Fishbone first assembled with John Norwood Fisher (bass), his brother Philip "Fish" Fisher (drums), Angelo Moore (vocals, saxophones and theremin), Kendall Jones (guitar), "Dirty" Walter A. Kibby II (vocals, trumpet), and Christopher Dowd (keyboards, trombone, vocals). They achieved their greatest success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, after which they went through many personnel changes. From 2003 to 2010, John Norwood Fisher and Angelo Moore were the last remaining original members of the band. In the 2010s, all the other original members except Kendall Jones rejoined the band for various reunions and anniversary activities.
Swim
Fishbone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It`s got you swimming around
Metal`s crushing your bones
As you hit the ground
No blood no foul
Back into the pool
No diving from here
Fuck that rule
I like to swim
Into the mosh
Up the side and straight down the middle
Jam with Link and Walt just a little
Then I`m back in the mix
Brain Dead Goliath trying to grab my leg
I break that tackle like Bo
Then I head for the heads
I like to swim
Fishbone's song Swim is a high energy, punk rock anthem about the experience of diving into a mosh pit at a concert. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this experience, describing it as "coming up from the sound" and "swimming around". Even the potential hazards of being in a mosh pit are described, such as the crushing force of other concert-goers and the risk of injury from diving into the crowd. However, there is also a sense of exhilaration and camaraderie among those who participate in this activity, as they "jam with Link and Walt just a little" and break free from the constraints of societal rules such as "no diving from here". Ultimately, the song celebrates the energy and excitement of a mosh pit while acknowledging the risks and physical toll it can take on the body.
One interesting fact about Swim is that it was released as the first track on Fishbone's critically acclaimed album "Truth and Soul" in 1988. The album was produced by David Kahne, who is known for his work with artists like Paul McCartney and Regina Spektor. Additionally, Swim has been covered by several other punk and metal bands, such as P.O.D. and Stompbox. The song has also been featured in several movies and TV shows, including the 1993 film "With Honors" and the drama series "One Tree Hill".
Another interesting fact about Swim is that it features a unique blend of punk, ska, and metal influences that are characteristic of Fishbone's musical style. Fishbone, which was formed in Los Angeles in 1979, is known for their eclectic sound and experimental approach to music. The band's lineup has changed over the years, but the core members have included lead vocalist Angelo Moore, bassist Norwood Fisher, and drummer Philip "Fish" Fisher. They have released several albums over the course of their career and are considered to be one of the pioneers of the ska punk genre.
Overall, Swim is a high-energy, hard-hitting punk rock anthem that captures the experience of diving into a mosh pit at a concert. Its lyrics celebrate the camaraderie and excitement of this activity, while also acknowledging the risks and physical toll it can take on the body. The song's unique blend of punk, ska, and metal influences and Fishbone's experimental approach to music have made it a beloved classic among fans of punk and alternative rock.
Chords (as played on guitar):
Intro: E5 (palm muted)
Verse: E5, G5, A5, E5
Chorus: E5, G5, A5, C5, B5, A5, E5, G5, A5, E5
Line by Line Meaning
Coming up from the sound
Emerging from the deafening noise of the crowd
It`s got you swimming around
Getting caught up in the excitement and frenzy of the moment
Metal`s crushing your bones
The intensity of the music is physically overwhelming
As you hit the ground
Feeling the full force and impact of the bass and drums
No blood no foul
No harm, no foul; no harm done unless there's actual blood
Back into the pool
Diving back into the sea of fans
No diving from here
Ignoring the warning signs not to crowd surf
Fuck that rule
Disregarding authority and doing what feels exhilarating
I like to swim
I enjoy crowd surfing
Into the mosh
Into the center of the wild and frenzied crowd
Up the side and straight down the middle
Moving up the sides of the crowd and then diving in straight down the middle
Jam with Link and Walt just a little
Feeling connected with other fans and potentially even the band members
Then I`m back in the mix
Quickly returning to the chaos and energy of the crowd
Brain Dead Goliath trying to grab my leg
A huge and slow-moving fan attempting to hold onto the crowd surfer
I break that tackle like Bo
Escaping the grasp of the fan with speed and agility
Then I head for the heads
Making a quick exit to the bathrooms
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN BIGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J. Glass
As a Black girl who lived and breathed rock music, this video was INCREDIBLY validating! It was the FIRST rock video of my recollection that portrayed a black women as sexy and lusted after! Thanks FISHBONE!!!! YAAASS!!
ammortal
Any idea who she is?
Paul A
J. Jackson Its so sad but you just might be right. But then there was not a whole lot of black rock music around. Apart from Living Colour, Bad Brains and these guys.
Music loving metal head
Right on girl
cygil1
Now it's considered oppressive that black women are objectified and fetishized in music videos. Ahh, progress.
John Baxter
fuck yeah!
fishbone3333
This tune is yet another example of Fishbone being able to excel in any genre that they tackle....ska, funk, punk, rock r&b, metal....they are the shit.
Michelle Rose Jackson
Yes!! 🖤❤️💚
tommyt1971
One of the best performers at Lollapalooza 1993: they only played 4 songs but they turned into extended jams and it was amazing! At one point Angelo had a guy bringing out multiple saxes and he wore them all, with them getting bigger each time!
Aussie Dogs Rule!
Harper's Ferry as I recall.