What separates a great songwriter from just a good one is their ability to observe the world around them and produce interesting observations–something that will make the listeners nod their head in agreement. Songwriting serves many purposes, but arguably, one of its main functions is to hold up a mirror to ourselves, guiding us along in life. Few songwriters have done that as well as John Prine.
Videos by American Songwriter
Prine has many songs that are rife with sobering, if humorous observations. We’re focusing on just one of them today: “Fish and Whistle.” This toe-tapping song sees Prine take the listener through his life–his first job, time in the army, and more. Uncover the meaning behind “Fish and Whistle,” below.
Behind the Meaning of John Prine’s Recollection of Life, “Fish and Whistle”
I been thinking lately about the people I meet
The carwash on the corner and the hole in the street
The way my ankles hurt with shoes on my feet
And I’m wondering if I’m gonna see tomorrow
I was in the army, but I never dug a trench
I used to bust my knuckles on a monkey wrench
I’d go to town and drink and give the girls a pinch
But I don’t think they ever even noticed me
I been thinking lately about the people I meet / The carwash on the corner and the hole in the street…It’s an opening line that won’t soon be forgotten. It’s a tongue-in-cheek way of reflecting on your life. While the sentiment is very much there, it’s softened with this playful couplet.
In the second verse, he talks about his time in the army. He boils his time in that institution down to drinking and chasing after girls. It’s setting up the titular themes of this song: regret and forgiveness.
Father, forgive us for what we must do / You forgive us, we’ll forgive you / We’ll forgive each other till we both turn blue / Then we’ll whistle and go fishing in heaven, he sings in the refrain. It gives a function to his traipse down memory lane.
In the third verse, he nods to his first job. It’s as humorous as a Prine verse has ever been. See the lyrics below if you need a light-hearted laugh today.
Though Prine masks them with humor, this song is rife with life lessons. We all have moments in our life that beg the need for forgiveness. We all hang our heads and regret things we’ve done in the past. If this song tell us anything, sometimes it’s better to laugh it off.
Revisit this track, below.
On my very first job, I said thank you and please
They made me scrub a parking lot down on my knees
Then I got fired for being scared of bees
And they only give me fifty cents an hour
Fish and whistle, whistle and fish
Eat everything that they put on your dish
And when we get through, we’ll make a big wish
That we never have to do this again again again
(Photo by RMV/Shutterstock)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.