Their debut album, "Everything Sucks" (1995), was an underground hit and led to a deal with Mojo Records (see also Mojo), an indie label. "Turn the Radio Off" (1996) established the band in the underground music scene, and they began touring throughout the USA. After the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the album made an appearance on the charts. The ska revival was short-lived, however, and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" (1998) did not lead the group to the mainstream.
Reel Big Fish released "Cheer Up" (2002) which began a movement into harder rock and pop sounds, with much less ska than the previous albums. The song "Where Have You Been?" was aimed at a wider audience, trying to drop the less popular ska sound, but was met with little mainstream success, despite the video. Their second most recent studio album was "We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy" (2005).
They recently released "Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album" (2006) which includes 2 discs worth or their own tunes and a few covers of popular songs along with a DVD. They have worked on the soundtrack to BASEketball, which included a cover of A-Ha's Take On Me.
In 2006, they split from Jive records, who produced a "Best of" album against the will of the band, who could not prevent the release. The band has made a campaign to try and stop people buying the album.
Their 7th album "Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimps For Free" (2007) includes some songs that were previously recorded and released on other albums. It was also the first album with the band's new label, Rock Ridge Records.
In 2009, they released "Fame, Fortune, and Fornication" an album composed of covers of older songs, including "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, and "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison.
In 2012, Reel Big Fish released "Candy Coated Fury", which is their second album on Rock Ridge Records. This album was met with heavy amounts of criticism from fans and reviewers alike. PunkNews.org gave the album a 2/10.
in 2014, they released "Happy Skalidays", a holiday themed EP.
Their current release is 2018's "Life Sucks... Let's Dance!", which gained generally positive reviews from fans and critics.
Current members:
Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–present)
John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
Ryland Steen - drums (2005–present)
Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
Past members:
Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2001)
Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
Tyler Jones - trumpet (2001–2004)
Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
Scott Klopfenstein - trumpet, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2011)
Lost Cause
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost out at sea the waves crashing on me without you
And now I see that you're so far from me
Not even here in spirit but all the memories still haunt me
And now I think about the good times we could've had
But how they all got drowned in an ocean of bad
That you're givin' us away
How can you really say
That we're a
Lost cause
And you're givin' up on me
Do you really think I'm not worth all the
Trouble that I've been causin to you
Do you really think it's a lost cause
Do you really think it's a lost cause
You and me
And where the story goes
Well I would like to know
We're no longer on the same page
We're not even in the same book
Is it too late
To be worth the wait
Have we run out of time
Or is there a minute to take a second look
Now it's not my fault
But I'll take the blame
I wanna go back and change everything
But if it was all different would you feel the same
And not be givin' us away
But I still hear you say
That we're a
Lost cause
And you're givin' up on me
Do you really think I'm not worth all the
Trouble that I've been causin to you
Do you really think it's a lost cause
Do you really think it's a lost cause
You and me
And if this is how it ends well then that's a shame
I drove you crazy and you drove me insane
We found a new meaning of hurt and pain
We have beat this love to death
So we're both murderers, I guess
We're a
Lost cause
And you're givin' up on me
Do you really think I'm not worth all the
Trouble that I've been causin to you
Do you really think it's a lost cause
Do you really think it's a lost cause
Lost cause
And you're givin' up on me
Do you really think I'm not worth all the
Trouble that I've been causin to you
Do you really think it's a lost cause
Do you really think it's a lost cause
Do you really think it's a lost cause
You and me
You and me
You and me
You and me
All a lost cause
The lyrics to Reel Big Fish's song "Lost Cause" tell a story of a relationship that has fallen apart. The singer describes feeling lost and alone without their significant other, and reminiscing about the possible good times they could have had if things had gone differently. However, despite the singer's regrets and desire to fix things, their partner sees the relationship as a lost cause and is giving up on them.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses sadness, frustration, and a sense of helplessness, recognizing that no matter what they do or say, their partner has already made up their mind. The metaphorical language of being lost at sea and drowning in bad memories emphasizes the magnitude of the situation and the deep emotional pain they are experiencing.
Ultimately, the song suggests that some relationships may be beyond repair, despite the best efforts of one or both partners. It is a bittersweet reminder of the complicated and often painful reality of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Last time you checked I was a nervous wreck
The last time you saw me, I was struggling with anxiety.
Lost out at sea the waves crashing on me without you
I feel adrift and alone without your support, and it feels like the challenges are relentless.
And now I see that you're so far from me
I realize that you've emotionally distanced yourself from me.
Not even here in spirit but all the memories still haunt me
Even though you're not physically present, our shared memories still weigh heavily on me.
And now I think about the good times we could've had
I can't help but dwell on the potential happy moments we missed out on.
But how they all got drowned in an ocean of bad
Unfortunately, our negative experiences were too numerous and overpowered any potential joy.
Well I wanna get angry but it's just too sad
Even though I should be angry, I'm hurt and sad instead.
That you're givin' us away
You've given up on us and our relationship.
How can you really say
How can you honestly believe that?
That we're a Lost cause
That our relationship is beyond saving.
And you're givin' up on me
And that you're ready to let go of me.
Do you really think I'm not worth all the Trouble that I've been causin to you
Do you truly believe my flaws outweigh my worth?
You and me
The two of us, together.
And where the story goes
How will this story end?
Well I would like to know
I'm curious and interested in finding out.
We're no longer on the same page
We don't share the same goals or values anymore.
We're not even in the same book
Our perspectives and viewpoints have diverged significantly.
Is it too late
Is there still time to salvage what's left of our relationship?
To be worth the wait
Would it be worth it to put in the effort and wait for things to improve?
Have we run out of time
Is it too late to fix our problems?
Or is there a minute to take a second look
Can we take a step back and reconsider before it's truly over?
Now it's not my fault
I don't take full responsibility for our current situation.
But I'll take the blame
However, I'm willing to accept my share of the responsibility.
I wanna go back and change everything
I wish I could turn back time and make things different.
But if it was all different would you feel the same
If our past was different, would you still feel disconnected from me?
And not be givin' us away
And would you still be willing to fight for us instead of letting go?
And if this is how it ends well then that's a shame
If this really is the end of our relationship, it's a disappointing outcome.
I drove you crazy and you drove me insane
Our problems and frustration overwhelmed us both and drove us to madness.
We found a new meaning of hurt and pain
We experienced a level of emotional pain and distress we hadn't known before.
We have beat this love to death
Our love has been beaten down and worn out to the point of destruction.
So we're both murderers, I guess
We've both played a role in the death of our relationship, so perhaps we're both at fault.
You and me
You and I, both of us.
All a lost cause
Our relationship is irreparably broken and beyond saving.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: AARON ASHER BARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
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