Sideways
Fish and Scale Lyrics
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A crimson cascade, the blood in the bowl,
And the mind that you're in is walking the world but you feel like you're walking on water,
Face up to the facts, face up to the truth, face up to reality, you're just being used
There's a spark in your eyes, when she calls you'll explode and she's blaming it all on crossed wires.
When the clocks move sideways, when the clocks move sideways, Fellini days
Reflect on the fact that your life is such a mess.
Whose fault is that anyway?
The shutters are closed, did you lock all the doors?
Arm the alarms? Sheath all the knives?
Unload all the guns? Throw out all the pills?
Did you remember to switch off the TV?
Don't answer the phone,
Provide the impression there's nobody home,
As if there was anyway.
As if there was anyway.
When the clock moves sideways, the clock moves sideways.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock
Tock, tock, tock, tock...
When the clock moves sideways, when the clock moves sideways
Fellini days
Fugazi
Don't answer the phone
Fugazi
Wheels within wheels within wheels,
Tumbling towards a conclusion,
Wheels within wheels within wheels,
Tumbling towards a conclusion,
Tumbling towards a conclusion,
Tumbling towards a conclusion
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne
Fellini days
Fellini days
Fellini days
The lyrics of Fish and Scale's song Sideways are intriguing and open to interpretation. The first lines, "wheels within wheels, turning wheels, tumbling towards a conclusion" suggest a sense of inevitability, that events are moving towards a predetermined outcome that is beyond the control of the singer. The next lines, "a crimson cascade, the blood in the bowl" could be interpreted as a metaphor for violence or conflict, or even drug use. The line "and the mind that you're in is walking the world but you feel like you're walking on water" implies a sense of disconnection from reality, as though the singer is experiencing things but not fully present in the moment.
The chorus of "when the clocks move sideways, Fellini days" further emphasizes this sense of disorientation and disconnect, perhaps referring to the surrealist films of Italian director Federico Fellini. The following lines of the verse, "fix a stare at the wall, avoiding the accusations that lurk in the mirror" suggest a guilty conscience or inner turmoil, while "reflect on the fact that your life is such a mess" could be seen as an expression of self-doubt or regret.
The final lines of the song - "should auld acquaintance be forgot, for auld lang syne" - are taken from a traditional Scottish folk song that is typically sung on New Year's Eve, evoking themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of someone who feels lost and disconnected, struggling to come to terms with their place in the world and the choices they have made.
Line by Line Meaning
Wheels within wheels, turning wheels, tumbling towards a conclusion.
Complicated and interconnected events and actions leading inevitably to an outcome.
A crimson cascade, the blood in the bowl,
A shocking amount of blood in a place where it shouldn't be.
And the mind that you're in is walking the world but you feel like you're walking on water,
The feeling of being detached from reality or that everything happening around you is not quite real.
Face up to the facts, face up to the truth, face up to reality, you're just being used
Accepting a harsh truth that one is being taken advantage of or used for someone else's ends.
There's a spark in your eyes, when she calls you'll explode and she's blaming it all on crossed wires.
Miscommunication leading to a volatile situation where anger and frustration is misplaced or overblown.
Fix a stare at the wall, avoiding the accusations that lurk in the mirror, trying to catch my attention,
Avoiding the truth and responsibility of one's actions or situation.
Reflect on the fact that your life is such a mess.
Taking an honest look at one's own life and realizing that it is in turmoil or disarray.
Whose fault is that anyway?
Questioning one's own responsibility for the mess their life is in or considering that there are external factors at work.
The shutters are closed, did you lock all the doors?
Taking precautions to keep oneself safe from external threats.
Arm the alarms? Sheath all the knives?
Taking extra measures to feel safe and secure in a threatening environment.
Unload all the guns? Throw out all the pills?
Getting rid of things that could cause harm to oneself or others.
Did you remember to switch off the TV?
Taking care of one's personal belongings and making sure they are not damaged or abused.
Don't answer the phone,
Avoiding unwanted or unsolicited contact from someone or something, possibly for safety or peace of mind.
Provide the impression there's nobody home,
Pretending that one is not home in order to avoid unwanted or unsolicited contact from someone or something.
As if there was anyway.
Knowing that, in reality, it would make no difference whether one acted as if they were not home or not.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock
The sound of time ticking away, a sense of urgency or the feeling that time is running out.
Tock, tock, tock, tock...
The final ticking of the clock, signaling an end or conclusion.
When the clock moves sideways, when the clock moves sideways
Feeling like time is warped or not moving linearly, or that time is running backward or forward at an uneven pace.
Fellini days
Days or events that feel surreal or dreamlike, like a scene from a Federico Fellini film.
Fugazi
A word meaning “fake” or “not genuine” that has been adopted by the band Fugazi as part of their name, and which may here be a reference to the idea of not being true to oneself, or feeling fake or fraudulent.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Revisiting old memories and friendships, especially in a bittersweet context.
And never brought to mind
Questioning whether it's worth dwelling on the past or celebrating old friendships.
For auld lang syne
For the old times, particularly those that evoke nostalgia or remind one of happy memories.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN DEARTH, DEREK WILLIAM DICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind