Badfish

Sublime

About Badfish

"Badfish" is a song by the ska-punk group Sublime from their first album, 40oz. to Freedom (1992). The song was originally released on the band's 1991 demo tape, Jah Won't Pay the Bills and appeared again on the band's 1997 compilation album Second-hand Smoke and Greatest Hits album. It is one of the band's most popular songs. The melody of the song is heavily inspired by "All the Fun That We Missed" by The Ziggens. The song is in the key of A mixolydian.


Year:
2006
2:55
85 

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When you grab a hold of me
Tell me that I'll never be set free
But I'm a parasite,
Creep and crawl I step into the night.
Two pints of booze
Tell me are you a badfish too?
Are you a badfish too?
Ain't got no money to spend
I hope the night will never end
Lord knows I'm weak
Won't somebody get me off of this reef

Baby you're a big blue whale
Grab the reef when all duck diving fails
I swim, but wish I'd never learned
The water's too polluted with the germs
I dive deep when it's ten feet overhead
Grab the reef underneath my bed (it's underneath my bed)
Ain't got no quarrels with God
Ain't got no time to grow old
Lord knows I'm weak
Won't somebody get me off of this reef

Ain't got no quarrels with God
Ain't got no time to get old
Lord knows I'm weak
Won't somebody get me off of this reef

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Sublime

Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1986. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass guitar) and Bud Gaugh (drums and percussion). Michael 'Miguel' Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash". Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996 and Sublime immediately split up. more »

2 fans

Written by: BRADLEY JAMES NOWELL

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Background
"Badfish" is one of the most popular songs by the American ska punk band Sublime.
Composition Date
The song was composed in 1988.
Album Status
Despite its popularity, the song was not part of any studio album but was instead released as part of the band's debut EP '40oz. to Freedom' in 1992.
Related Content
A re-recorded version of "Badfish" was included in the band's 1997 compilation album 'Second-hand Smoke.'
Inspiration
Sublime's lead singer, Bradley Nowell, reportedly wrote the song about his struggles with heroin addiction. The title "Badfish" is a reference to someone who exposes another to addiction.
Legacy
"Badfish" is often cited by fans as one of the resonant and representative songs of Sublime.
Impact
The song's raw and honest portrayal of drug addiction has been praised for raising awareness about the issue.
Popularity Post Bradley’s Death
Despite the death of Bradley Nowell in 1996 due to drug overdose, the popularity of "Badfish" continued to grow, turning it into a cult classic.
Influence
This song helped influence the reggae-rock, or “Beach Rock,” genre, which bands like Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, and Rebelution would go on to popularize.
Tribute
In memory of Bradley Nowell and Sublime, a band called the Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime was formed in 2001. This band's name pays homage to the original song.
Commercial Success
Despite not being released as a single, "Badfish" still receives significant airplay on American radio stations, indicating its enduring popularity.
YouTube Views
The song has been viewed millions of times on YouTube, further confirming its status as a fan favorite.
Covers
Several artists and bands have covered "Badfish". One of the most notable covers was performed by American rock band Jack's Mannequin.

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