As well as Smith, around 23 musicians were part of the Cardiacs over the years, including Smith's brother, Jim, and multi-instrumentalist, Sarah Cutts, who married Tim Smith in 1983.
Their music combined the excitement and energy of punk with the intricacies and technical cleverness of early British progressive rock, a combination sometimes referred to as pronk, although frontman Smith disavowed this classification.
Cardiacs released eight studio albums plus a number of live albums, compilation albums and singles between 1980 and 2007, and are best known for the 1988 minor hit single "Is This the Life?" They are also noted for attracting strongly diverse responses: they have remained one of Britain's leading cult rock bands during their four-decade-spanning career, but have also attracted virulent critical attack (including a lengthy editorial ban from the British music magazine New Musical Express).
On the 30th June 1990, Cardiacs played at Salisbury Arts Centre (a former church). The show was recorded and initially the video of it was released on VHS tape under the name "All That Glitters Is A Mare's Nest". The video helped Cardiacs achieve a cult following, with pirated copies of the video, being highly sought after. The audio from the show was released on CD in 1995.
The band was on hiatus following the 2008 hospitalisation of Tim Smith after a heart attack and series of strokes which affected his speech and movement.
Commenting on his condition, in 2017, Smith wrote: “Imagine if you were wearing a skintight bodysuit made of fishnet all around you, with electrical pulses going all the time. This is what my body feels like unless I fall asleep.”
In 2018, fundraising was set up for Tim Smith, which included the comment “This condition has affected Tim’s movement, his dexterity, his ability to speak, and it has added painful muscle tone and spasms that are a permanent feature of his life these days.”
On Tuesday 21st July 2020, at around 10.30 pm, Tim Smith passed away at his home, as a result of a heart attack.
Cardiacs final album, "LSD" remained unfinished at the time of Tim Smith's death. At the time of his death, Cardiacs still remained a cult following, their recordings were not, for example, available on Spotify. For many years there were few new copies of Cardiacs albums in circulation. Later on, re-releases became available on CD and then vinyl.
Red Fire Coming Out From His Gills
Cardiacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of wood ship building
Believing that his sink is clean
But Mr Sun's too high up in sky
And the sea's far too big for drowning
Erecting fin time
Cut through the ocean waves
Faster than a torpedo
Morbid seas
The morbid breeds
Untidy seas
Meanwhile on the wrong side of fences
All killing and dashing of brains
Next to normal life with games and companions
Shouting too loud for him to sing
Are all his blackbirds
Inside the steely metal gut of famous
Action Fish cutting the waves
Firing hot red fire from his gills
The more we steals
The more we feels
The lyrics to Cardiacs' song "Red Fire Coming Out From His Gills" are quite cryptic, and open to various interpretations. It's a song that seems to touch on issues of power, control, and the struggle to communicate in a world where others don't understand or appreciate your unique perspective.
The first verse references a "King of all lice, of wood ship building," which could be interpreted in a number of ways. It might be a reference to a particular historical figure or leader who was involved in shipbuilding or construction. The mention of "believing that his sink is clean" could suggest that this individual is preoccupied with details that others might not deem important.
The second verse describes a creature that is able to move faster than a torpedo through the ocean waves. It's unclear what this creature is - a fish, a ship, or something else entirely - but its incredible speed and power suggests that it is a force to be reckoned with. The final line of the verse, "the more we steals, the more we feels," is cryptic, but could be interpreted as a commentary on the idea that those who are in power are often driven by the desire to accumulate more control and wealth.
The final verse references a character who is surrounded by "blackbirds" - perhaps a metaphor for darker thoughts or ideas - and is unable to fully express himself or find companionship with others. This character is living on the "wrong side of fences" - again, a metaphor for feeling isolated or excluded from others. The mention of the "steely metal gut of famous Action Fish cutting the waves" brings the song full circle, suggesting that the character in the final verse may be the same as the creature described earlier.
Overall, "Red Fire Coming Out From His Gills" is a challenging and thought-provoking song that raises more questions than it answers. It's a testament to the power of Cardiacs' music that they are able to evoke such complex emotions and ideas through their lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
King of all lice
The one who assumes he has power over everything small and insignificant.
Of wood ship building
The craft of building vessels from timber, which may represent the fragility of his accomplishments.
Believing that his sink is clean
He perceives himself as faultless, but there might be unseen issues in his domains.
But Mr Sun's too high up in sky
The power above is too far from him to reach, too great for him to overcome.
And the sea's far too big for drowning
The challenges he faces are beyond his capacity, yet he continues to attempt the impossible.
Erecting fin time
Creating time for himself, as he has the authority to do so.
Cut through the ocean waves
Breaking through difficult obstacles with ease and determination.
One million miles an hour
Moving incredibly fast, demonstrating his strength and superiority.
Faster than a torpedo
Even the most powerful and swift weapon is no match for him.
Morbid seas
The dark and foreboding nature of his surroundings.
The morbid breeds
The creation of abnormal and deadly creatures in his world.
Untidy seas
The disordered and chaotic environment that he thrives in.
Meanwhile on the wrong side of fences
Others are stuck in the mundane and ordinary, unable to perceive his greatness.
All killing and dashing of brains
Others are obsessed with violence and destruction, lacking the intellect to see beyond it.
Next to normal life with games and companions
Others lead a typical and predictable life with simple pleasures.
Shouting too loud for him to sing
His voice cannot be heard over the noise of those who are inferior to him.
Are all his blackbirds
The unique and valuable things in his possession that he holds dear, like birds in a cage.
Inside the steely metal gut of famous
His prized possessions are stored safely and securely in a highly sought-after metal container.
Action Fish cutting the waves
He is always in motion, making waves and creating change.
Firing hot red fire from his gills
His destructive energy and aggression are impossible to contain or control.
The more we steals
The more we take from him, whether intentional or not.
The more we feels
The more we experience the intensity and consequences of his power.
Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.