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Fish
Wye Oak Lyrics


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They who made you, they made me too
Quiet like you, violent like you
I see you there, wild in my dreams
When you return, go to the sea
Air is your permanent struggle to breathe
When you return, go to the sea

Gone, gone, gone, you were never alone
I'll come home and raise you up to what's left
Gone, gone

Ghost of your voice finally rests
Open your eyes now to all that is left
Don't be afraid now, you won't need me
You'll be at peace now, at last from the sea
You will forget eventually
The life that you wasted that led to the sea

Gone, gone, gone, you were never alone
I'll come home and raise you up to what's left
Gone, gone, gone, you were never alone
I'll come home and raise you up to what's left
Gone, gone

They who made you, they made me too
I see they can make us again

Overall Meaning

The song "Fish" by Wye Oak is a haunting ballad that speaks of loss and the inevitability of death. The lyrics suggest that the singer is mourning the loss of someone close, perhaps a family member, and identifies with them as they too struggle with the same struggles of life. The opening lines, "They who made you, they made me too," suggest a familial bond that has been severed and the singer's need to recognize and make peace with that bond.


The lyrics go on to describe the person they have lost, the pain they suffered, and the dreamlike memories that have been left behind. The mention of the sea suggests a spiritual cleansing and the possibility of finding peace beyond the earthly realm. The repeated refrain of "gone, gone, gone" emphasizes the finality of death and the need to come to terms with its inevitability.


The final lines of the song, "They who made you, they made me too, I see they can make us again," suggest a sense of hope and continuity. Even in death, there is the possibility of new life and new connections. The singer finds peace in the idea that they are part of a larger cycle of creation and that, even in death, they are still connected to those they have lost.


Line by Line Meaning

They who made you, they made me too
The same forces that created the subject of the song also created the singer, tying them together in an inherent way.


Quiet like you, violent like you
Despite their differences, the singer and subject of the song share a duality of nature, with qualities of peace and violence.


I see you there, wild in my dreams
The singer is haunted by visions of the subject, who represents a wild and uncontrollable presence in their subconscious.


When you return, go to the sea
The subject should seek solace in the natural world, particularly in the immersive power of the ocean.


Air is your permanent struggle to breathe
The subject is in a constant state of struggle to survive, particularly in relation to breathing air.


Gone, gone, gone, you were never alone
The subject's disappearance does not erase the presence they had in the world or the connection they shared with the singer.


I'll come home and raise you up to what's left
The singer intends to honor the subject's legacy and memory by preserving what remains of the world they knew.


Ghost of your voice finally rests
The lingering remnants of the subject's presence in the world are at last put to rest, allowing for a sense of closure.


Open your eyes now to all that is left
The subject has a final opportunity to see the world as it remains after their passing.


Don't be afraid now, you won't need me
The subject no longer needs the artist's protection or comfort, having found peace in the afterlife.


You'll be at peace now, at last from the sea
The subject will find true tranquility in the afterlife, free from the struggles of the earthly realm and particularly from the struggles of living with a constant need for air.


You will forget eventually
Even the most powerful memories fade given enough time, and the subject is no exception to this rule.


The life that you wasted that led to the sea
The subject's life may have felt futile or unfulfilling, leading them to the eventual peace they found in the ocean.


They who made you, they made me too
Closing the song with the same line as the beginning underscores the interconnectedness of all life and experience, suggesting that even in death, the subject and speaker remain tied together in some way.


I see they can make us again
The final line suggests that the forces that brought the subject and speaker into existence may also do so again, highlighting the cyclical nature of life and death.




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JENNIFER LYNN WASNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@acialist

I have been searching for this song for 12 years and finally found it again. I have tears in my eyes. I missed this so much and love this so much.

@DeathCreationist

Walking to college listening to this band every day... i remember.

@mokha5695

Me too

@anonmyss

Me three.

@ChiannaNycole

Simply gorgeous. Whoever made this certainly has a bright future.

@MrSTEVIERIKS

FYI: This is not a recording of Wye Oak singing, as they never recorded this song. This is an impersonation by the person who posted the video.

@2hawks2fishes

Thanks! It was a big group effort. I was honored to make these shadow puppets for my good friends Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack of Wye Oak. I made the artwork for their 1st album cover as well. It's always a pleasure to work with them. Thanks for your feedback!

@Sonny_AA

The color of auburn leaves, coolness of the wind and grey skies, -perfect fall weather music.

@kvotheraven

This is perhaps the coolest music video I have ever seen.

@anonmyss

Wye oak just speaks to my soul.

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