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Fish Out Of Water

by Simon Scardanelli

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about

Written in my New York Lower East-side apartment in 1993, Fish Out Of Water has become one of my most streamed songs, and rarely do I play a concert without including it in the set.

I released a simple acoustic version in 2005, on the HOBOHEMIA album, but have always wanted to do a band arrangement.
A version was recorded In Brighton in 2011, with my then four piece band, but I was never happy with the results. As I never throw anything away, this year I re-visited the recordings and decided to complete the track.

Adding a flute, violin & accordion to the arrangement gave me the sonic world I was looking for - in my mind's ear I heard a ramshackle Irish bar-band. What has come out of the studio is not that - but perhaps a more lilting, slightly melancholic ballad that, I think, brings the song closer to how I play it live these days - almost 30 years after writing it. After all - "life would be easier if you just settle down...." but hey - that's never going to happen to a restless artist like me… creating art is always a joy, but all too often a painful, demon-battling struggle. Your support is greatly appreciated.

lyrics

Fish Out Of Water

What do you want to be a hero for
You know you'll only get yourself noticed
Sticking your big head up above everyone
What do you want to climb that mountain for
You know you'll only slip and hurt your big toe
Surely there are safer ways to have fun?

Life would be easy if you'd just settle down
Ah but life would be hard without
digging and flying and aching and crying
Like a fish out of water I'd drown.

Why do you want to go to outer space
You know it's cold and there's no cable TV
What are you going to do on rainy afternoons?
Why do you want to go so deep sea diving
Maybe some big fish is gonna eat you
Don't you know they've got them all in the Zoo?

Life would be easy if you’d just settle down
Ah but life would be hard without
digging and flying and aching and crying
Like a fish out of water I'd drown.

Why do you want to leave your home town
all your friends and family's here
I think they’ll miss you
Don't you think you'll get a little lonely too?
Why do you wanna go adventuring it’s not as if there’s nothing here you couldn’t do
Don’t you know we’ve got our own mountains too?

Life would be easy if you'd just settle down
Ah but life would be hard without
digging and flying and aching and crying
Without slipping and falling and screaming and crawling -
Like a fish out of water I'd drown.

Words and Music © 1993 Simon Scardanelli

credits

released November 4, 2022
Drums: Alvaro Hurtado (2011)
Bass: James Stathatos (2011)
Accordion: Christian Lefievre
Flute: David Le Bourhis
Violin: Georges Breuil
Cover art: Bettina Rombout

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about

Simon Scardanelli Merléac, France

Simon Scardanelli is an English singer, songwriter & composer now based in Central Brittany, France.

Currently working on his next album - a folk-opera which he will launch in early 2023.

A great live performer who has toured extensively, available for solo acoustic & amplified concerts as well as in trio with accordion & percussion..
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