Oh, Penelope
Are you filled with air?
Swallowed oxygen that made you float up?

Is it dropsy?
Where your lungs swell?
It's depressing me to see you struggle.

Oh, Penelope
Are you filled with air?
Swallowed oxygen that make you float up?

Is it dropsy?
Where your lungs swell?
It's depressing me to see you struggle.

I'm treading water with my oars
Glass galleons anchored, ocean's floor
I'm diving down with all my gear
In search of treasure, para me corazon...

Take you to the forest.
Let you feel the raindrops falling down
Seeping through your red scales
Eliminate the faucet
Eliminate the need for water
Replace it with a safe shell

Don't want to see you floating upside down
On the top of the bowl when I come around to visit you

Don't want to see you floating upside down
No, girl
Need you there
Need you there
Need you there
Oh, Release that air

I'm treading water with my oars ( Release that air )
Glass galleons anchored, ocean's floor
I'm diving down with all my gear ( Release that air )
In search of treasure, para me corazon...

Take you to the forest.
Let you feel the raindrops falling down
Seeping through your red scales
Eliminate the faucet
Eliminate the need for water
Replace it with a safe shell



Lyrics submitted by heartattack


Penelope song meanings
Add your thoughts

64 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:You know how in '27 Dresses' Jane say "I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich."
    I feel like that only its a fish. :|
    To me this song from just hearing it right now...
    It's hard to watch you struggle and I am trying to make my way there to help you and when I do I'll take you some where safe but I need you to be there.

    Although now that I think of it.. it is very much about a fish.

    but hey that's poetry for you.. means something different for everyone.
    Flag AlexisLauren5293on August 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song really is about a goldfish that died, but this is my own interpretation:
    It's about a boy who falls in love with a mermaid(named Penelope). They both really care about each other. "It's depressing me to see you struggle". He tries to find a way to solve this problem- "I'm treading water with my oars... diving down with all my gear in search of treasure para mi corazon". He wishes that ther was some way for them to be together- "Take you to the forest, let you feel the raindrops falling down, seeping through your red scales. Eliminate the faucet, eliminate the need for water, replace it with a safe shell. The "red scales" are also something that would have to do with mermaids(golfish are orange, and mermaids have scaly fins).
    It's kind of out there, but that's what I thought when I listened to it.
    Flag kiersten02on January 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think it's definitely about a girl. he just spends the whole song using the metaphor of a goldfish. i think it's supposed to parallel the fact that the girl drowned, so he symbolically portrays her as a fish that swallowed air. note- i think this is the saosin version of the song. the pinback version was probably about a goldfish, but by changing the tempo and sound of the song, the same lyrics can be taken symbolically.

    and for some reason it always makes me think of ophelia from hamlet
    Flag castor11on October 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is one of my fav songs of all time. i'm getting "para mi corazon" tattooed on my foot or hand :)
    Flag phageson July 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yes, this song is deffinetlaye about a goldfish.. or some sorta pet fish. ..i think... :D
    Flag inthabutton July 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its about a fish.

    "Dropsy is a common disease among fresh-water aquarium fish. The name is from an old name for Edema in humans." - Wikipedia.

    this song makes me sad.. i really have no clue why.
    Flag SHAYYx3on September 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"para mi corazon"
    means "for my heart"
    so if you say
    "in search of treasure, para mi corazon"
    he tried to say that he's finding for his love

    i think its not about a gold fish....
    (its only my opinion lol)
    Flag bahobeteon July 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Is it dropsy?
    Where your lungs swell?
    It's depressing me to see you struggle."

    fish don't have lungs!!!
    Flag erkatronon May 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:can someone please tell me what it means by a safe shell?

    my fav =]
    saosin are unreal!
    Flag miszpir8eyezon March 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A) this song is definitely about a goldfish because Pinback sells t-shirts that say "Penelope" with the image of a floating goldfish on them.

    B) I like some Saosin stuff, but both Pinback versions of this song are way better than this version. It's not that it is horrible, but the entire song sounds the same , there is a lack of any emotion
    Flag ehogon January 13, 2008   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