Oriental Nightfish
Linda McCartney Lyrics


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It was a Thursday night
I was working late
When I first caught sight
Of the Oriental Nightfish
The colors were swirling
The room was getting hotter
I couldn't see anything
Emerald blue purple red
I was working late
When I first caught sight
Of the Oriental
Night
Fish
Oh




Night
Fish

Overall Meaning

In Linda McCartney's song "Oriental Nightfish," the singer reflects on a moment when she first laid eyes on a mysterious fish. It was late on a Thursday night and the singer was working. Suddenly, she noticed an "Oriental Nightfish" in the room with swirling colors of emerald, blue, purple, and red. As the fish swam, the room grew hotter, and the singer was unable to see anything else around her. The song is built on this vivid image of a mesmerizing creature that captures the imagination, and it could be read as a metaphor for falling in love or encountering something equally enchanting and all-consuming.


The lyrics to "Oriental Nightfish" are poetic and cryptic. The fish is never explicitly explained, and the singer's feelings are only hinted at through the image of the swirling colors and the rising temperature. The tone of the song is dreamy and wistful, as if the singer is remembering a moment of intense beauty from her past. Overall, the song is a testament to the power of the natural world to captivate our imaginations and fill us with wonder.


Line by Line Meaning

It was a Thursday night
On a particular Thursday evening


I was working late
I was doing my job past regular hours


When I first caught sight Of the Oriental Nightfish
At that moment, I witnessed the Oriental Nightfish for the first time


The colors were swirling
The hues were rotating in a circular motion


The room was getting hotter
The temperature in the environment was increasing


I couldn't see anything
I couldn't view anything around me


Emerald blue purple red
The colors around me were a combination of emerald, blue, purple, and red


I was working late
I had been engaged in my job for an extended period


When I first caught sight Of the Oriental Night Fish
At that point, I saw the Oriental Night Fish for the first time


Oh
Expressing surprise


Night
The period when the sky is dark


Fish
A creature that lives in water and breathes through gills




Contributed by Christopher T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Mod Uk

Can you imagine putting this on a Rupert bear VHS nowadays!

Joel Miller

I can't imagine anyone putting ANYTHING onto VHS nowadays!

Jackie Yoshi

I loved it. Grew up to be a goth.

YazmanianDevil

I was six when I first saw this and fell madly in love with it. Thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Ellen Lichius

My parents were horrified. They made the video store remove it from the children’s section.

Derek Croasdale

In my world this was my 1st rock song

2 More Replies...

Ღ linny !!

Omg, I absolutely love this video clip! It's so filled with art and I think it's beautiful

Harry Stoller

Unfortunately it’s too bright when she swims in a yellow thing.

teresa rodriguez

She was his most talented wife and always one and only love

Dave Steels

Aline McCartney awesome 😎

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