Vocalist Gerard Whelan met bassist Enda Wyatt in a band that Whelan was aud… Read Full Bio ↴Vocalist Gerard Whelan met bassist Enda Wyatt in a band that Whelan was auditioning for. Whelan joined the band, but it broke up soon after. After the break-up, Whelan and Wyatt formed their own band. They originally performed alone, and recorded their works on a four-track tape recorder. After a year, Whelan brought his friend David Frew into the band. Whelan and David Frew had attended the same school and lived in the same housing estate. In 1988, they decided to name the band An Emotional Fish. For a few months, they performed with a drum machine, but soon added drummer Martin Murphy as the final member of the group.

In Spring of 1989, they signed to U2's independent Mother Records label to release their eponymous debut CD. "Grey Matter" was a mild local hit, but it was followed by "Celebrate", which hit the top 10 of the Ireland charts. College radio stations began to pick up the song. It received significant airplay, and eventually reached the top 5 of the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. Atlantic Records signed the band, and re-released "Grey Matter" in the US, where it became a lesser college rock hit. Atlantic released their debut album internationally, where it received generally poor reviews but sold well in Ireland.

After a tour to support the debut album, An Emotional Fish returned to the studio to record Junk Puppets. The songs were recorded over eight months, and four of the songs were produced by David A. Stewart. In 1993, the album was released, and An Emotional Fish opened for U2 on the Zoo TV Tour. However, the album sold few copies outside of Ireland. In 1994, the band released Sloper, but only secured a distribution deal in the UK. The album was released in the US two years later.

In 2002, Gerard Whelan began performing again as Jerry Fish, including two albums with Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club. The other former members of An Emotional Fish all made appearances as Mudbug Club musicians.

Air
An Emotional Fish Lyrics

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Not until I stood out on the edge
Of all I possessed did I realised
How far I had to fall
Empty my pockets of this doggy dog logic
And book me a tune with the stars

All I need
All I need

Is my head
My heart
My home
My friends
My eyes
My ears
The soul of my tears
My smile
My hands
My bed and
My jeans
The air that I breathe
The air that I breathe

Whistling in the wind
I know it won`t change a thing
If the only change I can make
Is the change in me
I've wasted enough time
Waiting in line to fill in holes
For fools that dig to deep

All I need
All I need
Is my arms
My legs
My mouth
My grin
My nose
My teeth
The sun on my skin
My love
My life
My family
The air that I breathe
The air that I breathe

All I need
All I need
Is my head
My heart
My home
My friends
My eyes
My ears
The soul of my tears
My smile
My hands
My bed and
My jeans

The air that I breathe
The air that I breathe
My arms
My legs
My mouth
My grin
My nose
My teeth
The sun on my skin
My love
My life
My family

The air that I breathe
The air that I breathe

Not until I stood out on the edge
Of all I possessed did I realised

How far I had to fall
The air that I breathe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to An Emotional Fish's song "Air" convey a message of reflection and gratitude for what one possesses in life. The song begins with the singer standing on the edge of all they possess, a moment that leads them to realize the potential for falling. The first verse evokes a sense of emptiness, as the singer wishes to rid themselves of the "doggy dog logic" that they carry in their pockets. This sets the tone of the song, wherein the singer expresses a need to let go of toxic influences to embrace what is truly important to them.

The following two verses are a list of what the singer considers to be essential in life, such as love, family, and the air that they breathe. The relatively simple addition of "the air that I breathe" at the end of each verse acts as a reminder of the most basic yet vital element that enables all other pieces of life to exist. This is reinforced in the final lines of the song, where the singer returns to the opening sentiment that standing on the edge of what one has can be a sobering experience. The repeated refrain, "the air that I breathe," reinforces the importance of appreciation for the simple necessities of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Not until I stood out on the edge
Only after I got close to the edge of my possessions did I notice

Of all I possessed did I realised
The extent of my holdings became clear to me

How far I had to fall
The great distance I could tumble down dawned on me

Empty my pockets of this doggy dog logic
Get rid of the competitive, cutthroat mindset

And book me a tune with the stars
Find a connection with the universe

All I need
The only things I require are

Is my head
My intellect

My heart
My emotions

My home
The place where I live

My friends
The people I care about

My eyes
My sight