Story Behind The Song

The song arose from teaching children whom I observed become so anxious about pleasing others they forget to be themselves.

Song Description

Bopping down the street, a kid reflects on how confused he is because he feels afraid of life, but doesn't know why. Then he meets his friend who tells him not to worry about what other people think, be yourself. How? Just listen to your heart and you'll know who you are. Our hero does, and he gets himself "free to be me!"

Lyrics

A Fish 'Fraid of Water
A children's song

(Boy slams door, stomps out into the street.)


Uh bum ba bodley ba ba ba ba
Da da da dee dee dad a da dee
Ba ba ba ba ba baaaaa
Ba ba ba ba ba baaaaa
Ba ba ba ba ba de ba baaaaa


Verse 1

I'm a fish 'fraid of water
A bird 'fraid of heights
A human 'fraid of people
'Cause people give me a fright!

I'm a world 'fraid of spinnin'
A life 'fraid of livin'
So 'fraid I'm gonna be alone.

Oh no no no
No spinnin'!
Or laughin'
Or livin'.


Verse 2

My friend's not 'fraid of water
He just does this 'n that
He's not 'fraid of people
He knows just where he's at.

He's not afraid of spinnin'
He keeps right on livin'
He keeps on keepin' on his own.

Oh doh dee oh doh
'He's spinnin'!
'N laughin.
'N livin'.


Bridge:

So I asked him to teach me:
How'd you get so smart?
He said the secret's
Here right inside your heart:


Verse 3
(4- Part Chorus)

Ya gotta fly like a fish
Not be 'fraid of crashin'
'N swim like a bird
If that gives you satisfaction!
You'll find yerself spinnin'
Won't be 'fraid of livin'
You'll think you're just gonna fly!

Repeat Verse 3
(Break out Chorus into 4 parts:)

Tenor:
Ya gotta fly like a fish
Not be 'fraid of crashin'

Baritone:
'N swim like a bird
If that gives you satisfaction!

Bass:
You'll find yerself spinnin'
Won't be 'fraid of livin'

Lead:
You'll think you're just gonna fly!

Verse 4

So I flew like a fish
'Cause that's what I wish
And I swam like a lion
'Cause I felt just fi-on
Ran like a house
Roared like a mouse
'Cause that's what I wanted to be!

'N I found myself spinnin'
'N really livin'!
'N I found that I could fly!
Oh me oh my!

I was free free free!
To be me me me
He said see see see!

Bo bo bo bo bodly oh bo
Ba ba ba ba ba baaaaa
Dee dah dah dah da da da
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba bop!

Instrumental from Verse 2 - 4.

Vocalist comes back in on Verse 4 and finishes the song.

Copyright © 2010 Michael C. Slack