Back in '96 I fell in love with a Ska band Reel Big Fish I heard 'Everything Sucks' from a CMJ New Music Monthly CD, and bought Turn the Radio Off as soon as I could. At the time, I had heard nothing like it. I was introduced to Ska/Reggae in high school but the Mighty Mighty Bosstones were really all I knew, and were heavier and less sophomoric. I had listened to a little Bob Marley but at the time, that seemed so far removed for me. The tracks were incredible. For the album, I have every track rated with 5 stars in my iTunes. It's excellent on the disc, it's excellent live, and the songs just get in your head. One song for example, 'Nothin', it's simple, it's fast, it's repetitive, BAM it's done.
Lyrics for 'Nothin' by Reel Big Fish
everytime i try so hard i get
nothin' (nothin')
they say try and you won't fail, i
get nothin' (nothin')
i did all that i could i got nothin'
(nothin')
i tried so hard, for nothin' (nothin')
i never wanted it that way, guess
there was nothin' i could say
i don't know what i want. but i know
i don't want this
i give up, i give in, i know i'm
never gonna win
i know it's really not your fault
i'm gonna blame you anyway
you say you're sorry, but i know it
won't do no good
i give up, i give in, i know i'm
never gonna win.
nothin' (nothin')
they say try and you won't fail, i
get nothin' (nothin')
i did all that i could i got nothin'
(nothin')
i tried so hard, for nothin' (nothin')
i never wanted it that way, guess
there was nothin' i could say
i don't know what i want. but i know
i don't want this
i give up, i give in, i know i'm
never gonna win
i know it's really not your fault
i'm gonna blame you anyway
you say you're sorry, but i know it
won't do no good
i give up, i give in, i know i'm
never gonna win.
after a modulation around 1:20 the excellent part b follows
i don't $#&%!# care,
i don't $#&%!# care
i don't $#&%!# care, anymore
i don't $#&%!# care, anymore
i don't $#&%!# care,
i don't $#&%!# care
i don't $#&%!# care anymore
i don't $#&%!# care anymore
it's gonna be all right
i don't $#&%!# care,
it's gonna be all right
i don't $#&%!# care
it's gonna be all right
i don't $#&%!# care anymore
i don't $#&%!# care anymore
cause i don't $#&%!# care
cause i don't $#&%!# carecause i don't $#&%!# care anymore
cause i don't $#&%!# care
cause i don't $#&%!# care
cause i don't $#&%!# care anymore
Now imagine yourself in a foreign country away from your friends, and you have this song stuck in your head. The second half only. And the folks you are hanging out with ask you to sing what you know. What would you do? I did what I was asked and sang what I remembered, but no luck. I have no idea why they didn't know it or walked away laughing at me??
A live version of 'Nothin' by Reel Big Fish from YouTube (EXPLICIT)
More on Reel Big Fish later this summer... they're definitely a summer band!!
Enjoy!
Great lyrics. Did Dylan write that?
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoy this ear candy, I strongly urge you to educate yourself. Stop wasting time with the JV stuff, & go to the source & get the Trojan Ska box sets. Or get your hands on some Lord Tanamo, Jackie Mittoo, Carl Malcom, or Maytals.