The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
So Lo So Hi
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My fin got all hurt
But I didn’t care because I had it in for you
You met me in the mud
We got as close as we could
And that is why I swim and swim down the drain
If I could walk and breathe air
I’m back in my pond
And now I feel so…
I’m so low and so high
I swim low and wonder why
Just a fish that wishes he could fly
I’m so low I’m high
I’m high
I’m high
Fish, you made me do the twist
But I almost drowned
The stereo you gave me only made a gurgle sound
When we talk, I blow bubbles
We meet up in puddles
You pour me pond water and I sip it like champagne
I’m pulling out weeds
From my claws and round my feet
I’m back in my tree
And now I feel so…
I’m so low and so high
I fly low and wonder why
Just a bird who wants to learn to swim and dive
I’m so low I’m high
I’m high
I’m high
So low I’m high
So low I’m high
So low I’m high
A fish that can fly
A bird that can dive
I’m so low I’m high
I’m so low, so low that I am high
In "So Lo So Hi," The Presidents of the United States of America create a whimsical and imaginative narrative about two creatures that are typically thought of as opposites: a fish and a bird. The song begins with the fish addressing the bird, saying, "Bird, you made me walk on dirt / My fin got all hurt / But I didn’t care because I had it in for you." Despite experiencing discomfort, the fish seems to relish in the opportunity to interact with the bird, even though they come from completely different worlds: "You met me in the mud / We got as close as we could / And that is why I swim and swim down the drain." If the fish had legs and could breathe air, it might be afraid to explore the bird's world, but it is content with the life it knows.
The second section of the song shifts the focus to the bird's perspective, with the lyrics describing how the fish has made the bird do the twist and given it a broken stereo: "Fish, you made me do the twist / But I almost drowned / The stereo you gave me only made a gurgle sound." But despite these challenges, the bird and the fish seem to have formed a bond and enjoy each other's company, as evidenced by the lyric "You pour me pond water and I sip it like champagne."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the contradictions in the creatures' lives, with the fish wishing it could fly and the bird wanting to learn to swim and dive. The overall effect of "So Lo So Hi" is a lighthearted celebration of differences and the joy of unexpected connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Bird, you made me walk on dirt
You led me into a dirty situation that caused me pain
My fin got all hurt
I suffered physical injury as a result of your actions
But I didn’t care because I had it in for you
I was motivated by my dislike for you, so I didn't mind getting hurt
You met me in the mud
We crossed paths in an unpleasant situation
We got as close as we could
Despite the circumstances, we formed a close bond
And that is why I swim and swim down the drain
My desire to escape from you and the situation led me to constantly swim towards the drain
If I could walk and breathe air
If I had the ability to live on land and breathe air like a bird or human
I’d be too scared
I would be too afraid to leave my familiar aquatic environment
I’m back in my pond
I am back in the safe and familiar place I call home
And now I feel so…
I now feel a sense of relief and comfort
I’m so low and so high
I am experiencing conflicting emotions of sadness and happiness at the same time
I swim low and wonder why
I swim at a low depth and question the meaning of my existence
Just a fish that wishes he could fly
I am a fish who daydreams of being able to fly
I’m so low I’m high
The contradiction between my low position in the water and my optimistic mindset makes me feel elevated
Fish, you made me do the twist
You put me in an uncomfortable situation that caused me to contort my body in a painful manner
But I almost drowned
I was pushed to my limit and nearly lost my life due to your actions
The stereo you gave me only made a gurgle sound
The gift you gave me did not work underwater and was therefore useless
When we talk, I blow bubbles
Our conversations are limited and difficult due to our differing abilities to communicate
We meet up in puddles
We have to settle for meeting in small, shallow bodies of water like puddles
You pour me pond water and I sip it like champagne
I take pleasure in the simple things you offer me, even if it is just water from our pond
I’m pulling out weeds
I am taking care of my environment and working to improve it
From my claws and round my feet
I am removing debris and other unwanted materials from my immediate space
I’m back in my tree
I am in my comfortable and familiar treetop home
I fly low and wonder why
I am in a low-flying state and contemplating the meaning of my existence
Just a bird who wants to learn to swim and dive
I am a bird who is curious about the aquatic life and desires to experience it firsthand
So low I’m high
The juxtaposition between the low and high aspects of my emotions creates a sense of elation
A fish that can fly
A hypothetical and unlikely scenario that represents a total transformation of what is possible
A bird that can dive
Another hypothetical and unlikely scenario that represents a total transformation of what is possible
I’m so low I’m high
The contradiction between my low position in the water and my optimistic mindset makes me feel elevated
I’m so low, so low that I am high
My low position has made me so optimistic that I feel a sense of heightened positivity
Contributed by Maya T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.