Dave Matthews Band – Big Eyed Fish (Busted Stuff version)

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Big Eyed Fish (Busted Stuff version)" Ringtone to Cell

Look at this big eyed fish swinning in the sea, Oh
How he dreams to be a bird,
swoop and diving through the breeze
so one day cought a big old wave up on to the beach
and now he's dead you see
beneath the sea is where a fish should be

But, Oh God
under the weight of life
things seem brighter on the other side

you see
This crazy man decieded not to breath
He turned red and blue purple, colorful indeed
no matter how his friends begged and pleeded the man would not concede
And now he's dead you see
the silly man should know
you got to breath

But, Oh God
under the weight of life
thingsseem brighter on the other side

Oh God
under the weight of life
things seem so much better on the other side

no way, no way,

no way out of here
you see the little monkey
sitting up in his monkey tree
one day he decied to come down
and run off to the city
but look at him now lost and tired lying in the street
as good as dead you see what monkey Does
stay up in your tree

But, Oh God
under the weight of life
thingsseem brighter on the other side

Oh God
under the weight of life
things seem so much better on the other side
No way, now way,
no way, no way out of here

Rain on my dreams
fall away

Send "Big Eyed Fish (Busted Stuff version)" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by A22loudogg


Big Eyed Fish (Busted Stuff version) song meanings
Add your thoughts

17 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I think in this version of the song dave talks about taking things for granted.. a fish coming out of the sea, a monkey out of it's tree, a man wants to live without breathing. Everyone has to look for that something extra to make them stand out and we end up taking the simple stuff for granted.. It also could be related to the struggles that the band went through when they stopped production for the Lillywhite Sessions. The changes to the song could have been Dave's way of saying he felt like a fish out of water or a man not breathing.
    Flag dubd17on January 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have to say I like the other version of this song a lot better. That one is not so much a song about regret as about respecting one's limitations and learning to be happy with who you are, while acknowledging that we are all flawed dreamers and sometimes we just have to take risks. When this version of the song was sung Dave was more of a mind to stress the costs of screwing up. Maybe he was just missing being a monkey in a tree more on that particular day in the studio. We all have days like that I'm sure!
    Flag altbobon May 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i like variety, i do believe that they originaly made as the Lilly White sessions and the band didnt like it so they got rid of it but some how it got on the internet for download and DMB found that so many people all ready had it and they loved it so they rerelased it as Busted Stuff... They are different though
    Flag JoJo11994on December 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is melancholy, somber, and slightly bitter. I like how he says Oh God, under the weight of life, things seem brighter on the other side. I think this is about taking chances and what happens when things don't work out your way. The monkey is tempted with something outside his realm of existence. It's kind of like saying don't some try things in life because you were not meant to do so. If and when you do try, you'll pay in the most terrible way.
    Flag shan4shorton February 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:exactly. people these days (especially young people trying to fit in) are always trying to be someone they arent. if you dont learn anything from this song then you are way to far up your own ass. think for yourself people. others will like you for who you are and not who you think you might be
    Flag Safetyhazardon June 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about people who are trying to be someone they aren't, and trying too hard, and then just being unhappy in the end.
    Flag rigilon June 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Its about a lot more than trippin on the shrooms or anything of the like.. it's about being unhappy with what you have when it's all perfectly fine and is the best for you, but you still arent' happy and in the end you are "f"ed over... hah.. And its about not being happy with your life in the aspect of killing yourself too... aka the man who decided not to breathe
    Flag Ilsedoreon July 01, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i like when he said f***ing in this song. you are right people. it does fit. what i love about dave is he doesnt have to say cuss word after cuss word to get his point across. He finds a musical and beautiful way to say it. But yes an occasional whopper in a song gives a lot of impact.
    Flag Amsieon June 20, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I heard this song was about trippin on shrooms..
    Flag nwomacncheese3on June 08, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I haven't heard the original, but I love the way it's sung and the words themselves. I would probably love it the other way too, but most of the time, I'm partial to how I hear a song the first time. And I don't like to hear cursing in my lyrics. There are better words and ways to express passion in a song.
    Flag LeArtiston March 31, 2003   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain