Badfish
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey man, what's up?
Tell Todd he can turn the radio back on.
When you grab a hold of me
You tell me that I'll never be set free
But I'm a parasite
Creep and crawl I step into the night
Two pints of booze
Tell me are you a badfish too
(Are you a badfish too)
Ain't got no money to spend
I hope the night would never end
Lord knows I'm weak
Won't somebody get me off of this reef
Baby you're a big blue whale
Grab the reef when all duck divin' fails
I swim but I wish I'd never learned
The water's too polluted with germs
I dive deep when it's ten feet overhead
Grab the reef underneath my bed
(underneath my bed)
Ain't got no quarrels with God
Ain't got no time to grow old
Lord knows I'm weak
Won't somebody get me off of this reef?
I gotta go dude
Ain't got no quarrels with God
Ain't got no time to grow old
Lord knows I'm weak
Won't somebody get me off of this reef
The song Badfish by Sublime is a reggae punk rock anthem that tells a story of addiction and self-destruction. The lyrics capture the feelings of being trapped in a cycle of substance abuse, while also describing a sense of freedom and liberation. Through the use of metaphors and vivid imagery, the lead singer, Bradley Nowell, depicts his struggle with addiction as being trapped in a reef, unable to escape the pull of the ocean.
The opening lyrics, "When you grab a hold of me, tell me that I'll never be set free," paints a picture of someone who is controlled by their addiction. The use of the term "parasite" in the line "But I'm a parasite, creep, and crawl I step into the night" further emphasizes the feeling of being consumed by addiction. The chorus, "Two pints of booze, tell me, are you a badfish too?" highlights the shared experience of substance abuse, while also hinting at the dangers and negative consequences that come with it.
The second verse shifts the focus to the environment and its effect on the singer's addiction. The line "The water's too polluted with the germs" implies that the world around him is also corrupt, and this reinforces the sense of hopelessness and despair that is prevalent throughout the song. The final chorus repeats "Ain't got no quarrels with God, ain't got no time to get old, Lord knows I'm weak, won't somebody get me off of this reef" as a plea for help and a cry for liberation from the cycle of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
When you grab a hold of me
When someone has control over me
Tell me that I'll never be set free
They don't plan on letting me go
But I'm a parasite
I'm dependent on them, like a parasite
Creep and crawl I step into the night
I sneak away into the darkness
Two pints of booze
I've had a couple drinks
Tell me are you a badfish too?
Asking if the person is also someone who indulges in vices
Are you a badfish too?
Repeating to emphasize the point
Ain't got no money to spend
I'm broke
I hope the night will never end
I don't want this good feeling to stop
Lord knows I'm weak
I have a weakness for indulging in vices
Won't somebody get me off of this reef
I need help getting out of this cycle
Baby you're a big blue whale
Referring to someone as a large, overwhelming presence
Grab the reef when all duck diving fails
When you've exhausted all your other options, hold onto something stable
I swim, but wish I'd never learned
I regret knowing how to swim
The water's too polluted with the germs
The world is tainted and corrupt
I dive deep when it's ten feet overhead
I go deeper when I feel overwhelmed
Grab the reef underneath my bed (it's underneath my bed)
I cling to stability even in my sleep
Ain't got no quarrels with God
I have no issues with religion
Ain't got no time to grow old
I don't plan on living long
Lord knows I'm weak
Re-emphasizing my affliction
Won't somebody get me off of this reef
Asking for help again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bradley James Nowell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xxdubsupxx1074
Take me back Lord! Back to 90’s. No crybabies. No social media. Being outside. Blunts, 40’s and bitches. Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke I couldn’t picture this. Video game rentals, sleepovers with the homies in the backyard in tents without having to say “pause” extension cords to hook up ps1 Rival Schools, Tekken and Power Stone on Dreamcast in the tents. Costco pizza, one side cheese, one side pepperoni. Walkman’s and CD players so we all knew the same songs and didn’t have to sort thru billions of artists that sound the same. Back when weed was illegal and kept you high all day off one spliff in the morning. Back when we all listened to Rap, Rock and Metal. When Simpson’s was actually good. Wasting quarters on big kids who beat you at Mortal Kombant 1 in the arcades. Back Lord. Back…
@panzer1156
Brother you may never see this and if you know that i to long for simpler days. I keep thinking how good we had it. Smh...friends lost, the countless moments lost to time. Just being alive back then is truly unexplainable. They say ignorance is bliss but the knowledge of the difference is a curse
@donnamariedavidson5065
Wow! I really enjoyed reading your comment! You literally had me go down a most excellent Memory Lane with you throughout a chapter in your life, that no doubt, was splendid nostalgia for you during that time! Made me smile for you. Thank-you, and always keep your special memories forever in your soul.
Wishing you all the best ❤
@jamesfoley9897
Spot on! You Nailed it! This also comes to mind, Going to the video rental stores was a date night. The original Netflix and chill.
@xxdubsupxx1074
@ that was the BEST!!
@xxdubsupxx1074
@ Mario 3 and Battletoads rental thru your neighborhood video store, even though we KNEW we couldn’t get thru the turbo tunnel!. Mine was called Video In. The higher ups were Blockbuster and Hollywood Video with Game Crazy later on attached. Good times
@ObsoleteTechnologies
This absolultey needs to be on the GTA6 radio stations.
@solidtemper4158
the bassist is so awesome, actually who ever master mixed this and placed the bass as a solid fixture is awesome. 100DB shakes my house and probably the neighbors houses.
@pedrobmello
im luck i aint your neighbour, your unpolite fuck
@solidtemper4158
heck I don't complain when they throw parties and block my driveway with all their guests vehicles. I let them have their fun, and sometimes they let me have my fun. Cops have been called so many times for noise complaints and been cited for noise pollution. Eh an 80 dollar ticket is worth it.