Starfish Songwriters
The Sandbox => MP3 songs for Review/Critique => Topic started by: John Voorpostel on June 13, 2026, 01:35:23 pm
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I"m not sure what the stinkin fish line is about. I think I know, but don't think anyone wants to "sing" that.
Can you tell me what this song is supposed to be about>? Is it like rage against the machine or something? Sorry, I'm a country writer, so I might be lost here.
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Hi John!
My thought:
The lyric is about some powerful dictator who does everything his own way, and refuses to accept failure?
I think Rob’s original, might be less cluttered (as couch indicated), if the pronoun is changed from I to he. So then it becomes the singer telling a tale of the dictator’s authoring his own captivity.
In Dylan’s release lyric, the singer knows very clearly of being captive, and longs to be freed.
I thought of the Who song, Behind Blue Eyes, where the singer knows full well of his capture, and has an evil plan to free himself…..here the I pronoun works.
Your rewrite, has the singer confront the dictator directly….that works I think.
Bill
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Rob B posted a lyric "Captured" earlier that I commented on with a suggested direction, which I have now fleshed out further.
Thought I'd listen to Couch to and keep it short LOL
Been working on music and may have something but it is premarure for that
Rob + whoever have at her. Red..need more furniture? Bill?
I'm hearing a Bowie "Big Brother" in someone to save us.....
There's also the obvious Leonard Cohen line lift that I really like that anchors this
No Name Yet
There's no crack in the wall where the light gets in
When you plaster it over however you can
Don't dirty your hands when useful idiots will do
Whatever you want them to
In a darkened room where truth is alone
With a bitter grifter out picking bones
See how it is, Acton told us the truth
Whatever comes out of you
Called for a saviour, someone to follow
Promised so much we need no longer swallow
Now with no choice amongst stinking fish
Sad to hear you say that it’s the best that there is
Called for a saviour, someone to follow
You said it was easy, it turned out all hollow
Now there’s no choice amongst stinking fish
Except not to eat it anymore as it is
Guess you really can't help it when you’re captured inside
Plastered the cracks that let in the light
Called for a saviour, someone to follow
Promised so much we need no longer swallow
Now with no choice amongst stinking fish
Sad to hear you say that it’s the best that there is
Called for a saviour, someone to follow
You said it was easy, it turned out all hollow
Now with no choice amongst stinking fish
Except not to eat it anymore as it is