The core members were Josh Clayton-Felt and Michael Ward who would play club dates in Los Angeles, California as a duo accompanied by programmed drums and bass. The band signed with Capitol Records in 1990, and released their first single on that same year on 7-inch vinyl. Their self-titled debut, School of Fish, was released in March 1991, followed by their first single, Three Strange Days. Also during the same year, they appeared on a KROQ concert disc called the Acoustic Christmas. Their second album, Human Cannonball, was released in 1993. The album did not sell very well and was not as successful as the self-titled album. Shortly thereafter, the band broke up.
Singer Josh Clayton-Felt died on January 19, 2000 at 32 of testicular cancer. In the six years after School of Fish, he had released solo albums entitled Inarticulate Nature Boy (1995), Felt Like Making a Live Record (1996), Beautiful Nowhere (1999), Spirit Touches Ground (2002), and Center of Six (2003).
Guitarist Michael Ward went on to play with John Hiatt and eventually became a member of The Wallflowers. Chad Fischer went on to form the band Lazlo Bane, most known for original opening credits of the TV show Scrubs. He also performed music in the Garden State movie soundtrack. Christopher MacDonald, who played bass with the band on tour, but did not play on any School of Fish recordings, records synthesizer space music under the name Telomere (label Evenfall).
1/2 A Believer
School Of Fish Lyrics
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Some people tell me that you always will
And I caught you talking to a paper plane
Just then you threw it out un-blamed
Now was your book lying towards the ground
The doorman treasured what you had found
Hey mister let her down
Hey mister let her down
I don't want to be half a believer
There's no use talking to a counterfeit
Unless I guess you can handle it
I saw you dancing on the window sill
Some people tell me that you always will
Hey mister let her down
You know in the end that you only deceive her
Hey mister let her down
I don't want to be half a believer
It'll never happen again else I change my mind
I wish that I could give you forgive you so to I
You know in the end that you only deceive her
Hey mister put her down
I don't want to be half a believer
Hey mister put her down
In the end that you only deceive her
Hey mister put her down
I don't want to be half a believer
half a believer
Oh half
Half half half half half
Half half half half half
The lyrics to School Of Fish's song "1/2 A Believer" tell the story of someone catching another person in a moment of whimsy, expressing concern about the way they are being treated and asking for them to be let down from whatever situation they are in. The first verse paints the picture of someone dancing on a window sill and talking to a paper plane, perhaps indicating a carefree and energetic spirit. However, the second verse suggests that this person may be in a dangerous or precarious position, with their book lying towards the ground and a doorman looking out for them. The chorus is a plea for the person to be let down and not deceived, indicating that the singer doesn't want to be only half a believer in whatever this situation is.
Overall, the song seems to be about standing up for someone who may be vulnerable or in over their head, and not wanting to be complicit in their mistreatment. The repeated use of the phrase "half a believer" suggests that the singer is wary of getting too involved, but ultimately feels a sense of responsibility to speak up for the other person. The melody and pacing of the song add to this sense of urgency and concern, with quick drum beats and guitar riffs that build to a tense climax in the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you dancing on the window sill
I witnessed you dancing on the windowsill
Some people tell me that you always will
There are claims that you will continue doing so
And I caught you talking to a paper plane
I observed you conversing with a paper plane
Just then you threw it out un-blamed
You threw the paper plane without taking responsibility
Now was your book lying towards the ground
At the present moment, your book was lying on the ground
The doorman treasured what you had found
The doorman appreciated what you discovered
Hey mister let her down
Sir, please release her from your grasp
You know in the end that you only deceive her
You are aware that you will only mislead her in the end
I don't want to be half a believer
I do not desire to have skepticism or doubts
There's no use talking to a counterfeit
It is pointless to converse with a false person
Unless I guess you can handle it
Except if you believe you are able to cope with it
It'll never happen again else I change my mind
It is unlikely it will occur again unless I alter my opinion
I wish that I could give you forgive you so to I
I desire to pardon and absolve you, as well as myself
Hey mister put her down
Sir, release her immediately
In the end that you only deceive her
Ultimately, you will only deceive her
I don't want to be half a believer
I refuse to be an unsure or doubting believer
Hey mister put her down
Sir, release her immediately
I don't want to be half a believer
I refuse to be an unsure or doubting believer
half a believer
An unsure or doubting believer
Oh half
An exclamation to half a believer
Half half half half half
An emphasis to half a believer
Half half half half half
An emphasis to half a believer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSHUA B. CLAYTON-FELT, MICHAEL B. WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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