Fruit Fly
Nada Surf Lyrics

The lyrics of Nada Surf's "Fruit Fly" tell two seemingly unrelated stories that eventually merge into one. The first story is about leaving food out for too long, leading to a swarm of fruit flies invading the kitchen. The second revolves around feeling lost and directionless, unable to find a reason to keep going. The two stories are brought together when the fruit flies, like the singer, also have "nowhere to go." The lyrics are filled with imagery, such as the "flying jerky patterns like snowflakes in the air," which help to emphasize the themes of chaos and confusion.

The opening lines suggest forgetfulness or negligence, as the singer leaves "food wrapped up in a plastic bag on the kitchen table way too long." The narrative continues with the author being too tired to throw it away and eventually leading to a swarm of fruit flies. There is a sense of guilt that the singer is experiencing due to creating a haven for the fruit flies to occupy since "they've got nowhere to go." The fruit flies serve as a metaphor for the singer, who feels lost and alienated, with the use of the word "swarm" indicating an overwhelming number of obstacles.

The second half of the song refers to a journey that the singer seems to have embarked upon but finds themselves unable to keep going. They are directionless despite continuing on, with nothing looking or smelling appealing to them. The reference to "geometry" and "smearing out of control" emphasizes the feeling of losing order and control over their surroundings. Finally, the repeated lines "Oh no, you make your own mistakes, I cannot measure up to you" suggest a deep sense of inadequacy and regret.