The song lyrics come direct from the heart. They are often poetic, reflective and brutally honest, as seen in the lyrics of Bob Dylan and PJ Harvey. Juju's vocals can range from aggressive and powerful, similar to Deborah Anne Dyer (aka Skin of Skunk Anansie), as well as Patti Smith. She is also very comfortable with her bluesy Janis Joplin voice. On other tracks Juju's voice haunts and memorises, like Beth Orton with Sinéad O'Connor's conviction.
Original drummer Neil Greenaway left the band in 2011, and the live line-up now includes Elisa Zoot from Black Casino and the Ghost (vocals / percussion) and Mike Monaghan (drums / percussion).
Unlike many musicians, Juju spent all her childhood without listening to, or playing music. Throughout her youth and teenage years she dedicated herself to sport. As an athlete, she competed in many sporting events around the world, playing basketball at National League Level (Oxford Devils) and sporting a stint in the England U16s. She also trained with the Oxford United Football team, came first in many National and County Judo Competitions, competed in a number of County Cross Country Competitions and Bi-athlons (running and swimming).
It was only in her final years at school that she started to discover and explore music and writing.
"I used to find the intensity of music was something deeper than I could handle. But there was a part of me that was very attracted to that intensity and I realised that I could express myself with it. So eventually, I borrowed an old guitar, got a chord book and wrote a song."
Song had up until then been sleeping in her veins as both her French mother and grandfather were accomplished writers. But from then on, she endlessly wrote songs and busked them around Europe.
Juju has now overcome many hurdles for her trade: the likes of depression, drugs, and a career threatening throat condition. Two years without a voice, half a year with a chopped finger after cutting it on a luthier apprenticeship, are experiences that have made her music a result of her survival.
The name Little Fish is the result of Juju's daydream: "Feel free, I wake up in a head spin. I am me. I am just a Little Fish. I see what I see."
Little Fish often collaborate with Albanian artist and designer Bekim Mala (www.myspace.com/squarepictures) on their artwork and set design. There is no end to this creative and imaginative journey as only the Little Fish hold the eyes to the see.
Sites: Discogs, YouTube and LittleFishMusic.com (official)
hallelujah
Little Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winter wants some warming
I feel like a thief
Looking for religion
In an unknown city
Makes breathing so God damn heavy
If one is hurt
Spirit is injured first
And money your friends will borrow
Dying we're told is easy
So why is living so God damn hard?
I cried Mercy
They gave me Hallelujah
I cried Mercy
They gave me Hallelujah
You can be the skeleton or the meat
Behind there'll be your enemies
Better than the key, to your creed
Is the cold affection of the sun
Sweat, blood and water!
Sweat, blood and water!
I feel like money, look like money
Sin in being poor, no sin in poor
Sin in being poor, no sin in poor
Sweat, blood and water!
Sweat, blood and water!
I feel like money, look like money
Sin in being poor, no sin in poor
Sin in being poor, no sin in poor
Song of 'the shirt' is "work, work, work"
Song of 'the shirt' is "work, work"
Song of 'the shirt' is "work, work, work"
I cried Mercy
They gave me Hallelujah
I cried Mercy
They gave me Hallelujah
I cried Mercy
They gave me Hallelujah
I cried Mercy
They gave me Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The lyrics to Little Fish's song Hallelujah paint a picture of a person struggling to find meaning and purpose in life. The opening lines suggest a sense of loneliness and disorientation in an unfamiliar place, where even breathing feels like a challenge. The theme of pain and suffering is continued in the next lines, where the idea of mutual suffering is explored - "if one is hurt, the other will shortly follow." The song then poses the question of why living is so hard if dying is supposed to be easy, suggesting a feeling of hopelessness and despair.
The chorus of the song, where the singer repeats the phrase "I cried Mercy, they gave me Hallelujah," suggests a plea for help and hope in the midst of this struggle - a search for some kind of spiritual solace. The lyrics suggest that the singer had asked for mercy, but instead was given the more celebratory response of "Hallelujah." The repetition of the word reinforces the idea of a search for meaning and purpose within the context of a harsh and difficult world.
The latter part of the song focuses on the theme of poverty and hard work - the idea of "sweat, blood and water." The lyrics seem to suggest that there is no sin in being poor, but that there is inherent worth in the struggle to survive and make a living. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, suggesting that the search for meaning and purpose is ongoing, and that the celebration of life and faith continues despite the struggles and challenges.
Overall, the lyrics to Hallelujah suggest a deep sense of searching and questioning within the context of hardship and suffering. The repetition of key phrases reinforces the idea of a constant search for meaning within the context of a difficult and often unforgiving world.
Line by Line Meaning
Wind's crawling through
The chilling winter winds are very slowly moving through
Winter wants some warming
The winter season wants some warmth and heat to make it less unpleasant and punishing
I feel like a thief
I feel like someone who is stealing or sneakily taking something that is not rightfully mine
Looking for religion
Searching for belief, spirituality, and faith which I am unsure of
In an unknown city
In a city which I am not familiar with, unsure of its features, traditions, and people
Makes breathing so God damn heavy
All these elements combined make it extremely difficult and burdensome to simply breathe
If one is hurt
If one person or thing is affected negatively or hurt, it will eventually have a negative effect on everything else too
The other will shortly follow
The negative impact will continue and cause harm to the rest, one after another in close succession
Spirit is injured first
Before anything else, one's soul, spirit, or feelings are usually hurt and damaged more than anything else
And money your friends will borrow
When things get tough, the people that we most care about will ultimately ask for financial help to offset some of their burden
Dying we're told is easy
Death is often seen and referred to as something that is simple, easy and a relief from the troubles of life
So why is living so God damn hard?
But, why does living require so much effort and pain that feels incomparable to anything else?
I cried Mercy
I screamed or cried for mercy, compassion, or leniency
They gave me Hallelujah
Instead, I was given the chorus of Hallelujah, a song of praise and worship to God
You can be the skeleton or the meat
You can either the hard and difficult parts or the soft and easy parts of a situation
Behind there'll be your enemies
Either way, you will have people who will hate, criticize, and be against you no matter what
Better than the key, to your creed
More important than knowing the principles of your beliefs or values, is the unconditional love and support of those around you
Is the cold affection of the sun
To truly feel loved and cared for is like feeling the cold rays of the sun on your skin
Sweat, blood and water!
A repeated chant or expression meaning that a lot of hardship, pain, and tears have been put into an effort
I feel like money, look like money
I feel and present myself as someone of wealth, power, and great value
Sin in being poor, no sin in poor
There is a tendency to villainize and blame those who are poor, without really understanding that poverty itself is not a sin, but a circumstance
Song of 'the shirt' is "work, work, work"
This phrase means that the song of life itself is centered around the need and constant demand for hard and dedicated labor
They gave me Hallelujah
Once again, the singer is given the chorus of Hallelujah, which can be interpreted as a relief, a sign of hope, or even mockery
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The repeated use of the word Hallelujah is a form of prayer, a way to express gratitude, or just simply a sound of acknowledgement
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lucimaracosta6059
Cantam muito Maravilindas❤️❤️❤️
@2lilfish
Own! Muito obrigada por ouvir as nossas músicas :)
@barbaraschoolcraft2547
So blessed by your singing!!!!!!!!!!!!
@2lilfish
Thank you so much for listening :)
@arlindovski121212
Linda harmonia! Maravilhoso trio de queridas amigas brasileiras nos States. Parece que já tem um repertório para apresentação. Parabéns pela linda apresentação.
@2lilfish
Agradecemos muito por ouvir-nos :)
@CindyWilliamsMagnify
I love this song and the beat. Hallelujah, hallelujah, love the harmony ❤️❤️❤️❤️
@2lilfish
Thank you so much, Cindy, for taking the time to listen :)
@broman8457
Y’all are great.
@2lilfish
Thank you