Barracuda
Nick Black Lyrics

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So this ain′t the end I saw you again today to
I had to turn my heart away
Smile like the sun, kisses for real
And tails, it never fails

Your lying so low in the weeds
And I bet your gonna ambush me
You had me down, down, down, down on my knees

Now wouldn't you? Barracuda!
Ohh ooh ohhhhh

Back over time we were all trying for free
You met the porpoise and me, ahh
No right, no wrong selling a song
A name whisper game

And if the real thing don′t do the trick
You better think of something quick
Your gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn into the wick
Ohh, barracuda! Ohhh yeah

Sell me, sell you, the porpoise said
Dive down deep down and save my head, you
I think you got the blues too
All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made out for western pools, silly, silly fools

And if the real thing don't do the trick
You better think of something quick
Your gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn into the wick
Ohh barra barracuda! Yeah

Ooh!

Overall Meaning

The song "Barracuda" by Nick Black features a story of a past relationship. The singer encounters their former lover and feels vulnerable, wanting to turn their heart away from the person. The lyrics mention the person's smile and kisses, but also suggest that they may be lying in wait to hurt the singer emotionally. The repetition of "down on my knees" emphasizes the emotional power this person held over the singer in the past. The chorus features the title animal, with the singer comparing their former lover to a barracuda - a predatory fish known for its powerful jaws and aggressive behavior. The use of the animal suggests that the singer feels threatened and attacked by their former lover.

The second verse of "Barracuda" references a time when the singer, their former lover, and a third person (referred to as "the porpoise") were all "trying for free." The use of the porpoise as a character adds a surreal, dreamlike quality to the lyrics, with no clear explanation given for their presence. The singer references "selling a song" and "a name whisper game," implying that there was some sort of deception going on between the three characters. The repetition of "burn, burn, burn" in the chorus adds to the sense of danger, with the singer feeling as though they will be consumed by the actions of their former lover.

Overall, the lyrics of "Barracuda" convey a sense of vulnerability and anxiety. The use of animal imagery adds to the sense of danger, and the repetition of specific phrases emphasizes the emotions behind the story being told. The song is a reminder that even after a relationship ends, the emotional scars can persist.

Line by Line Meaning

So this ain't the end I saw you again today
I thought our relationship was over, but I saw you today.

I had to turn my heart away
I had to protect myself from getting hurt again.

Smile like the sun, kisses for real
You were charming and affectionate.

And tails, it never fails
You always have an ulterior motive.

Your lying so low in the weeds
You are hiding and waiting to pounce on me.

And I bet your gonna ambush me
I'm sure you are planning to hurt me again.

You had me down, down, down, down on my knees
You had me begging and feeling powerless.

Now wouldn't you? Barracuda!
You are like a predatory fish, always looking to hurt me.

Back over time we were all trying for free
We were all searching for happiness, without money as a concern.

You met the porpoise and me, ahh
You met the two of us and we all had shared experiences.

No right, no wrong selling a song
There's no moral judgement when it comes to creating music.

A name whisper game
The music industry is often fueled by rumors and whispers.

And if the real thing don't do the trick
If reality isn't enough to satisfy you...

You better think of something quick
You need to come up with a new plan soon.

Your gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn into the wick
You're going to suffer the consequences of your actions.

Ohh, barracuda! Ohhh yeah
You're like a dangerous and ruthless predator.

Sell me, sell you, the porpoise said
The porpoise said that we're all selling something to each other.

Dive down deep down and save my head, you
Help me out and save my sanity, if you can.

I think you got the blues too
I think you're also feeling down and depressed.

All that night and all the next
We spent the entire night and the next day together.

Swam without looking back
We moved forward without worrying about the past.

Made out for western pools, silly, silly fools
We went to Las Vegas, foolishly hoping for good luck.

Ohh barra barracuda! Yeah
You're still like a dangerous and powerful predator.

Ooh!
An expression of excitement.

Writer(s): Nancy Wilson (lamoureaux), Ann Wilson (dustin), Roger Douglas Fisher, Michael Joseph Derosier

Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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