The band is known for their lyrics, which often make strong social and political statements, dealing with themes such as anti-consumerism, vegetarianism, questioning of the status quo, and the general encouragement of people to get along with one another.
It is rumored that the band Citizen Dick from the movie Singles is an homage to Citizen Fish and its lead singer.
In 2006 they toured with and recorded a split LP with punk band Leftöver Crack. This was the first Fish activity in recent years, as the members have been concentrating on Subhumans activity as of late (they did do a small East Coast/Midwest U.S. tour consisting of off-the-map bars and basements in the summer of 2005, much to the delight of dedicated fans).
PILLS
Citizen Fish Lyrics
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Supermarket shelves collapsing at the till again
Doctor couldn't help patients running out again
Where's the next step up?
All went blank for a couple of pages
Hazy recollection of staring for ages, and ages
An easy choice became the trend
Weakening the thrills, less money to spend
Someone had a car borrowed from a friend
Memory distortion ten years on and back again
Thrills a generation crash into the window pane
Another empty parking space
A friend of ours was here
We drank a lot of beer
Next day his Vauxhall Cavalier
Had gone and disappeared
Taking all the pills only went so far
Did you get the thrills when you took the car?
Driving up the price of running out of anything
Caught in the distortion, distortion of escapism brutality
He's wasted - escapist - in his overdrawn reality
He's wasted - He's wasted - He's wasted - He's wasted
The lyrics of "Pills" by Citizen Fish evoke the struggles of substance abuse and addiction, as well as the pain and desperation that often accompanies those struggles. In the first verse, the singer mentions taking pills to alleviate an illness, but it's clear that the pills are causing more harm than good. The collapsing supermarket shelves and the doctor's inability to help suggest a world in chaos, where the traditional sources of comfort and healing are no longer reliable.
The second verse is more disjointed and fragmented, reflecting the confusion and disorientation of someone caught up in addiction. The singer struggles to remember what happened, and can only recall staring "for ages, and ages." This sense of timelessness is one of the hallmarks of drug use, where hours or even days can slip by without noticing.
The third verse focuses on the consequences of addiction, both personal and societal. The singer acknowledges that they've been "weakening the thrills" and spending less money as a result, but there's still a sense of unease, as if the consequences of their actions are catching up with them. The disappearance of the friend's car is perhaps the most concrete example of this, as it suggests a theft or other criminal activity that could have serious legal repercussions.
Overall, "Pills" is a powerful and evocative portrayal of the struggles of addiction, and the way that substance abuse can distort reality and lead to destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
I was taking all the pills to stop me feeling ill again
The singer was consuming pills to avoid feeling unwell, as he had done before.
Supermarket shelves collapsing at the till again
The shelves at the grocery store fell apart each time the customers reached the checkout.
Doctor couldn't help patients running out again
The medical professional was ineffective in treating the patients, who had started to leave in frustration.
Where's the next step up?
The person wonders what they can do to improve the situation.
All went blank for a couple of pages
The artist lost track of time and is unsure what happened during that period.
Hazy recollection of staring for ages, and ages
The singer recalls having a vague memory of staring aimlessly for a prolonged period.
So I didn't know how, I didn't know when
The singer was uncertain about the timing and the appropriate approach of a particular situation.
An easy choice became the trend
A simple decision among many, repeated and became habitual.
Weakening the thrills, less money to spend
Diminishing the pleasure while lowering financial reserves.
Someone had a car borrowed from a friend
One of the group members had procured an automobile from an acquaintance.
Memory distortion ten years on and back again
Recollections from ten years ago had become blurred over time, and now carry varying degrees of accuracy.
Thrills a generation crash into the window pane
The excitement that the generation experienced abruptly ended like a crash against a glass barrier.
Another empty parking space
An additional location remains unoccupied.
A friend of ours was here
One of our acquaintances was present at the time.
We drank a lot of beer
The group consumed significant quantities of alcoholic beverages.
Next day his Vauxhall Cavalier
The following day, the same associate's car, a Vauxhall Cavalier, was involved in a situation.
Had gone and disappeared
The car was discovered to be missing.
Taking all the pills only went so far
Consuming pills had limited effectiveness in addressing the person's issues.
Did you get the thrills when you took the car?
The person is inquiring whether their associates experienced any excitement when using the borrowed vehicle.
Driving up the price of running out of anything
Using a borrowed car led to unforeseen events that became costly in the end.
Caught in the distortion, distortion of escapism brutality
Trapping oneself in a world of escape carries its form of cruelty as it distorts one's perspective.
He's wasted - escapist - in his overdrawn reality
The person has embarked on escapism, but it is bleeding into the real world and costing them dearly.
He's wasted - He's wasted - He's wasted - He's wasted
The repetition of 'wasted' conveys the person's disappointment in taking this path.
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
thewalk420
these guys fucking ROCK! i saw them in pittsburgh in february 05. by far the best show i've been to in atleast that many years!
Eamonnceannt
Brilliant.