Born Margaret Wander, Dessa’s first release with Doomtree, False Hopes, int… Read Full Bio ↴Born Margaret Wander, Dessa’s first release with Doomtree, False Hopes, introduced a unique sensibility to underground hip-hop: literary, bitter-sweet, and wry. She alternated between a clever, droll persona as an emcee and her earnest, unaffected delivery as a singer with a low, clear alto voice. Her a cappella arrangements delicate and expressive, full of sad, old world harmonies. False Hopes attracted a varied set of ferociously dedicated fans in the Midwest and beyond. The press compared her to Lauryn Hill and Ladybug Mecca, and then as “equal parts Ani DiFranco and Mos Def” (Rift Magazine).

Most recently, Dessa published a book under the Doomtree banner. Spiral Bound, her collection of essays and poetry, was dubbed a “dazzling literary debut” by the City Pages and “witty and desperately honest” by Alive Magazine.

A Badly Broken Code, her solo full-length record was released in January 2010 to an eagerly waiting number of listeners and music-writers alike. It earned 4 stars from Urb Magazine, a mention in Spin, and rave reviews from publications across the country.

Fighting Fish
Dessa Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Swimming in a snifter
Pretty as a picture
Don't get it twisted man her right is a bitch
You can name, you can keep 'em
But take care when you feed her
You never can take the fight out the fish
Chomping at the drill bit
Never want to still sit

You can touch my metal with a magnet and some tin snips
Ink test all I see is cannons and some wing tips
Pilot pen in pocket I'm writing in ink jets
Around here we don't like talk of big dreams
To stand out is a pride of conceit
To aim high is to make waves to split seams
But that's not what it seems like to me
I wanna try I wanna risk
And I don't wanna walk rather swing and a miss
I'm not above apologies but I don't ask permissions
Got a lot of imperfections but I don't carry my ambition in them

Zeno's arrow never hits the mark
It's always hanging there over its shadow
Safe from battle, waste of archer's time and trouble
Waste of effort, waste of parts
If you don't aim for the center it's a waste of the art

I didn't come looking for love
I didn't come to pick a fight
I didn't come to wave or take pictures
To some benefactor ring on every broken finger
Or extends my wings to get clipped
I know the culture here is to stay humble but shit
If we all go round bowed heads
If never none of us go for the belt who wins
My mother says I've loved too many men
But I took and left something in every bed
Turns his head
The night might rise up investigate the grid
Bend the genre, I guess I'm on one
Both the constructs
Women, children let me tell I've been both
And it's a myth we all swim for the life boats
I didn't come looking for love
I didn't come looking for a fight
I come here every night to work
And you can pick an

Zeno's arrow never hits the mark
It's always hanging there over its shadow
Safe from battle, waste of archer's time and trouble
Waste of effort, waste of parts
If you don't aim for the center it's a waste of the art

Self taught, self made,then self styled
Self came
We march in converse
Own tools
My joints hold steady
Chucks laced ready
I travel by kite, travel
Touchdown
I make my own luck now

Zeno's arrow never hits the mark

It's always hanging with its own shadow in the dark
It's always hanging with its own shadow in the dark

Overall Meaning

Dessa's song Fighting Fish is a commentary on the nature of ambition and the societal pressure to stay humble. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is determined to succeed, even if it means going against the norm and risking failure. The metaphor of the fighting fish is used to illustrate the idea that no matter how beautiful or calm someone may appear on the surface, they always have the potential for inner strength and determination.

The song also references Zeno's arrow, a concept from ancient Greek philosophy that argues motion is an illusion. Dessa uses this idea to suggest that the pursuit of success and the artistic process is always in motion, always out of reach, but that doesn't mean it's not worth striving for.

Throughout the song, Dessa expresses her desire to take risks and not be afraid to make mistakes. She also touches on themes of gender and sexuality, suggesting that society expects women to be submissive and not pursue their ambitions. The final chorus repeats the lines about Zeno's arrow, suggesting that no matter how hard we try, we can never truly reach our goals, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Line by Line Meaning

Swimming in a snifter
She's in a luxurious, but confining environment

Pretty as a picture
She looks great in the fancy setting

Don't get it twisted man her right is a bitch
Don't underestimate her, she's tough

You can name, you can keep 'em But take care when you feed her You never can take the fight out the fish
She's independent, and can be benevolent, but also fiercely competitive

Chomping at the drill bit Never want to still sit You can touch my metal with a magnet and some tin snips Ink test all I see is cannons and some wing tips Pilot pen in pocket I'm writing in ink jets
She's restless, ready for action, and creative

Around here we don't like talk of big dreams To stand out is a pride of conceit To aim high is to make waves to split seams But that's not what it seems like to me
People in her environment don't encourage ambitious goals, but she disagrees

I wanna try I wanna risk And I don't wanna walk rather swing and a miss I'm not above apologies but I don't ask permissions Got a lot of imperfections but I don't carry my ambition in them
She's willing to take chances and accepts responsibility for her failures, but also won't let them hold her back

Zeno's arrow never hits the mark It's always hanging there over its shadow Safe from battle, waste of archer's time and trouble Waste of effort, waste of parts If you don't aim for the center it's a waste of the art
If you don't aim for the bullseye, you're wasting your time and not doing justice to your craft

I didn't come looking for love I didn't come to pick a fight I didn't come to wave or take pictures To some benefactor ring on every broken finger Or extends my wings to get clipped I know the culture here is to stay humble but shit If we all go round bowed heads If never none of us go for the belt who wins My mother says I've loved too many men But I took and left something in every bed Turns his head The night might rise up investigate the grid Bend the genre, I guess I'm on one Both the constructs Women, children let me tell I've been both And it's a myth we all swim for the life boats I come here every night to work And you can pick an
She's not there for love or attention, but to work hard and pursue her passion, despite societal norms that discourage ambition

Self taught, self made,then self styled Self came We march in converse Own tools My joints hold steady Chucks laced ready I travel by kite, travel Touchdown I make my own luck now
She's independent and self-sufficient, skilled, and confident in her abilities to succeed

Zeno's arrow never hits the mark It's always hanging with its own shadow in the dark It's always hanging with its own shadow in the dark
Repetition of the previous chorus emphasizing the importance of aiming high and not wasting time on lesser targets

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aaron Matthew Mader, Dessa Margret Wander

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS