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.

Rain
An Emotional Fish Lyrics

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One day I'll kick it in the head, I'll wear flowers in my hair
I'll forget everything I ever said, I'll walk this world without a care
One day I'll show you how I am, I'll forget to cry or commit a son
I'll free the people of people jam, open the door and walk right in.
One day I'll just sit and watch it twist and turn
I'll ride a bicycle to work I'll forget everything I ever learned
I forget to hit, forget to hurt.
One day I'll raise my voice in church

I forget the words and just... make it up
I forget everything I ever heard, just say hush when it gets too much.

With a little pleasure and a little pain

Comes a little sunshine and a little rain.
With a little teardrop and a little pearly smile
Comes a little chaos and a little peace of mind.

One day I'll kick it in the head, I'll wear flowers in my hair
I'll forget everything I ever said I'll walk this world without a care
One day I'll show you how I am, I'll forget to cry or commit a son
I'll free the people of people jam, open the door and walk right in.

With a little pleasure and a little pain
Comes a little sunshine and a little rain.

With a little teardrop and a little pearly smile
Comes a little chaos and a little peace of mind.

Overall Meaning

It appears that the song Rain by An Emotional Fish is about a person who is trying to find a way to feel truly alive and free. The lyrics suggest that the person is tired of feeling constrained by societal and personal expectations and is longing for a sense of release. There is a sense of hope and determination in the lyrics, with the repeated phrase “one day” suggesting that the singer is determined to make changes in their life and find a more fulfilling path.

The lyrics also reference a sense of duality, with the lines “With a little pleasure and a little pain/ Comes a little sunshine and a little rain” suggesting that life is full of both good and bad experiences, and that both are necessary to feel truly alive. This is further reinforced in the lines “With a little teardrop and a little pearly smile/ Comes a little chaos and a little peace of mind”, which suggest that even the most difficult experiences can lead to growth and wisdom.

Overall, Rain is a song about a person’s journey towards self-discovery and liberation. The lyrics are full of hope and determination, suggesting that the singer is ready to make a change and find a more meaningful path in life.

Line by Line Meaning

One day I'll kick it in the head, I'll wear flowers in my hair
I will confidently embrace my uniqueness and let go of societal expectations, symbolized by wearing flowers in my hair, and leave behind negative thoughts and actions.

I'll forget everything I ever said, I'll walk this world without a care
I will stop dwelling on past mistakes and live in the present moment, unburdened by worries and fears.

One day I'll show you how I am, I'll forget to cry or commit a son
I will be my authentic self, not hiding my emotions but also not letting them control me, and I will not conform to others' expectations or beliefs.

I'll free the people of people jam, open the door and walk right in.
I will break down barriers and invite others to join me in a more open, accepting world.

One day I'll just sit and watch it twist and turn
I will observe the complexities and uncertainties of life, without trying to control or manipulate them.

I'll ride a bicycle to work I'll forget everything I ever learned
I will rediscover the simple joys of life and throw off the self-imposed limitations of my education and social conditioning.

I forget to hit, forget to hurt.
I will abandon violent or harmful behaviors and instead prioritize compassion and understanding.

One day I'll raise my voice in church
I will challenge oppressive religious or societal norms and speak up for what I believe is right.

I forget the words and just... make it up
I will not be bound by traditions or dogma but will create my own path and meaning in life.

I forget everything I ever heard, just say hush when it gets too much.
I will not let others' opinions or criticisms drown out my own voice, and will instead focus on inner peace and tranquility.

With a little pleasure and a little pain Comes a little sunshine and a little rain.
Life is a balance of joy and hardship, and we must embrace both to fully experience the richness of life.

With a little teardrop and a little pearly smile Comes a little chaos and a little peace of mind.
Our emotions and experiences, even the difficult ones, can bring us a sense of clarity and calm if we allow ourselves to feel them fully.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JAMES ANDREW MANKEY, JOHNETTE LIN NAPOLITANO, MICHAEL MURPHY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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