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).
Take Me Anywhere
School Of Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm only killing time
Boundaries, fences and endless instructions
That is nothing to what is mine
You remember you were there
Do you know
Do you care
Is it just a memory
Take me anywhere
Take me anywhere
Takes too long to see a change
It's different than before
So take me in or leave me cold, I'm not waiting any longer
And I got a hit though it's something like more than you get that I want it to
That I can't delinquish my heart has escaped to what it has begun
But I can't stop what I can't see
Take me anywhere
And I can't stay where I can't sleep
Take me anywhere
Oh take me anywhere
Take me anywhere
I can't stop
The lyrics of School of Fish's "Take Me Anywhere" express a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with the mundanity of everyday life. The opening lines suggest a feeling of being stuck in a rut, with time dragging on and no real purpose. The mention of boundaries, fences, and instructions further emphasizes feelings of being confined and restricted. However, the singer asserts that what is theirs is much more than these limitations, and questions whether others remember and care.
The chorus of "Take Me Anywhere" expresses a desire to break free from these constraints and go somewhere, anywhere. The line "takes too long to see a change" suggests frustration with the slow pace of progress or transformation. The singer is not willing to wait any longer and is ready to take action, even if it means leaving others behind. The mention of a hit could refer to a success or breakthrough, but it's not entirely clear. Nevertheless, the lyrics convey a sense of determination and a refusal to settle for less than what they want.
The final verse repeats the chorus, once again underscoring the theme of wanting to escape and be free. The lines "I can't stop what I can't see" suggest that the singer is driven by a desire for the unknown and uncertain. The song's overall message seems to be one of restlessness, dissatisfaction, and a need for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Scenes move by days dragging on
Time passes slowly as I go through the monotony of everyday life
I'm only killing time
I'm just passing the time, waiting for something more
Boundaries, fences and endless instructions
There are so many rules and limitations placed upon me
That is nothing to what is mine
But my true desires are far beyond what these rules can contain
You remember you were there
You were with me when I dreamed of something more
Do you know
Do you still understand what I want?
Do you care
Do you still believe in my dreams?
Is it just a memory
Or is there still hope for me to achieve what I desire?
I can't stop what I can't see
I can't prevent something from happening if I have no control over it
Take me anywhere
I need to escape this mundane life and explore new possibilities
Takes too long to see a change
It's taking too much time to see any progress towards my goals
It's different than before
Things have changed and I need to adapt to the new situation
So take me in or leave me cold, I'm not waiting any longer
I'm ready to take a risk and try something new rather than waiting for things to fall in place
And I got a hit though it's something like more than you get that I want it to
I have a strong desire for something more than what's available and I won't settle for less
That I can't delinquish my heart has escaped to what it has begun
My heart is set on what I want and there's no turning back
And I can't stay where I can't sleep
I can't remain in a place where I feel trapped and restless
Oh take me anywhere
I'm ready to explore new opportunities, no matter where they may take me
Take me anywhere
I'm ready for change and ready to take on new challenges
I can't stop
I won't let anything hold me back from chasing my dreams
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSHUA B. CLAYTON-FELT, MICHAEL B. WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
WhenViolets TurnGrey
One of the best bands overshadowed by the grunge Era. 2 great albums with brilliant musicianship. People should own their body of work. Underrated!
G
That heavy-ass bass would make John Entwistle envious.
Kdog Foshizzle
Human cannonball is a grunge album.
Katjump Now
such an underrated band. RIP Josh
Jay
Nah they're ok, we love the OG dumb loving band
ZyxthePest
This album holds up WAY better than their self-titled. It feels fuller and more thought out. Not to say that the debut is bad in any sense, but this is their best by far.
Media Monarchy
i still love my tapes <3
MotorCityMthrfkr
I agree with you!
Russ Burton
Agree! Both albums are sooooooo good but Cannonball gets SERIOUS! I love the song Everyword!
D B
A gem in the making snuffed out way too soon. RIP Josh.