The band released a self-titled effort in 1996 following their formation, where Ament and Robb, who met together on a tour where both their main bands played, collaborated on this side project, which combines rock music with mystical-style Eastern music.
The band reformed in 1999 and toured throughout the year in support of their second album, The Quiet Table.
My Only Foe
Three Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She tastes better on the ground
Will it last if I'm alone?
Wise men didn't know, eyes closed
Let go, time flow
My only foe is self control
Can't feel, mind numb
She's better off with ?
Wise men won't know, lost control
Let go, black hole
My only foe is self control
My only foe
I'm taking, you're leaving
My cries talking, she's leaving
I'm leaving, you're taken
There's no grieving when I've taken
Shit's breaking
I'm taking, you're leaving
Who's talking, from all's taken
No reason for your faking
When all's taken
There's no?
The lyrics in Three Fish's song My Only Foe delve deeply into themes of self-control, self-destruction, and the consequences of one's actions. The singer opens with a question, "Can I feel if I own?" which reveals a sense of uncertainty and lack of grounding. The next line, "She tastes better on the ground," infers that the object of the singer's affection (or addiction) is being devalued, both literally and metaphorically. The singer wonders if the relationship will last if they are alone, but then concludes that wise men didn't know - their eyes are closed.
The chorus is a repeated verse that stresses the singer's self-control as their only enemy. They can't feel because their mind is numb, and they believe that the person they desire is better off without them. The singer's demise could only hope, which suggests they might be suicidal or planning their own destruction. The wise men won't know the singer has lost control, and they sing, "Let go, black hole, my only foe is self-control."
The second half of the song features repetitive lines about taking, leaving, and faking. The singer is taking while the other person is leaving, and then they switch roles. There's no grieving when they've taken, and things are breaking down. The lines seem to mirror the chaos and uncertainty of the singer's internal world. Overall, the song is a haunting meditation on the struggle for control and the crushing weight of one's own demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Can I feel if I own?
Do I really feel like I possess something?
She tastes better on the ground
She's more comfortable and relaxed on the ground.
Will it last if I'm alone?
Are the good things in life sustainable without anyone by my side?
Wise men didn't know, eyes closed
Even the smartest people don't have all the answers, sometimes they don't even see what's in front of them.
Let go, time flow
Relax, don't hold on too tight and let time take its course.
My only foe is self control
The only thing I struggle with is controlling myself and my impulses.
Can't feel, mind numb
I can't feel anything, my mind is blank and unresponsive.
She's better off with ?
She might be better off with someone else, but the singer doesn't know who or what that might be.
My demise could only hope
My downfall might be inevitable and something I secretly wish for.
Wise men won't know, lost control
Even wise people sometimes can lose control, and they don't always have the answers.
Let go, black hole
Relax and don't hold on to something that can suck you in like a black hole.
My only foe is self control
The only thing that gets in the way of the singer's success is their inability to control themselves.
My only foe
The only thing standing in the singer's way is themselves and their own limitations.
I'm taking, you're leaving
The singer is taking something while someone else is leaving, implying a power imbalance or an unequal exchange.
My cries talking, she's leaving
The singer is crying out for help, but it's too late, and the person they care about is leaving.
I'm leaving, you're taken
The singer is walking away from something that someone else has taken or claimed.
There's no grieving when I've taken
The singer doesn't feel bad about taking something that someone else had, implying a lack of empathy or regret.
Shit's breaking
Everything is falling apart and nothing is going right.
Who's talking, from all's taken
The singer is wondering who's saying anything about what's been taken since they already have it all.
No reason for your faking
There's no reason to pretend or put on a facade, especially if the singer already has what they want.
When all's taken
Once the singer has everything they want or need, there's no more work to be done or things to be taken.
Lyrics Ā© OBO APRA/AMCOS
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