He made his way to Cleveland, Ohio in 1977. The seasonal road musician had heard the Great Lakes area was teeming with people who enjoyed a good time. A pal of his set him up at the Hairy Buffalo, a popular west side club, and Pat packed the place. Soon a larger venue, Bobby McGee's came calling, Pat went, and the crowds followed. Friends had told Pat about a popular summer resort on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, a tourist village named Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Although he had never heard of the place it would change his life dramatically. Pat took the stage of the popular Beer Barrel Saloon in the summer of 1978 for a weekend gig, instincts told him the their was magic in the place. He played the full summer in 1979 and has been packing the place every summer since. The Beer Barrel burned to the ground in 1988 and was rebuilt in time for the 1989 season. It went into the Guinness Book of Records as "The World's Longest Bar." Now with crowd capacity at 3500 people Pat Was still filling the place and continued to do so until the 2007 season when Pat decided to move his show to a more fan friendly venue, intimate club, The Boathouse Bar and Grill just a block south of the Jet Express docks. The Boathouse is a nautical themed club perfectly suited to Pat Dailey's songs of life on the water. Playing a regular steady gig inspired pat to write his own songs about the things he enjoyed most in his life, fishing, boating, and having a real good time. The songs that would flow from his mellifluous mind would become and remain popular with thousands of tourists throughout the Great Lakes, into Lower Canada and all over the North Coast for years to come.
The first of many fun loving and often-poignant songs written by Pat Dailey was his Island signature song, "Put-in-Bay", others followed; "Legend of the Lake", "Island Fever", "Big Money Walleye", and many more.
In the winter of 1984, Pat gave Key West Florida and the famed old Hemingway hangout, Sloppy Joe's Bar a taste of the sounds of "The coolest SOB in The World"; (a moniker some fans had hung him with) The enormous nightly crowds of college students and tourists from the world over took to Pat Dailey immediately. He is still packing the place, sometimes ten deep outside on Greene Street because of lack of space.
It was in the first season in Key West that Pat met the world famous poet, songwriter, playwright Shel Silverstein. Shel, a Key West winter resident, caught Pat's act, introducing himself and suggested a song writing collaboration that continued for fifteen years until Shel's untimely death in May 1999.
Pat was overwhelmed by his good fortune to be working alongside Shel with his renowned reputation in the literary world as well as Nashville; having written "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash, "The Unicorn Song" for The Irish Rover's, and most of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show hits. Together Pat and Shel co-wrote "The Great Lakes Song" (A tune that is used by many schools to teach the children the names of the lakes.) "Blue Catawaba Moon", "On the Water" (Which won them a Telly for a TV Commercial Soundtrack), "Walleye Willie", "Vermillion","Ugly Feet", and many more.
The two had become great friends and visited one of another's homes in the north. During the summer months Shel would visit Put-in-Bay, in the fall Pat and his wife Anne would visit Shel in New York or on Martha's Vineyard. As the years went by, Pat and Shel decided to work on a children's album. They went into Woodland Studios in Nashville in 1998 and recorded 17 of Shel's favorite water themed songs and Shel produced Pat singing the tunes, sometimes joining in on the fun. It sat in the can for quite some time after Shel passed away, Pat was too devastated by the loss of his friend to continue with the project.
As time passed Pat decided the songs should be released and with the help of friends and Shel's estate finally got "Underwater Land" out of the archives and onto CD where the world can enjoy the chicanery of Shel Silverstein and his longtime friend and collaborator Pat Dailey. Underwater Land is in stores everywhere; it can also be purchased here at patdailey.com.
Carpe Diem
Pat Dailey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was nature's intention that he end up that way
He never got eaten 'cause he never got cooked
'Cause he never go netted 'cause he never got hooked
There's a big old dead carp belly up in the bay
Just before he rolled over, I heard him say:
"I lived a long life, a good life; I swam it alone
Stay clear of hooks, fish, fowl or man
Don't fall for the bait; you live as long as you can
If the Good Lord preserves you and things go your way
You'll be peacefully goin' belly up in the bay
There's a big old dead carp belly up in the bay
And the seagulls will find him by the end of the day
Peck a hole in his belly, peck out his guts
That's life in the food chain, no if ands or buts.
Belly up in the bay, belly up in the bay
You can't live forever so live every day
If the Good Lord preserves you and things go your way
You'll be peacefully goin' belly up in the bay
The song "Carpe Diem (Belly Up in the Bay)" by Pat Dailey is a subtle but profound reflection on life and the inevitability of death. It tells the story of a big old dead carp belly up in the bay, which had lived a long and good life, swimming alone and avoiding the hooks. The carp's message is clear: stay clear of hooks, fish, fowl, or man, and don't fall for the bait. Live as long as you can, and if the Good Lord preserves you and things go your way, you'll be peacefully going belly up in the bay.
The song's message goes beyond just avoiding danger and living a long life. It also encourages us to live every day to its fullest, to seize the day, or as the title suggests, Carpe Diem. The seagulls pecking a hole in the carp's belly and eating its guts is a reminder of the food chain and the circle of life. Death is inevitable, but we can choose to live our lives with purpose, joy, and gratitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Well there's a big old dead carp belly up in the bay
There is a large and lifeless fish floating with its stomach up in the bay.
It was nature's intention that he end up that way
It was inevitable for the fish to meet its end in that manner according to the laws of nature.
He never got eaten 'cause he never got cooked
The fish was never part of any meal since it was never prepared for cooking.
'Cause he never got netted 'cause he never got hooked
The fish was not caught nor trapped because it did not fall for any bait or lure.
Just before he rolled over, I heard him say:
The fish gave its final message before it turned over and died.
"I lived a long life, a good life; I swam it alone
The fish lived a satisfying life on its own, despite not being part of any larger group.
You stay clear of hooks when the water's you home"
The fish advised others of its species to avoid any traps or danger that may be threatening their home environment.
Stay clear of hooks, fish, fowl or man
All creatures should be careful of any harmful situations that may pose danger to them, whether intentional or otherwise.
Don't fall for the bait; you live as long as you can
It is wise to avoid situations that may seem tempting or attractive but may lead to danger or harm in the long run.
And the seagulls will find him by the end of the day
The bird will always find its prey and feed on what is left.
Peck a hole in his belly, peck out his guts
Despite being the prey, the fish cannot escape the food chain and will inevitably become a meal in the end.
Belly up in the bay, belly up in the bay
Inevitably this is how many things come to an end.
You can't live forever so live every day
Life is finite and not infinite, so every moment should be cherished to the fullest.
If the Good Lord preserves you and things go your way
If events align and nature works in your favor, life may be extended and prolonged.
You'll be peacefully goin' belly up in the bay
In the end, there will be no struggle or pain, but rather a peaceful resting place where one may inevitably meet their end.
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rick Plank
on Songwriter's Lament
This song is labeled wrong. It's really "What Goes Around" not "Songwriter's Lament."