

And its scales were made of gold
The object had golden scales.

Even through the flash floods
Despite natural disasters, the singer took care of the object.

I spared it every harvest
The artist was protective of the object and didn't want any harm to come to it.

'Cause I wanted it to grow
The artist had a desire to see the object increase in size and thrive.

The scientists came knocking
Scientists took an interest in the unusual object.

And something deep within me
The singer's inner feelings were stirred.

That refused to let it go
Despite the scientists' interest, the artist did not want to part with the object.

I know you are Onto something, onto something I know you are Onto something, onto something
The singer has a strong belief that the object is significant and important.

So I gave it to the city
The singer chose to donate the object to the city.

And hoped that maybe one day
There was a chance that the object would be cherished and passed down.

It'd pass its children all its luck
The artist hoped the object would bring good fortune to future generations.

It was something of a mascot
The object became a symbol of the city.

Till one day they had found Its silver belly facing up
Tragically, the object was discovered lifeless and floating upside down.

For a week they kept it quiet
The discovery was kept secret for a short time.

And without a proper burial
The object was not given a respectful goodbye.

They kept it in a jar
The remains of the object were placed in a jar.

It was stressed until it passed
The object died due to stress.

The pump had overfilled with sand
Sand caused the equipment holding the object to malfunction and contributed to its death.

And then they spoiled a lucky charm
By mistreating the object, the city lost their symbol of good luck and fortune.

I know you are Onto something, onto something I know you are Onto something, onto something I know you are something new
Despite the tragedy, the singer still believes in the importance of the object and its potential significance.

Writer(s): Devon Karpf

Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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