A brief history of Trout Music: Grimwood's professional musical experience began when, as the precocious teenage bass player, he began sitting in with jazz musicians who had socks older than him. Always the good student, he earned a degree in music from the University of Houston and then quickly landed a position with the Houston Symphony. By that time Idlet had given up his spot on the bench of a local junior college basketball team to pursue a life of rock & roll. It was shortly thereafter that Idlet and Grimwood met as members of the Houston based eclectic folk/rock band St. Elmo's Fire which became the perfect percolator for Trout Fishing in America. As St. Elmo's dissolved in 1979, Trout Fishing in America was officially born. Idlet and Grimwood had become best of friends and musical partners.
Success happens when opportunity meets preparation. After years of accumulating original songs and polishing their performance TFIA was ready when the CD revolution took place. TFIA was in the first wave of artist owned labels (Trout Records) to successfully record and market their own music. Their infectious mix of folk/pop and family music is tempered by the diverse influences of reggae, latin, blues, jazz and classical music. TFIA recordings have garnered three National Indie Awards and multiple Parents Choice Gold and American Library Awards as well as 4 Grammy nominations. TFIA has also expanded their touring territory to over forty states and several Canadian provinces.
Sharing knowledge and encouraging art has become another musical mission of TFIA. In the past few years they have developed a variety of song writing workshops for teachers and students which illustrate how art and music come from the fabric of everyday life. Their willingness to make fun of our most annoying and sometimes disgusting habits in one song then touch our hearts with tender and passionate images of family life in the next is what makes the connection between Trout Fishing in America and their audience so real.
Nobody
Trout Fishing in America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a friend that lives with me,
My friend's name is Nobody.
Nobody plays with me, Nobody loves me.
I've got a friend that you can't see,
My friend's name is Nobody.
Nobody listens, Nobody cares.
He broke the window then ran off to hide.
My mom came out and she asked me,
"Who did this?"
I said, "Nobody."
Nobody believed me, mom said I lied.
[Chorus]
We talk under the covers late at night,
After I have gone to bed,
Turned out the light.
My dad came in and he asked me,
"Who ya talkin' to?"
I said, "Nobody."
Nobody listens, dad says be quiet.
Nobody sure gets me in trouble.
For Nobody I take a lot of blame.
But if Nobody's gonna be my friend,
I sure wish he'd get another name.
[Chorus]
Nobody listens, Nobody cares.
Nobody listens, Nobody cares.
The lyrics to Trout Fishing in America's song, "Nobody", tell the story of a young child who depends on an imaginary friend named Nobody for companionship and support. The child's parents do not understand or believe the existence of Nobody and the child is left feeling alone, unheard and unloved. While playing baseball, Nobody breaks a window which leads to the child receiving the blame for the destruction. Later on, at night, the child talks to Nobody for comfort, but is interrupted by their father who does not understand who they are talking to.
The lyrics are quite melancholic and illustrate a feeling of isolation and lack of understanding. It speaks to the idea of seeking comfort in imaginary friends, and as such highlights the need for companionship, love and understanding in a child's life.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of being blamed for someone else's mistakes. The child takes the blame for Nobody's actions, and in that way, the lyrics raise questions about accountability, truth, and responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a friend that lives with me,
I have an imaginary friend who I talk to.
My friend's name is Nobody.
My imaginary friend's name is Nobody.
Nobody plays with me, Nobody loves me.
Nobody is there for me, I feel alone and neglected.
I've got a friend that you can't see,
My friend is imaginary, he cannot be seen by others.
Nobody listens, Nobody cares.
I feel unheard and uncared for.
One day while playing baseball outside
On a specific day while outside playing baseball,
He broke the window then ran off to hide.
Nobody broke the window and ran away to avoid getting caught.
My mom came out and she asked me,
My mother came outside and asked me
"Who did this?"
She asked who broke the window.
I said, "Nobody."
I blamed my imaginary friend for breaking the window.
Nobody believed me, mom said I lied.
My mother did not believe me and accused me of lying.
We talk under the covers late at night,
I talk to Nobody under the covers when it is late at night.
After I have gone to bed,
After I am in bed and supposed to be sleeping.
Turned out the light.
When the lights have been turned off.
My dad came in and he asked me,
My father came into the room and asked me.
"Who ya talkin' to?"
He asked who I was talking to.
I said, "Nobody."
I replied that I was talking to my imaginary friend.
Nobody listens, dad says be quiet.
My dad does not listen to me and tells me to be quiet.
Nobody sure gets me in trouble.
Whenever I blame Nobody for doing something, I get in trouble.
For Nobody I take a lot of blame.
I take responsibility for the things Nobody does.
But if Nobody's gonna be my friend,
If I am going to have an imaginary friend,
I sure wish he'd get another name.
I wish Nobody had a different name.
Nobody listens, Nobody cares.
I feel unheard and uncared for.
Nobody listens, Nobody cares.
I feel unheard and uncared for.
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cathy Gould
on Pico De Gallo
Written ny Emily Kaitz and Marilyn Cain