SOLO
Fish Lyrics


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Good morning, good afternoon
And what have you got to say?
Well, I'm waiting but I can't stay long
It's such a lovely day

There's a time to be talking
And there's a time when it's no use
Right now I think the things you say
Are liable to confuse

I've just gone solo
Do you play solo
Ain't life a solo?

What a wonderful way to live
She's traveling all over the world
Why the flame and all the golden
Opportunities unfurled

But no time for the gent with the Milliner Bentley
And heaven knows what else
Why he wouldn't even stand a chance
With all his oil wells

She just went solo
Do you play solo
Ain't life a solo?
Ain't life a solo?

I've always lived in a Maison
On the other side of the moon
I've always kept a unicorn
And I never sing out of tune

I could tell you that the grass
Is really greener on the other side of the hill
But I can't communicate with you
And I guess I never will

We've all gone solo
We all play solo
Ain't life a solo?
Ain't life a solo?

Ain't life a solo?




Ain't life a solo?
Ain't life a solo?

Overall Meaning

Fish's song "Solo" is a contemplative track about being alone, independence, and living life on one's own terms. The song has a melancholic tone, with Fish singing in a mournful voice about the choices one must make when time and circumstance force a person to embark on a personal journey that requires independence from the people who have always been around.


The first verse sets the tone and theme for the song. Fish sings "Good morning, good afternoon / And what have you got to say? / Well, I'm waiting but I can't stay long / It's such a lovely day." The opening lines are polite and reflect a desire to communicate, but the following lines reveal that their time together will be brief. The second verse takes a turn when Fish asserts, "There's a time to be talking / And there's a time when it's no use / Right now I think the things you say / Are liable to confuse." This imagery demonstrates that personal journeys, like Fish's, are complicated and require a degree of solitude, which can alienate those who are unsure of what to do in these situations. The chorus "I've just gone solo / Do you play solo / Ain't life a solo?" reinforces the notion that life is often an independent path—one we must go through by ourselves to truly understand.


The second and third verses tell two different stories of people who have gone solo, contrasting the lives of a globetrotting woman with a man who can't keep up with her lifestyle. The song ends with Fish's declaration, "We've all gone solo / We all play solo / Ain't life a solo?" Fish, in this final refrain, posits that society is, by nature, isolating and self-sufficient, emphasizing the ongoing need to be independent and march to our rhythm.


Line by Line Meaning

Good morning, good afternoon
Polite morning/afternoon greetings to be followed by a conversation


And what have you got to say?
Asking the person for something to discuss


Well, I'm waiting but I can't stay long
Although the person is eager to hear what they have to say, they don't have much time


It's such a lovely day
A comment on the pleasant weather


There's a time to be talking
A time for conversation which is based around the situation


And there's a time when it's no use
A time when talking is inappropriate and unnecessary


Right now I think the things you say
Currently, the information given is too complex and unsuitable


Are liable to confuse
The conversation and demands of the situations will likely cause misunderstandings


I've just gone solo
I have recently started doing things independently


Do you play solo
Are you accustomed to operating independently?


Ain't life a solo?
Life can be very independent


What a wonderful way to live
Commentary on the freedom of being able to travel wherever one wants


She's traveling all over the world
Explanation of the woman's constant traveling


Why the flame and all the golden
The excitement that came along with it


Opportunities unfurled
A take on the abundant chances that presented themselves


But no time for the gent with the Milliner Bentley
Referring to the prestigious man who doesn't possess the liberty to do what he wishes


And heaven knows what else
There could be limitless other reasons why the prestigious man cannot travel as freely


Why he wouldn't even stand a chance
The prestigious man would face many obstacles to obtain the same freedom as the woman has


With all his oil wells
Despite possessing a considerable amount of wealth, he would still be limited


She just went solo
The woman just started traveling solo


Do you play solo
Are you doing things independently as well?


I've always lived in a Maison
The man describing where he lives in a whimsical, fantastical manner


On the other side of the moon
In a faraway place which is impossible to reach and isolated


I've always kept a unicorn
The man owns something very mysterious and fantastical


And I never sing out of tune
He takes pride in his musical ability


I could tell you that the grass
If he was able to communicate with others, he could tell them everything he knows


Is really greener on the other side of the hill
There are some miseries that the person on the other side must endure as well


But I can't communicate with you
Due to either his mental state or living situation, he cannot communicate effectively with others


And I guess I never will
This inability to communicate effectively will likely never change


We've all gone solo
Everyone takes time to themselves and becomes independent at some point


We all play solo
Everyone acts by themselves sometimes


Ain't life a solo?
Life can sometimes require solo actions


Ain't life a solo?
Life can sometimes require solo actions


Ain't life a solo?
Life can sometimes require solo actions




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sandy Denny

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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