She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".
Snackin'
Christine Lavin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm pumpin' my gills
flappin' my fins
suddenly I see two shadows on the water
looks like my favorite father and his daughter
I hear the splash . . .
I feel the ripple . . .
come on gang
let's go snackin'
let's go snackin'
when humans come to see us
they call it fishin'
they are dreamin'
they are wishin'
we are snackin'
I have mastered the art of the munch around the danger zone
my teeth are as skilled as a scalpel in a surgeon's hand
and as finely honed
humans think our brains are small
they don't understand us fish at all
we're quick studies
we're no fools
where do we learn these tricks?
in schools
they teach us snackin'
let's go snackin'
when humans come to see us
they call it fishin'
they are dreamin'
they are wishin'
we are snackin'
I'll never forget that unlucky day
the little girl caught me on her hook
I saw my life flash before my eyes
I thought that this was the end
when I felt her little
hands around my middle
I gave her my most pitiful look. . .
she felt so bad
she felt so sad
she threw me back
now I'm with my friends!
And we are snackin'
(welcome back!)
let's go snackin'
(let's celebrate with a snack!)
when humans come to see us
they call it fishin'
they are dreamin'
they are wishin'
we are snackin'
when humans come to see us
they call it fishin'
but you will never ever catch me
dancin' in their kitchen
cause I'm snackin'
I'm good at snackin'
Oooh look!
here comes some squid!
(though in school we learned to call it calamari)
In her song "Snackin'," Christine Lavin offers us a playful commentary on the way humans perceive and interact with fish. The song is narrated by a fish who proudly details how he is swimming around and snacking with his fellow fish friends when he hears the splash of humans approaching. The fish quickly recognizes that it's his "favorite father and his daughter" who are coming to the water to go fishing. But instead of fearing for his life, the fish sees this as an opportunity to show his skills in "the art of the munch around the danger zone." He revels in the fact that humans underestimate fish intelligence and assumes the role of teacher in educating his fellow fish on how to avoid being caught. For the fish, "snackin'" is just another day in the life, an essential part of his survival as a sea creature.
The refrain of the song, "when humans come to see us / they call it fishing," draws attention to the irony of how humans romanticize this act of catching fish as leisurely sport, while for the fish it is a matter of survival. The jovial tone of the song undercuts any potential moralizing about the ethics surrounding fishing - instead, it simply highlights the different ways humans and fish experience and make sense of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
I am down here swimmin' around with my friends
I am spending my time in the water with my companions
I'm pumpin' my gills
I'm breathing in the water
flappin' my fins
moving my fins to swim around
suddenly I see two shadows on the water
I found the reflections of two figures over the water
looks like my favorite father and his daughter
It seems like my beloved parent and his offspring are here
I hear the splash . . .
I listen to the sound of a fall in the water
I feel the ripple . . .
I perceive the waves produced by the water movement
come on gang
time to nibble!
Hey guys, let's start snacking!
let's go snackin'
We should continue eating
when humans come to see us
they call it fishin'
When humans come to the water to catch fish, they call it fishing
they are dreamin'
they are wishin'
we are snackin'
However, they are not aware that we are currently eating, and they are not successful in their intentions
I have mastered the art of the munch around the danger zone
I've become an expert in eating while avoiding danger
my teeth are as skilled as a scalpel in a surgeon's hand
and as finely honed
My teeth are as sharp and precise as a doctor's blade
humans think our brains are small
they don't understand us fish at all
Most people believe that fish have limited intelligence, and they don't comprehend our abilities
we're quick studies
we're no fools
where do we learn these tricks?
in schools
We are swift learners, not stupid, and we acquire these skills from our schools
I'll never forget that unlucky day
the little girl caught me on her hook
I saw my life flash before my eyes
I thought that this was the end
when I felt her little
hands around my middle
I gave her my most pitiful look. . .
she felt so bad
she felt so sad
she threw me back
now I'm with my friends!
Once, a girl caught me by her fishing hook, and I presumed that was the end. However, she released me back to the water, and I am alive and back to my friends
And we are snackin'
(welcome back!)
let's go snackin'
(let's celebrate with a snack!)
Now we can eat again, as I'm back to my peers, and we can even celebrate with food
but you will never ever catch me
dancin' in their kitchen
cause I'm snackin'
Humans will never catch me eating in their kitchen because I'm already eating in the water
Oooh look!
here comes some squid!
(though in school we learned to call it calamari)
Hey, guys, here are some squids! But we learned to call it a different name in our school
Contributed by Gabriella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.