Water Fountain by tUnE-yArDs Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Complexities of a Modern Anthem
Lyrics
No side on the sidewalk
If you say Old Molly Hare, whatcha doin’ there?
Nothing much to do when you’re going nowhere
Woohaw!
Woohaw!
Gotcha
We’re gonna get the water from your house (your house)
No water in the water fountain
No wood in the woodstock
And you say old Molly Hare
Whatcha doin’ there?
Nothing much to do when you’re going nowhere
Woohaw!
Woohaw!
Gotcha
We’re gonna get the water from your house (your house)
Nothing feels like dying like the drying of my skin and lawn
Why do we just sit here while they watch us wither til we’re gone?
I can’t seem to feel it
I can’t seem to feel it
I can’t seem to feel I’ll kneel
I’ll kneel I’ll kneel the cold steel
You will ride the whip
You’ll ride the crack
No use in fighting back
You’ll sledge the hammer if there’s no one else to take the flak
I can’t seem to feel it
I can’t seem to find it
Your fist clenched my neck
We’re neck and neck and neck…
No water in the water fountain
No phone in the phone booth
And you say old Molly Hare
Whatcha doin’ there
Jump back, jump back Daddy shot a bear
Woohaw!
Woohaw!
Gotcha
We’re gonna get the water from your house (your house)
I saved up all my pennies and I gave them to this special guy
When he had enough of them he bought himself a cherry pie
He gave me a dollar
A blood-soaked dollar
I cannot get the spot out but
It’s okay it still works in the store
Greasy man come and dig my well
Life without your water is a burning hell
Serve me up with your home-grown rice
Anything make me shit nice
Se pou zanmi zwen, se pou zanmi zwen
And the two-pound chicken tastes better with friends
A two-pound chicken tastes better with two
And I know where to find YOU so
Listen to the words I said
Let it sink into your head
A vertigo round-and-round-and-round
Now I’m in your bed
How did I get ahead?
Whoop!
Thread your fingers through my hair
Fingers through my hair
Give me a dress
Give me a press
I give a thing a caress
Would-ja, would-ja, would-ja
Listen to the words I say!
Sound like a floral bouquet
A lyrical round-and-roundandroundandround
Okay
Take a picture it’ll last all day, hey
Your fingers through my hair
Do it ’til you disappear
Gimme your head
Gimme your head
Off with his head!
HEY HEY HEY HEY
No water in the water fountain
Floral bouquet
A lyrical round-and-roundandroundandround
No side on the sidewalk
Take a picture it’ll last all day, hey
And you say old Molly Hare, Hare
Nothing much to do when you’re going nowhere
Woohaw!
Woohaw!
Gotcha, gotcha
We’re gonna get the water from your house, your house
In the eclectic universe of musical expressions, every now and then a song emerges as a tapestry weaving together the social, political, and personal strands of its time. tUnE-yArDs’ ‘Water Fountain’ is one such melody, presenting itself as a sonic collage that defies straightforward interpretation while beckoning listeners into its layers of complexity. With a vibrant mix of afrobeat, indie pop, and avant-garde artistry, tUnE-yArDs architect Merrill Garbus crafts a track that is as infectious as it is thought-provoking.
Through a seeming nonsensical chorus and potent verse imagery, ‘Water Fountain’ embarks on a journey of juxtapositions and hidden meanings. It speaks to environmental decay, economic disparities, and a thirst for change that goes unquenched in the status quo. What might first appear as a buoyant exercise in rhythm and whimsy soon reveals itself to be a deeply contemplative piece on the dysfunction of modern society. Let’s dive into the lyrical depths of this powerful song.
A Quenchless Thirst for Resource Equity
The repetitive line ‘No water in the water fountain’ serves as a stark metaphor for the depletion of natural resources and the increasing scarcity of necessities in a world racked by climate change and social inequality. This apparent contradiction of a waterless water fountain echoes the reality faced by many who find the well of prosperity perpetually dry. tUnE-yArDs uses this imagery to evoke a sense of urgency and the absurdity of a civilization moving blindly towards a parched future.
‘We’re gonna get the water from your house,’ echoes a rallying cry for redistribution and the reclaiming of what has been hoarded by the few from the many. This line hints at a broader social movement that aims to correct the massive imbalance in access to natural and financial resources. The collective ‘we’ implies solidarity among those left dry and thirsty by the existing power structures.
The Anthemic Rally of ‘Woohaw! Gotcha’
The exclamations ‘Woohaw! Woohaw! Gotcha’ are not only memorable for their visceral, percussive impact but also for their cryptic significance. The onomatopoeia blends a sense of traditional work songs with modern expressions of surprise or triumph. It’s as if Garbus is inviting listeners to partake in a contemporary revolt with the joy and spirit of an age-old festival. The primal nature of these words reminds us of the inherent power found in community and collective action.
The upbeat delivery masks a critical undertone; it’s a sound that celebrates capturing attention, infiltrating the mainstream psyche, and disrupting complacency. It’s a wake-up call to the audience to look beyond the rousing beats to the urgent messages ensconced within.
The Cry of Desolation: A Land and People Withered
Contrasting with the rhythmic liveliness, the verse ‘Nothing feels like dying like the drying of my skin and lawn’ arrests listeners with its bleak imagery. tUnE-yArDs moves beyond mere environmental concern here, delving into the pain of watching one’s surroundings and community deteriorate. It’s both a personal lament and a broader social commentary on the indifference and inertia that allow such decay to occur unchallenged.
The question ‘Why do we just sit here while they watch us wither ’til we’re gone?’ is a powerful rebuke of passivity. The ‘they’ implies a detached onlooker class or even a government that stands by as others suffer—the powerful watching the powerless fade away. In posing this question, Garbus challenges the listener to consider their own agency in the midst of systemic collapse.
The Secret Message Behind ‘Molly Hare’
Amidst the call and response, the insertion of ‘Old Molly Hare, whatcha doin’ there?’ is one of the song’s more mysterious elements. The line alludes to a folk rhyme with origins in African American slavery, hinting at themes of subjugation and the struggle for freedom. The name ‘Molly Hare’ suggests a character who is part of the landscape, an ever-present observer or a coded conduit for subversive thought.
The use of this folk element works to tie the modern struggles depicted in ‘Water Fountain’ to a historical continuum of resistance. It’s a reminder that the pursuit of autonomy and fairness is an ongoing, multigenerational effort that connects us to our past while we fight for a better future.
From Grotesque Imagery to Hopeful Harmony
‘A blood-soaked dollar,’ ‘fist clenched my neck,’ and ‘sledge the hammer’ paint a grim picture of violence, exploitation, and struggle for survival. The visceral language Garbus employs depicts a world where transactions are tainted by inequality and oppression. Yet, in the midst of the misery, there’s an offer of camaraderie through shared meals and experiences—’a two-pound chicken tastes better with friends.’
This pivot towards togetherness suggests that despite the gloom, there is reprieve and strength to be found in unity. As the song climaxes, it circles back to the central theme of community—of finding each other in the chaos and forming bonds that not only endure but empower. The hope is that shared suffering will eventually lead to shared healing, a message both timeless and acutely relevant today.
