Fish by Tyler the Creator Lyrics Meaning – Diving into the Dark Currents of Controversy
Lyrics
Of an eye I can make a white girl look chink
Don’t know what to think, cause last time
I attempted this shit the judge ordered me to see a shrink
Started with the link, contended her to meet me
At the local Odd Future Wolf Gang skating rink
We was uniquely in sync, already fucking and we only met last week
We’re both young, not yet antique
So her mindset was working for my technique
Tell her that I love her and by next week
You can hear her shriek from the gashes in her cheeks
No, I’m not a freak, I am meekly a creep that
Neighbors by the creek say that my house stinks
It reeks of a chic girl, streaks of red, even though all pussy is pink
Oblivion makes obvious seeks
Which makes meats for my obvious feasts
Used to just blot up thoughts, plot and rethink
Now I get daughters and tie them and clink
Got my dick harder than iron and zinc
Now they just rot up, arms caught in the sink
Where they get cut up to fit my physique
Critique my chic in this brand new mink, go
Bitches running round, down, pussy take a trip
Make you strip, got my dick harder than the unzipped
Tyler swiftly slips his dick inside of Taylor Swift’s slit
Round trip in that pussy, here comes a ticket
Film clips popping on that Canon, busting odd mind cannons
On the pill, is he real? Gaza stripping
In my living room, Wolf Gang full moon
I’m assuming mushrooms, I’m a necrolampoon
Not of Charles Mansoon, this fuck is ending soon, because I’m ejaculating
Now I’d like to take this time of day to thank the Mother Earth
Letting the sun shine down on the lake while I fish the waters
Ooh, hide your daughters, hide your sisters, hell hide grandmama too
Cause the fisherman’s raping everybody in the pool, he on the loose, yeah
Got to wash it down, all this gold is fucking bait
Wait until you see the semen swimming, baby
Please not half the hole is great
Morals? Your body’s near that coral reef
It was once upon a time you came home with me
Then the next chapter left you in my teeth
Fill your gills with goo, going deeper than Pacific Ocean
This specific motion makes this hammerhead puke
Got to wear a wetsuit, can’t get seasick
I love when you’re in fishnets, you want me to eat you
You’re fucking wet, fish
Tyler, the Creator has never been one to tread lightly in his lyrical expressions or to float gently down the stream of mainstream music. Instead, he dives into the tempestuous waters of the taboo, often stirring the silt at the bottom to cloud the surface with controversy. His track ‘Fish’ from the Goblin album is a testament to this very style, serving as a testament to his uncanny ability to blend shock value with unsettling storytelling.
Let’s peel back the layers of ‘Fish,’ a song that, on the surface, seems to be rife with graphic imagery and aggressive sexuality, but upon further inspection, holds a deeper narrative on Tyler’s own mental battles and society’s dark corners. It is a tale woven with intricate threads, each lyric a potential clue into the psyche of one of hip-hop’s most enigmatic characters.
Uncensored Rhymes: The Shock Value Dissected
Tyler the Creator’s choice of words in ‘Fish’ may come across as brash or even vile. The visceral descriptions of his sexual conquests and prowess hint at a young man glorifying his own misdeeds. However, what could be misinterpreted as mere shock value may actually reflect Tyler’s raw, undiluted confrontation with the themes of power, control, and the objectification pervasive within society.
The graphic depiction of sexual encounters, intertwined with violent metaphors, points towards a deliberately overstated articulation meant to shock the listener into reflection. Tyler’s use of extreme language challenges the sanitized version of reality often portrayed in media and nudges the audience to question the desensitized acceptance of such narratives.
The Mysterious Allure of the Taboo
Tyler toys with the forbidden fruit of taboo throughout the lyrics in ‘Fish.’ His descriptions cross conventional boundaries and dive into a realm that captures the fascination with the forbidden. The rapper’s portrayal of himself as a predator—or the ‘fisherman’—raping and pillaging at will is both a grotesque caricature and a critical mirror held up to a culture that romanticizes the ‘bad boy’ image.
By invoking revulsion, Tyler forces attention upon the grotesque nature of such imagery, prompting a discussion on the underlying attitudes that make such content both repellent and seductive. He employs the taboo not as an endorsement but as a dark satirical weapon against hypocrisy and hidden desires, suggesting the complicity in society’s collective consciousness.
Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Meaning
Much of Tyler’s work contains multitudes of interpretation, and ‘Fish’ is no exception. Hidden beneath the crude exterior are potential commentaries on fame’s isolating effects, the loss of innocence, and the performative aspects of masculinity. This narrative is Tyler grappling with the volatile concoction of young fame, expectations, and self-identity.
The lyrics also can be seen as a metaphorical allusion to Tyler’s mental incarceration, feeling both devoured by his impulses and the celebrity machine that feeds off his scandalous persona. There’s a duality at play in the song’s hidden meaning—an internal battle between the persona Tyler displays and the individual behind the facade.
Latching Onto the Memorable Lines
Certain lines within ‘Fish’ hook the listener with their bold imagery and rhyme schemes. ‘Film clips popping on that Canon, busting odd mind cannons’ delivers a barrage of both literal and figurative meaning. Tyler suggests not just the recording of nefarious acts but also the unleashing of his unfiltered thoughts into the world—a cannon of creativity and darkness combined.
‘Now I’d like to take this time of day to thank the Mother Earth’—a phrase so shockingly juxtaposed with the verse before it, ties into the complicated relationship Tyler portrays with nature, humanity, and the women (fish) he encounters. It is an ironic appreciation of life’s beauty and fertility contrasts sharply with the destruction and chaos he describes.
Navigating the Reaction: Public Backlash and Defense
Eliciting ire and applause in equal measures, ‘Fish’ is emblematic of Tyler’s polarizing effect on audiences and critics alike. The rawness and seemingly remorseless lyrics were met with accusations of misogyny and violence. Yet, in defense, fans and Tyler himself argue that the song represents a fictional narrative, one that employs shock value as a literary device, not a personal manifesto.
In navigating the rapids of public opinion, Tyler appears less concerned with smoothing over the edges of controversy and more invested in staying true to his artistic vision. Whether as a form of catharsis or as a deep-sea probe into society’s murky depths, ‘Fish’ remains a potent example of music’s capacity to confront, provoke, and polarize.
