Hugh Laurie is an English actor and comedian. Originally part of Cambridge … Read Full Bio ↴Hugh Laurie is an English actor and comedian. Originally part of Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, he found fame playing various roles in the classic British comedy TV series "Blackadder." He is perhaps more famous for the legendary TV sketch show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" where he performed with his Cambridge University chum, Stephen Fry. Since then he has appeared in various films (Maybe Baby, Girl from Rio, Flight of the Phoenix, Stuart Little) and television shows, and has done some theatre work in London's West End. Mr. Laurie was rumored to be a top contender for the role of "Doctor Who," (prior to David Tennant getting the part), however he was cast as Dr. Gregory House in the hit FOX medical drama "House, MD". Songfacts reports that Laurie is also an enthusiastic and keen musician, playing the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, and saxophone. He has displayed his musical talents on several episodes of House, as well as on previous shows he starred in, such as A Bit Of Fry & Laurie. In 2010 Laurie played piano as a special guest on Meatloaf 's track If I Can't Have You.
After signing a contract with Warner Bros, Laurie released a blues album Let Them Talk , which was released initially in France on April 18, 2011 and later in the UK on May 9th.

He has written one novel, "The Gun Seller," and another one, "The Paper Soldier," is tentatively scheduled for September 2009. Mr. Laurie has some musical talent, notably the piano and mouth trumpet (he can make convincing trumpet sounds using just his mouth). He played '20s numbers on the piano in the TV series "Jeeves and Wooster" (again with Stephen Fry) in addition to some original comic songs in "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie." He is currently a member of "Band from TV" with several other TV personalities. He is married with children, although he has become somewhat of an absentee father due to his work on American television while his family stays in London.

The Whale Has Swallowed Me
Hugh Laurie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They say the Whale swallowed Jonah
Out in the deep blue sea
Sometimes I get that feeling
That same old Whale has swallowed me

The sun rise in the East
Goes down in the West
Sometimes I get that feeling

Every creature needs some rest

I believe the Whale got sick
That's why I have this blues
I do believe one day
He will finally turn me loose

Now if I live
I pray, I don't get killed

I do believe one day
I will crawl out of here

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Hugh Laurie's song, The Whale Has Swallowed Me, are a metaphorical representation of feeling trapped and swallowed by life's challenges. The reference to Jonah being swallowed by a whale is a biblical story where the singer disobeyed God, leading to his being consumed by a whale for three days. The reference in the song shows a person feeling so consumed by life's challenges that they can't find a way out.

The second verse gives the metaphor of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, which is followed by the lines "Sometimes I get that feeling, every creature needs some rest." It's a representation of the natural cycle of things and that despite the feeling of being consumed, it's essential to take breaks and rest to retain one's strength.

Towards the end of the song, the metaphorical allusions lead to the belief that the whale swallowed the singer because it was unwell, leading to the feeling of being trapped. The feeling of being released comes with the hope that the whale will eventually let go of its victims. The last lines of the song, "I do believe one day, I will crawl out of here," is a hopeful take that someday, the singer will find a way out of their current situation.

Line by Line Meaning

They say the Whale swallowed Jonah
According to the story, Jonah was swallowed by a whale

Out in the deep blue sea
Jonah was swallowed while in the midst of the vast ocean

Sometimes I get that feeling
The singer occasionally experiences a sensation

That same old Whale has swallowed me
That feeling is like being devoured by the same whale in the story

The sun rise in the East
The sun appears on the horizon in the east each day

Goes down in the West
It sets in the west each evening

Sometimes I get that feeling
The same sensation as before returns to the singer

Every creature needs some rest
All living beings require periods of relaxation

I believe the Whale got sick
The artist thinks the whale became ill

That's why I have this blues
This is the reason behind the artist's sorrowful feelings

I do believe one day
The singer has faith in a future event