The Aquarium
The Uncluded Lyrics


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Please don't tap on the glass

Just this morning I heard a prehistoric mass
In a river water tank utter "please don't tap the glass, thanks"
Hold a moment, told him,
"As an overgrown oaf in a coat of exposed bone you are not afloat alone"
Chocked up, poking his nose in the moat, cold, we have all known combing
Gross mouths foaming, dough down, particles of a broken code exploding in a chip
And soda coma, slowly overdosing, rovers
Opposite the jellyfish and stars
You were jelly on the colors and regenerating arms
Set to entertain a couple thousand suckers for a charge
And you can not shake the feeling you are being fucking farmed
Great fossil, knowledgeable and docile
Dry land's nice but the slants quite hostile
Here, equal parts passive and aggressive
He said "If that's the case then brother help me flash the message"

Please don't tap on the glass, water augments that tap to a crash
"Here fishy fishy" is a bad forecast
First tap never once double as the last

Today a creature with a body like mine drifted by
Said "please don't tap on the glass, mm hi"
Urban turban muumuu, mama vacationing
Cow of the sea, worlds outside your window stationing
Me at my post do I look inside jealously at you wanting out
Not knowing propellers slice deli meat, meeting of the mind's eye
Through the glass, giving thanks for the sea nobody's a big fish in a small tank
Do you slow motion float through a confined free rise
Or run the risk of getting chopped up to bits outside?
Is there anywhere that you can find a little balance between
Small cell prisoner and motor boat madness?
Does being free mean needing to be open to the sadness
Where gentle giants bitter-sweetly half fill oily chalice?
She says if you figure out how to forge your own way
When your peepers spy the creepers raise their fingers up please say...

Please don't tap on the glass, water augments that tap to a crash
"Here fishy fishy" is a bad forecast
First tap never once double as the last

I float alongside flotsam caked in bad algae
I deep throat choke spirulina collard greens
Land barracuda breed quicker than the water ones
Brand name spawn slaughter estee launder collage funds
Nobody want a lesson in the sleepy lesser species
They want a hot pretzel and a seat at the penguin feeding

Little fingers dodge the slimy cukes here in the touch tank
No one gives us bottom feeders so much as a "yo thanks"

I jump sharks too, not the kind that sink a fang in
The kind that make the people closest to you think you're Satan
So escaping through a cradle of accumulated plankton
To a man without his floating petty frankly sounds amazing

Change my charlie tune can open water entry cod chop
Sic balls, surface dive butterfly, belly flop,
Hooked by a line or by a crabby pot drop
If it gets too heavy trim a little jetsam off the top

Please don't tap on the glass, water augments that tap to a crash




"Here fishy fishy" is a bad forecast
First tap never once double as the last

Overall Meaning

The Uncluded's "The Aquarium" is a song about the complex relationship between humans and sea creatures that are housed in aquariums. The opening lines describe the singer hearing a prehistoric mass in a river water tank and being reminded not to tap on the glass. The singer then engages in a conversation with the creature, acknowledging the discomfort created by being confined in a small space, but encouraging it to remember that it is not alone. The song goes on to explore the different perspectives of humans and sea creatures who are separated by the glass.


The lyrics delve into the tension between the desire for freedom and safety. The singer reflects on the sea creatures' situation, acknowledging that they may want to escape the tank but may not be prepared for the dangers that await them in the outside world. The song also highlights the uncomfortable reality that many sea creatures are bred and kept in captivity for human entertainment and profit. Ultimately, the song encourages listeners to have empathy for the creatures behind the glass and to resist the urge to tap on the glass or view them simply as objects for our own amusement.


Line by Line Meaning

Please don't tap on the glass
Avoid tapping on the aquarium glass since it can result in a loud crash


Just this morning I heard a prehistoric mass
I heard a prehistoric fish in the water tank requesting not to be tapped


In a river water tank utter "please don't tap the glass, thanks"
The fish was in a river water tank and politely requested not to be tapped


Hold a moment, told him, "As an overgrown oaf in a coat of exposed bone you are not afloat alone"
I tried to comfort the fish by telling him that he is not alone and that he is surrounded by other fish


Chocked up, poking his nose in the moat, cold, we have all known combing
The fish seemed choked up and was exploring the aquarium with his nose in the moat


Gross mouths foaming, dough down, particles of a broken code exploding in a chip And soda coma, slowly overdosing, rovers
The fish are struggling with their food and seem to be in a food coma due to an excessive amount of given food


Opposite the jellyfish and stars You were jelly on the colors and regenerating arms
The fish, being housed opposite to jellyfish, envious of their glowing colors and regenerating body parts


Set to entertain a couple thousand suckers for a charge And you can not shake the feeling you are being fucking farmed
The fish are being held as entertainers and feel like they are being farmed


Great fossil, knowledgeable and docile Dry land's nice but the slants quite hostile
The fish are knowledgeable and calm, but would prefer living in their natural habitat


Here, equal parts passive and aggressive He said "If that's the case then brother help me flash the message"
The fish are displaying passive and aggressive behavior, and one fish is asking for help to spread a message


Please don't tap on the glass, water augments that tap to a crash "Here fishy fishy" is a bad forecast First tap never once double as the last
Tap on the aquarium glass cautiously since taps can result in a loud crash, and the fish do not enjoy being called by their names repeatedly


Today a creature with a body like mine drifted by Said "please don't tap on the glass, mm hi"
A sea creature similar to me passed by and requested not to be tapped on the aquarium glass


Urban turban muumuu, mama vacationing Cow of the sea, worlds outside your window stationing
The sea creature is wearing an urban turban-muumuu and seems to be a tourist observing the world outside the aquarium


Me at my post do I look inside jealously at you wanting out Not knowing propellers slice deli meat, meeting of the mind's eye
Observing the sea creature, I feel envious of its freedom but forget that the sea can also be dangerous


Through the glass, giving thanks for the sea nobody's a big fish in a small tank Do you slow motion float through a confined free rise Or run the risk of getting chopped up to bits outside?
Looking at the sea creatures, I realize how thankful I should be for their sea and for being able to observe such magnificent creatures. However, I still ponder if it's better to live a comfortable life in confinement or take risks by venturing outside


Is there anywhere that you can find a little balance between Small cell prisoner and motor boat madness?
Is there a way to find a balance between being confined like a prisoner and taking too much risk like a motor boat


Does being free mean needing to be open to the sadness Where gentle giants bitter-sweetly half fill oily chalice?
Is freedom associated with sadness, where gentle giants like sea creatures half fill their oily chalice with mixed feelings?


She says if you figure out how to forge your own way When your peepers spy the creepers raise their fingers up please say...
Someone advises to find one's own way with freedom and raise one's fingers if something interesting is spotted


I float alongside flotsam caked in bad algae I deep throat choke spirulina collard greens
I float along with debris and bad algae, and feel choked up by spirulina collard greens


Land barracuda breed quicker than the water ones Brand name spawn slaughter estee launder collage funds
Land barracudas breed quicker than the sea ones, while branded fisheries earn a lot of money


Nobody want a lesson in the sleepy lesser species They want a hot pretzel and a seat at the penguin feeding
People are interested in entertainment rather than learning about lesser-known species


Little fingers dodge the slimy cukes here in the touch tank No one gives us bottom feeders so much as a "yo thanks"
People might interact with touch tanks but rarely show appreciation for bottom-feeders


I jump sharks too, not the kind that sink a fang in The kind that make the people closest to you think you're Satan
I take chances like jumping over obstacles but people close to me might judge me negatively


So escaping through a cradle of accumulated plankton To a man without his floating petty frankly sounds amazing
Escaping towards an accumulated plankton mass without judgment sounds relieving


Change my charlie tune can open water entry cod chop Sic balls, surface dive butterfly, belly flop, Hooked by a line or by a crabby pot drop If it gets too heavy trim a little jetsam off the top
Taking risks like changing behavior can lead to opportunities, but also come with consequences like getting hooked by a fishing line or crab pot. However, trimming down burdens can make it easier to deal with the consequence




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@MellieWishes

Please don't tap on the glass

[Aesop Rock]
Just this morning I heard a prehistoric mass
In a river water tank utter
"Please don't tap the glass, thanks."
"Hold a moment." told him
"As an overgrown oaf in a coat of exposed bone you are not afloat alone"
1
Choked up, poking his nose in the moat, cold
"We have all known combing
Gross mouths foaming
Dough down
Particles of broken code
Exploding in a chip and soda coma
Slowly overdosing"
Rovers opposite the jellyfish and stars
"You were jelly on the colors and regenerating arms
Set to entertain a couple thousand suckers for a charge
And you can not shake the feeling you are being fucking farmed
Great fossil, knowledgeable and docile
Dry land's nice but the slants quite hostile --
Here, equal parts passive and aggressive."
He said "If that's the case then brother help me flash the message."

[Hook]
Please don't tap on the glass, water augments that tap to a crash
4
"Here fishy fishy." is a bad forecast
First tap never once double as the last

[Kimya Dawson]
Today a creature with a body like mine drifted by
Said "please dont tap on the glass, mm hi"
Urban turban muumuu, mama vacationing
Cow of the sea, worlds outside your window stationing
Me at my post do I look inside jealously at you wanting out
Not knowing propellers slice deli meat, meeting of the mind's eye
Through the glass, giving thanks for the sea where nobody's a big fish in a small tank
Do you slow motion float through a confined free rise
Or run the risk of getting chopped up to bits outside?
Is there anywhere that you can find a little balance between
Small cell prisoner and motor boat madness?
Does being free mean needing to be open to the sadness
Where gentle giants bitter-sweetly half fill oily chalice?
She says "If you figure out how to, forge your own way."
When your peepers spy the creepers raise their fingers up please say...

[Hook]

[Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson]
I float alongside flotsam caked in bad algae
I deep throat choke spirulina blended collard greens
Land barracuda breed quicker than the water ones
Brand name spawn slaughter estee launder college funds
Nobody want a lesson in the sleepy lesser species
They want a hot pretzel and a seat at the penguin feeding

[Kimya Dawson]
Little fingers dodge the slimy cukes here in the touch tank
No one gives us bottom feeders so much as a "yo thanks"

[Aesop Rock]
I jump sharks too, not the kind that sink a fang in
The kind that make the people closest to you think you're Satan
So escaping through a cradle of accumulated plankton
To a man without his footing pretty frankly sounds amazing

[Kimya Dawson]
Change my charlie tune can open water entry cod chop
Sic balls, surface dive butterfly, belly flop
Hooked by a line or by a krabby pot drop
If it gets too heavy trim a little jetsam off the top



All comments from YouTube:

@poughkeepsieblue

This song is so fucking beautiful.. these two play off each other so well, an this is an amazing match of two beautiful souls.

@theonlybobjoepie

I like how whenever either of them are in the midst of there individual verses, in any song, they both say "hi" together, when ever it comes up.

@Dayglodaydreams

Is your name a Steve Brule show reference?

@arsonistoitx

​@Conner Fields it's for his health, ya dingus. <3

@theneedledrop

Nice!!!!

@jollygrapefruit786

How tf has no one seen your comment lol

@wafiy6368

J o l l y G r a p e f r u i t the melon has his ways

@JEMmusic-sn9qm

How the hell has this comment not been swarmed yet lol

@j3stuh869

Give Dunkey a better rating

@dewanmdurnto3592

Hey Melon! Pls don't tap on the glass.

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