Firstly, the photo is not Tom Tally. It is Peter Grant, a pedal steel & dob… Read Full Bio ↴Firstly, the photo is not Tom Tally. It is Peter Grant, a pedal steel & dobro player I toured with. He set this up on last.fm. Now I am here to post the correct photo.
Tom Tally is a classical violist working in the recording industry in Los Angeles as performer and arranger. He has produced circa 50 albums for Vitamin Records under the name Tallywoodstrings. Details of his resume can be found at www.tomtally.com. Influences: rock, classical, cajun, Grappelli.

Something in the Way
Tom Tally Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Underneath the bridge
The tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
But it's okay to eat fish
'Cause they don't have any feelings

Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm

Underneath the bridge
The tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
Have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
And the drippings from the ceiling
But it's okay to eat fish
'Cause they don't have any feelings

Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm
Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm
Something in the way
Ummmmm

Something in the way, yeah
Ummmmm

Overall Meaning

In Tom Tally’s song Something in the Way, the lyrics describe someone who is living underneath a bridge. The tarp above them has a leak and as a result, they have trapped animals that have become their pets. The person is living off of grass and the drippings from the ceiling. The surprising line in the song is “But it’s okay to eat fish/‘Cause they don’t have any feelings”. This line suggests that the person is so desperate for food that they have to eat anything to stay alive, even if it means taking the life of another living creature.

The repeated lyrics of “something in the way, ummm” are unclear as to what they are referring to. It could be interpreted as the mysterious force that led them to this situation or the feeling of being caught in a situation that they can't escape from. Another interpretation could be that the person has found a sort of comfort in their current situation, and the something in the way is what’s keeping them there.

The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is living in extreme poverty, with no means to improve their situation. They are trapping animals for pets and eating whatever they can find, even if it means taking the life of another creature. While there is no clear story behind the lyrics, it's clear that the person is going through a difficult time and is forced to live in less than ideal circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Underneath the bridge
I am living under a bridge

The tarp has sprung a leak
The cover over me is damaged

And the animals I've trapped
I have caught some creatures

Have all become my pets
They are now my companions

And I'm living off of grass
I am surviving on plants

And the drippings from the ceiling
I collect water from above

But it's okay to eat fish
It is acceptable to consume fish

'Cause they don't have any feelings
Fish do not have emotions

Something in the way
Something blocks my path

Ummmmm
I am uncertain or quiet

Something in the way, yeah
I feel a hindrance, yes