Catatonia was formed in 1992, reputedly after songwriter Mark Roberts heard Cerys busking in Cardiff city centre. They had considerable success, their most famous hits being "Mulder and Scully", "Road Rage" and "Dead From The Waist Down". In September 2001, Cerys announced her departure from Catatonia after bouts of exhaustion and anxiety. Her departure was followed shortly by the breakup of the group.
Cerys is now performing her solo material (which is more folk/ country influenced) .
Not to be confused with the Swedish metal band Katatonia.
Cerys now has a solo album and is working as a DJ for Alternative radio Station BBC 6 Music.
Goldfish and Paracetamol
Catatonia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No fun, just glum
Lying next to someone
So don't mention the war
Don't question where we stand
Or where we fall
North, south, east where's best?
If I head left
And needle point aside
I always find
Embroidery leaves me blind
Cos I'm too weary to rest
Since I noticed
Coming second best is close to ideal
What fools boredom breeds
So much to do
So many goldfish to feed
And paracetamol
I take them all
They line my stomach wall
With customary thirst
I search a water glass
But gin hits first
Oh don't believe the hype
Expectancy will always spoil a party
It's tourniquet by crochet
My waters break
Don't drive for pity's sake
Cos I'm too weary to rest
Since I noticed
Coming second best
Is close to ideal
In Catatonia's song "Goldfish and Paracetamol," the singer laments a dull and unfulfilling relationship, lying next to someone with no sense of direction or purpose. The song begins with the singer acknowledging their feelings of being a "dead loss" and just "glum," suggesting a lack of enthusiasm or motivation. They caution their partner not to "mention the war," which could be interpreted as an avoidance of conflict or any potentially difficult conversation. The singer seems resigned to their situation, acknowledging that it doesn't really matter where they stand or fall, in the north, south, east, or west.
The following lines introduce a metaphor of embroidery, where the singer finds they are "too weary to rest," and coming "second best" is close to ideal. This may suggest a kind of disillusionment with success, or a reluctance to strive for anything significant. The final section of the song discusses "fools boredom breeds," suggesting that the tedious routine of life with nothing to do has led the singer to rely on goldfish feeding and medication to pass the time. The reference to gin hitting first suggests that the singer may be self-medicating with alcohol as well. The song ends with the lines, "It's tourniquet by crochet, my waters break, don't drive for pity's sake," leaving the listener with a somewhat ambiguous sense of the singer's situation and mental state.
Line by Line Meaning
A dead loss,
I feel hopeless and defeated,
No fun, just glum
I am not enjoying myself and feel sad,
Lying next to someone
Even being with someone else does not make me feel better,
So don't mention the war
Let's avoid talking about difficult or controversial topics,
Don't question where we stand
Let's not analyze our relationship or situation too deeply,
Or where we fall
Let's not think too much about possible negative outcomes,
North, south, east where's best?
I am uncertain about which direction is the right one,
If I head left
If I make a certain choice,
It turns out directionless
It leads me nowhere, without a clear path or purpose,
And needle point aside
Putting aside the things that usually occupy me,
I always find
I realize that,
Embroidery leaves me blind
Even the activities I usually enjoy feel pointless,
Cos I'm too weary to rest
I am tired and cannot find peace or relaxation,
Since I noticed
Ever since I realized,
Coming second best is close to ideal
Being almost good enough is easier than striving for perfection and failing,
What fools boredom breeds
Being bored can lead to unwise or risky behavior,
So much to do
There are many options and possibilities,
So many goldfish to feed
There are many small and insignificant tasks to occupy oneself with,
And paracetamol
I take painkillers to numb myself and dull my senses,
I take them all
I try everything I can to feel better,
They line my stomach wall
They make me feel sick and overwhelmed,
With customary thirst
As usual, I am looking for something to quench my thirst,
I search a water glass
I look for something simple and basic to fulfill my needs,
But gin hits first
Alcohol and other vices distract me from my problems and needs,
Oh don't believe the hype
Don't be fooled by exaggerated claims or unrealistic expectations,
Expectancy will always spoil a party
Having high hopes or expectations usually leads to disappointment and frustration,
It's tourniquet by crochet
Trying to stop the bleeding or pain with something ineffective and small,
My waters break
Things fall apart or become too difficult to handle,
Don't drive for pity's sake
Don't make reckless or desperate decisions just to feel better temporarily,
Cos I'm too weary to rest
I am exhausted and cannot find peace or relaxation,
Since I noticed
Ever since I realized,
Coming second best
Being almost good enough,
Is close to ideal
Is easier than striving for perfection and failing,
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JONES, MATTHEWS, POWELL, RICHARDS, ROBERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mohdzhafirin1498
A dead loss,
No fun, just glum
Lying next to someone
So don't mention the war
Don't question where we stand
Or where we fall
North, south, east where's best?
If I head left
It turns out directionless
And needle point aside
I always find
Embroidery leaves me blind
Cos I'm too weary to rest
Since I noticed
Coming second best is close to ideal
What fools boredom breeds
So much to do
So many goldfish to feed
And paracetamol
I take them all
They line my stomach wall
With customary thirst
I search a water glass
But gin hits first
Oh don't believe the hype
Expectancy will always spoil a party
It's tourniquet by crochet
My waters break
Don't drive for pity's sake
Cos I'm too weary to rest
Since I noticed
Coming second best
Is close to ideal
@malanering4599
This is a nice song i like this
@pumbarash
это была моя любимая песня в 90-х!
@duncanevans1795
This songs takes me back, this week surviving working I called it Lucozade and Paracetamol
@rizalshahminshahmin8273
2020
@lechevaliermalfet1
tune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@revensteed9539
Reminds me of Swansea in the 90s.
@doodleplop800
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay
@BecciT089
She's speaking about the depression and the breakdown suffered..
@lilacsbaby
It's about mental illness/nervous breakdowns.
@la7yka
No.