The fish song

Song Meaning

Underscores' "treepside - как ты улыбаешься (the way you smile)" featuring 17 SEVENTEEN, isn't just a quirky track; it's a compact parable about the perils of commodification and the loss of innocence. The song meaning unfolds through the central metaphor of a unique, almost mythical creature – a fish with blacked-out irises and golden scales – discovered just outside the city limits. This creature, nurtured and protected by the narrator, represents something precious and rare, a source of potential wonder and good fortune. The lyrics hint at a deep, personal connection; the narrator shelters the fish even "through the flash floods," hoping it will grow. The core tension arises when the outside world, represented by "the scientists," intrudes, seeking to understand and ultimately control the fish. This marks a turning point, a loss of autonomy as the narrator, perhaps succumbing to societal pressure or a misguided sense of altruism, hands the creature over to the city. The hope is that it might bring luck to the inhabitants, acting as a "mascot." However, this act of surrender leads to the fish's demise; it's found dead, its "silver belly facing up," and unceremoniously kept in a jar, a stark image of exploitation and disrespect. The repeated refrain, "I know you are onto something," takes on a bitter irony in the context of the fish's fate. Initially, it might suggest a sense of shared discovery and excitement. Yet, as the song progresses, it morphs into a lament for the squandered potential and the tragic consequences of misunderstanding. The final line, "Something new," leaves us pondering whether the fish's death signifies the death of novelty and genuine originality in a world obsessed with extracting value from everything it encounters. The underscores lyrics paint a bleak picture of good intentions gone awry, a cautionary tale about the delicate balance between preservation and exploitation.