The group released their self-titled first album in 1994 on Okeh/Epic, a subsidiary of Sony Music. On the strength of the single "Cold Beverage", in part due to MTV rotation, the album nearly went gold. After which, trying to capitalize on the success of the album, the group toured heavily, eventually landing a spot on the H.O.R.D.E. tour.
In 1995 they released their follow up album Coast to Coast Motel. Though it did not sell as well as the first album, it is generally considered among critics as the stronger of the two albums.
On tour following the release of the second album the group nearly broke up, due to bickering about finances. Deciding on a hiatus the three members went their separate ways, working on various side projects.
By October 1997 the group had reconciled their differences and released their third album, Yeah, It's That Easy, which along with their own work, showcased their collaboration with several other bands and musicians, including All Fellas Band, Philly Cartel, King's Court, and Dr. John. This soul-influenced album was more similar to their debut album than their previous release.
Soon after G. Love & Special Sauce set out on another world tour, returning to Philadelphia in 1999 for the release of their fourth album, Philadelphonic. Philadelphonic was followed up with Electric Mile in 2001, an album that shows the wide-ranging influences of the group, incorporating hip-hop, funk, psychedlia, blues, and soul in equal and ambitious measure. Ever the road band, the release of "Electric Mile" was followed by extensive touring.
By 2004 and The Hustle, G. Love (with the help of his bandmates and others) went solo and had eased up a little on the kitchen sink approach, offering instead a cohesive, dry groove reminiscent of his earliest efforts. Hustle was also the first G. Love release under Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records banner; the two had been pals at least since Philadelphonic, which Johnson had been a guest on.
Special Sauce did a series of shows in 2004 with Jack Johnson and fellow Brushfire artist Donavon Frankenreiter, and the trio also found time to issue a brief live EP, titled Some Live Songs.
In the summer 2005, the band was featured (along with the less well known Philly local Chuck Treece of 80's skate-rock band McRad) in an advertisement for the launch of Coca-Cola Zero, featuring the groups own unique version of the noted Coca-Cola advertising song I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.
G. Love's 2nd electrical solo release Lemonade also included Special Sauce on some tracks. Jack Johnson, Tristan Prettyman, Ben Harper, Jasper, and Blackalicious also contrbuted.
G. Love still continues to tour with the Special Sauce in the meantime.
Small Fish
G. Love & Special Sauce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
I sitting on the street man
Playin my guitar
Lookin at all the people
Passin by the store
Well they dont even know
And they just dont know where were gonna begin
Ever since that Ive been a small fish
Oh yeah oh comeon
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
Livin it
Lovin it
Pushin it
Oh now Im shovin it
Yeah were kickin it
Oh and were lickin it
Yeah were lookin it
Oh and were cookin it
Yeah and Im takin it
You know and Im breakin it
And Im shakin it
And I cant bakin it
And I gotta take it
Oh I will take it
But I couldnt makin it
I already made it
Oh yeah, watch out for the sharks
The baracuda too
You watch out for the big fish
When they all try to eat you
You watch out for the fisherman
And the hook line and the sinker
You watch out for the jellyfish
Cuz they all try to go get you
Ever since, they have been a small fish
Oh yeah, oh yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Yeah
We go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
We go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
I said I go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
You gotta go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
Yeah and from see to shining sea
Oh ever since that Ive been a
Ever since that I've been a small fish
The lyrics to G. Love & Special Sauce's song "Small Fish" emote the feeling of being unnoticed and insignificant in a world where everyone is trying to make it big. The singer, who refers to themselves as a "small fish," is sitting on the street playing their guitar, watching people pass by the store without giving them a second glance. Despite feeling invisible, the small fish is determined to keep pushing and shoving their way to success, to keep kicking and licking, looking and cooking their way forward.
The lyrics are a metaphor for the music industry and the challenges artists face when they're just starting out. The small fish represents the unknown artist, while the sharks, barracudas, big fish, fisherman, hook line and sinker, and jellyfish represent the obstacles an artist faces on their journey to success. The small fish knows that they need to watch out for these dangers and keep pushing forward if they're going to make it.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Ever since I've been a small fish," emphasizing that the artist has been in this position for a while and is still working hard to break through. The final lines of the song "You gotta go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast... ever since that I've been a small fish" suggest that the artist is willing to go anywhere and do anything to make their music heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since Ive been a small fish
Since I was just starting out, I've always been small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things
Oh yeah, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm excited and optimistic about my future despite being a small fish
I sitting on the street man
I'm playing my guitar on the street as a way to make a living and pursue my dreams
Lookin at all the people
I observe the people passing by, who don't appreciate the talent of a small fish like myself
Passin by the store
They don't even notice me as they walk past the store where I'm playing
Well they dont even know
The people passing by are unaware of my potential as a small fish in the music industry
Im a small fish gonna swim
Despite my small stature, I am determined to succeed and make a name for myself
And they just dont know where were gonna begin
The outsiders observing my journey have no idea where my success as a small fish will start from
Livin it
I'm living my life as a small fish and pursuing my passion for music
Lovin it
I'm enjoying every moment of being a small fish and dedicating my life to my music
Pushin it
I'm pushing myself to the limit in my pursuit of success as a small fish
Oh now Im shovin it
I'm putting in all the effort I can to be recognized and achieve my goals as a small fish
Yeah were kickin it
I'm collaborating with others and kicking off my music career as a small fish
Oh and were lickin it
We're savoring and enjoying our success as small fish in the music industry
Yeah were lookin it
As small fish, we are constantly seeking new opportunities and ways to grow our career
Oh and were cookin it
We're getting creative and cooking up new ideas and sounds as small fish in the music biz
Yeah and Im takin it
I'm seizing every chance I can to gain recognition and advance my career as a small fish
You know and Im breakin it
I'm breaking down barriers and proving myself as a talented and successful small fish in the competitive music industry
And Im shakin it
I'm shaking things up and making waves as a small fish in the music world
And I cant bakin it
I can't hold back or play it safe as a small fish; I need to take risks and be bold to make it big
And I gotta take it
I have no choice but to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way as a small fish
Oh I will take it
I will grab every chance I can to succeed and make it as a small fish in the music industry
But I couldnt makin it
Although there may be challenges and setbacks along the way, I won't let them stop me from pursuing my dreams as a small fish
I already made it
I've already achieved some level of success as a small fish and I will continue building on it
Oh yeah, watch out for the sharks
In the cutthroat world of the music industry, there are people who will try to take advantage of a small fish like me
The baracuda too
Other predators I need to watch out for include industry professionals who could take advantage of me as a small fish
You watch out for the big fish
The established and successful musicians in the industry can pose a threat to small fish trying to make a name for themselves
When they all try to eat you
These big fish try to take over the small fish's success and steal their opportunities
You watch out for the fisherman
Not only are there dangers within the industry, but there are those looking to exploit and take advantage of small fish like me
And the hook line and the sinker
These people use hooks and schemes to trap small fish into unfavorable deals and contracts
You watch out for the jellyfish
Other musicians and industry players can also be deceitful in their dealings with small fish like me
Cuz they all try to go get you
These jellyfish will try to take advantage of small fish and steal their opportunities for personal gain
We go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
As small fish, we are willing to travel far and wide to perform and advance our music career
I said I go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
I personally am determined to take my music from one coast to another and perform for as many people as possible
You gotta go from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast
In order to make it as a small fish in the music industry, you have to be willing to put in the work and travel to new places
Yeah and from see to shining sea
From the Atlantic to the Pacific, as small fish we gotta perform across the entire country to build our audience
Oh ever since that Ive been a
Since I began my career as a small fish, I've been dedicated to pursuing and achieving success in the music industry
Ever since that I've been a small fish
My career has been defined by my status as a small and relatively insignificant figure in the music industry
Oh yeah, oh yeah yeah
Despite the challenges and setbacks, I remain optimistic and motivated to succeed as a small fish
Oh yeah yeah yeah
I'm confident in my abilities and driven to succeed despite being a small fish in the big pond of the music industry
Yeah
I will keep pushing on and pursuing my dreams until I achieve the success I deserve as a small fish
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Garrett Dutton, James H. Prescott, Jeff Clemens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessica Eernisse Hagood
So much misjudged and underrated. Pathetic! Love y'all!
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