Wade in the Water
Various Artists Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

now when you choose a law career
the moment you embark
there is that joke you're bound to hear
a lawyer is a shark
ignore that
it's simplistic and it's dumb
only some of you will turn out sharks
just some
the rest are chum
our topic is:
blood in the water
kids it's time you faced
law school is a waste
oh yes
unless
you aquire a taste for
blood in the water
dark and red and raw
you're nothing until
the thrill of the kill
becomes your only law
mr schultz
hypothetical question
would you be willing to defend
the following banker
accused of fraud?
a kind old grandma took her savings
and she sent it off to your client
all she saved since she was born
he promised to invest it
but he spent it
on prostitutes and heroin and porn
no I would not want to take that case
wrong!
this one is a win unless you're lazy
grandma's broke
she'll have some hack from legal aid
put her on the stand
and call her old and crazy
your guy goes free
and he can get you high and laid.
look for the blood in the water
read your thomas hobbs
only spineless snobs will quarrel
with the morally dubious jobs
yes
blood in the water
your scruples are a flaw
Miss Hoops
hypothetic question
would you be the right lawyer
for the following client?
say they offer you a bundle for defending
a famous hitman for the mafia elite
seems he missed his chosen prey
killed a nun and drove away
running over three cute puppies in the street
what you think I wouldn't defend him
just because he's a typical man?
oh you lesbians think you're so tough
oh dear
I fear my comment has offended
hard to argue though
when you're too mad to speak
your employment will be very quickly ended
when they see how your emotions make you weak
so what's my point?
I run a billion dollar law firm
and I hire four new interns every year
from this class I will select
four young sharks whom I respect
and those four will have a guarranteed career
do you follow me?
so I wanna see
what?
blood in the water
exactly
let the games begin
four of you will win
but just those four with a dorsel fin
yes
blood in the water
so fight and scratch and claw
yes, miss--
woods. Elle woods.
someone's had their morning coffee
would you summarise
the case of state of indiana v hurn
from your reading?
Oh
I wanted to answer the puppy question
but I'm asking you about the assigned reading
okay who assigns reading for the first day of class?
you have guts, miss woods
miss kensington
let us say you teach a class at harvard law school
a position that you're justly proud about
but a girl on whom you call
hasn't read the case at all
should you let it go or
no, I'd throw her out
alright then
you heard your classmate
you have just been killed
she cut your throat
so grab your coat
yes you've got guts
but now they're spilled
your blood's in the water
so could you please withdraw
and if you return
be ready to learn
or is that unfair
oh wait
I don't care
that's just how I roll
in life and in school
with fear and shock and gall
you're nothing until
the thrill of the kill
becomes your only law
your only law




your only law
blood in the water

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Blood in the Water" from the musical Legally Blonde are a satirical commentary on the cutthroat nature of law school and the legal profession. The song is sung by Professor Callahan, who advises his law students that they need to develop a taste for "blood in the water" to succeed in their careers. He tells them that they need to be ruthless, moral ambiguity is necessary, and they need to disregard their scruples. The song describes a hypothetical situation where a defense lawyer defends a banker accused of fraud who spent the client's savings on drugs and prostitution. Similarly, a female lawyer is offered a huge amount to not defend a mafia hitman who accidentally killed a nun and three puppies.


It is a commentary on the law profession, where morality is always in question, and winning becomes the only objective, irrespective of the cost to the other party. The song is also a comment on the role played by law schools in molding young students and preparing them to become successful lawyers. It points out that law schools and law firms need to discard the mere objective of training lawyers to uphold justice, and instead help them develop a competitive spirit that will enable them to succeed in a practical world.


Line by Line Meaning

now when you choose a law career
When you make the decision to pursue a career in law


the moment you embark
From the very beginning of your journey


there is that joke you're bound to hear
You are guaranteed to hear a specific joke


a lawyer is a shark
Lawyers are often compared to sharks


ignore that
Pay no attention to that comparison


it's simplistic and it's dumb
It is an oversimplified and unintelligent comparison


only some of you will turn out sharks
Only a portion of law students will become aggressive and cutthroat


just some
Only a few


the rest are chum
The remaining students are insignificant or vulnerable


our topic is:
Now let's discuss


blood in the water
The presence of vulnerability or weakness


kids it's time you faced
It's time for you to confront or accept


law school is a waste
The education received in law school is not valuable


oh yes
Indeed


unless
Except if


you acquire a taste for
You develop a preference or appetite for


blood in the water
The vulnerability or weakness in a legal case


dark and red and raw
Disturbing and intense


you're nothing until
You are insignificant unless


the thrill of the kill
The excitement or satisfaction of winning a legal case


becomes your only law
Becomes your sole guiding principle


mr schultz
Referring to a specific individual named Mr. Schultz


hypothetical question
A situation presented for the purpose of discussion


would you be willing to defend
Are you open to representing or advocating for


the following banker
A specific banker who is being accused


accused of fraud?
Facing allegations of deceitful behavior


a kind old grandma took her savings
An elderly and compassionate grandmother saved her money


and she sent it off to your client
She entrusted her savings to the person you would be defending


all she saved since she was born
Her entire life's savings


he promised to invest it
The accused person made a promise to use the money for investment


but he spent it
Instead, he used the money for his own personal expenses


on prostitutes and heroin and porn
He used it for illicit activities and indulgences


no I would not want to take that case
I would decline the opportunity to represent that client


wrong!
That is an incorrect response


this one is a win unless you're lazy
This case has a high chance of success unless you lack ambition or effort


grandma's broke
The grandmother no longer has any money


she'll have some hack from legal aid
She will be assigned an inexperienced or incompetent lawyer


put her on the stand
Have her testify in court


and call her old and crazy
To discredit her, they will portray her as elderly and mentally unstable


your guy goes free
The accused person will be acquitted


and he can get you high and laid.
He will provide you with drugs and sexual activities


look for the blood in the water
Be alert for vulnerability or weakness in a legal situation


read your thomas hobbs
Study the works of Thomas Hobbes


only spineless snobs will quarrel
Only weak and pretentious individuals will argue


with the morally dubious jobs
Question the ethics of questionable professions


yes
Indeed


blood in the water
The presence of vulnerability or weakness


your scruples are a flaw
Your moral principles or integrity are seen as a weakness


Miss Hoops
Referring to a specific individual named Miss Hoops


hypothetic question
A situation presented for the purpose of discussion


would you be the right lawyer
Are you the suitable attorney


for the following client?
To represent the specific individual


say they offer you a bundle for defending
If they provide a large sum of money in exchange for your representation


a famous hitman for the mafia elite
A well-known assassin hired by the top ranks of the mafia


seems he missed his chosen prey
He failed to eliminate his intended target


killed a nun and drove away
He murdered a nun and fled the scene


running over three cute puppies in the street
While escaping, he accidentally ran over and killed three adorable puppies


what you think I wouldn't defend him
Do you believe I wouldn't represent him as his lawyer


just because he's a typical man?
Simply because he fits the stereotype of a man


oh you lesbians think you're so tough
Implying that lesbians believe they are strong or resilient


oh dear
Expressing surprise or concern


I fear my comment has offended
I am worried that my statement has caused offense


hard to argue though
Difficult to dispute or debate


when you're too mad to speak
When one is too angry to articulate a response


your employment will be very quickly ended
Your job will be terminated swiftly


when they see how your emotions make you weak
When it becomes apparent that your emotional state hinders your effectiveness


so what's my point?
So, what am I trying to convey?


I run a billion dollar law firm
I am the owner or leader of a law firm worth a billion dollars


and I hire four new interns every year
I recruit and employ four new interns annually


from this class I will select
Out of this group of students, I will choose


four young sharks whom I respect
I will choose four ambitious and aggressive individuals that I admire


and those four will have a guaranteed career
Those four individuals will have a secured and promising professional future


do you follow me?
Do you comprehend or understand my point?


so I wanna see
Therefore, I want to witness or observe


what?
What is it?


blood in the water
The presence of vulnerability or weakness


exactly
Precisely


let the games begin
Let the competition or challenges commence


four of you will win
Only four of you will succeed


but just those four with a dorsal fin
Only those four who possess the characteristics of a shark


yes
Indeed


blood in the water
The presence of vulnerability or weakness


so fight and scratch and claw
Struggle and compete aggressively


yes, miss--
Yes, addressing a specific individual named Miss Woods


woods. Elle woods.
Providing the full name of Miss Woods as Elle Woods


someone's had their morning coffee
A remark suggesting that someone is alert or energetic


would you summarize
Can you give a brief overview of


the case of state of indiana v hurn
The details and information regarding the legal case between the state of Indiana and Hurn


from your reading?
Based on your assigned readings


Oh
Expressing surprise or realization


I wanted to answer the puppy question
I was hoping to respond to the previous question about puppies


but I'm asking you about the assigned reading
However, I am now inquiring about the specified reading material


okay who assigns reading for the first day of class?
Questioning the practice of assigning readings on the very first day of a course


you have guts, miss woods
You possess courage or boldness, Miss Woods


miss kensington
Referring to a specific individual named Miss Kensington


let us say you teach a class at harvard law school
Imagine that you are an instructor at Harvard Law School


a position that you're justly proud about
A role that you rightfully take pride in


but a girl on whom you call
However, a female student whom you have summoned


hasn't read the case at all
Has not familiarized herself with the assigned legal case


should you let it go or
Should you overlook or disregard it


no, I'd throw her out
No, I would dismiss or remove her from the class


alright then
Very well


you heard your classmate
You listened to what your fellow student said


you have just been killed
You have just been metaphorically defeated or eliminated


she cut your throat
She figuratively silenced or undermined you


so grab your coat
Prepare to leave


yes you've got guts
You are courageous


but now they're spilled
However, your courage or boldness has been wasted or taken away


your blood's in the water
You have become vulnerable or weak


so could you please withdraw
Therefore, kindly leave or withdraw


and if you return
And if you come back


be ready to learn
Be prepared to acquire knowledge or skills


or is that unfair
Or is it unjust


oh wait
Hold on


I don't care
I am indifferent or uninterested


that's just how I roll
That is my personal style or approach


in life and in school
Both in general life and in an educational setting


with fear and shock and gall
With feelings of fear, surprise, and audacity


you're nothing until
You are insignificant unless


the thrill of the kill
The excitement or satisfaction of succeeding or winning


becomes your only law
Becomes your sole guiding principle


your only law
Your sole guiding principle


your only law
Your sole guiding principle


blood in the water
The presence of vulnerability or weakness




Writer(s): Mavis Staples, Judge Kennith Peterson

Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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