Waits, Tom - Fish & Bird Lyrics






They bought a round for the sailor
And they heard his tale
Of a world that was so far away
And a song that we'd never heard
A song of a little bird
That fell in love with a whale

He said, 'You cannot live in the ocean'
And she said to him
'You never can live in the sky'
But the ocean is filled with tears
And the sea turns into a mirror
There's a whale in the moon when it's clear
And a bird on the tide

Please don't cry
Let me dry your eyes

So tell me that you will wait for me
Hold me in your arms
I promise we never will part
I'll never sail back to the time
But I'll always pretend you're mine
Though I know that we both must part
You can live in my heart

Please don't cry
Let me dry your eyes

And tell me that you will wait for me
Hold me in your arms
I promise we never will part
I'll never sail back to the time
But I'll always pretend that you're mine
I know that we both must part
You can live in my heart





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Waits, Tom Fish & Bird Comments
  1. p.... ....

    If you are not moved by this song, I can't help you.

  2. L.... C....

    Makes me cry.....everytime...

  3. t.... s....

    What get's me...after crying along so many times, is how Waits is so far ahead of me. This song hits so close to home, but to Waits he probably wrote it off the cuff.

  4. T.... M....

    Tom Waits is an international living treasure...

  5. a.... ....

    Saddest song ever written. Listen to it and think of the person you love most. And it's coming. We can stop smoking and drinking and try to eat healthy. But we'll still have to say goodbye.

  6. H.... 5....

    So beautiful.

  7. A.... W....

    So tell me eh what's the sibbeling song we can await

  8. A.... W....

    You believe it or not, this song turns to reconciliation

  9. I.... 4....

    A whale is a mammal, not a fish.

    Just a small nitpick. Tom Waits knocks it out of the park as always.

    I.... 4....

    Ever heard of a metaphor?

  10. L.... t....

    mastermind epic album must be in a time capsule

  11. A.... G....

    This is definitely in my top ten favorite Waits songs and it's one of the greatest love songs ever written. I listen to a lot of different music, including my first love, classical, jazz, prog and other technically masterful compositions like Zappa, but a song like this just goes to show that great song writing is a skill into itself and doesn't require complexity of technical skills. I listen to plenty of masters of their draft and virtuosos who have never written anything close to this.

  12. P.... T....

    Waits plays a toy glockenspiel in this song, among other instruments (2:43).

  13. J.... J....

    Just don't listen to this in the morning.

  14. J.... D....

    "The ocean is filled with tears."

  15. S.... N....

    "Fish & Bird"

    They bought a round for the sailor
    And they heard his tale
    Of a world that was so far away
    And a song that we'd never heard
    A song of a little bird
    That fell in love with a whale

    He said, 'You cannot live in the ocean'
    And she said to him
    'You never can live in the sky'
    But the ocean is filled with tears
    And the sea turns into a mirror
    There's a whale in the moon when it's clear
    And a bird on the tide

    Please don't cry
    Let me dry your eyes

    So tell me that you will wait for me
    Hold me in your arms
    I promise we never will part
    I'll never sail back to the time
    But I'll always pretend you're mine
    Though I know that we both must part
    You can live in my heart

    Please don't cry
    Let me dry your eyes

    And tell me that you will wait for me
    Hold me in your arms
    I promise we never will part
    I'll never sail back to the time
    But I'll always pretend that you're mine
    I know that we both must part
    You can live in my heart

  16. B.... K....

    classical tom

  17. B.... K....

    soo coool

  18. M.... a....

    the second best love song ever (after 'Ruby's Arms')

  19. B.... C....

    What a beautiful tale

  20. R.... L....

    its an album that grows on you with each listen

    R.... L....

    yeeee...

  21. u.... ....

    I love this song! Does anyone else feel like the clarinet represents the bird and the baritone horn represents the whale?

    u.... ....

    Great observation on sound! One of the many waits songs that fills me with bitter sweet sadness

    u.... ....

    Cool observation dude. That's one of those classical music techniques which sadly most people would never catch, myself included apparently. This just goes to show how sadly music education is lacking in public schools.

    And as a side note, I may not know what they represent (LOL!) but I love the bells and when they come in.

    u.... ....

    are you on drugs

    u.... ....

    awesome point man!!!

  22. E.... L....

    gorgeous album

  23. B.... B....

    Tom Waits be like "Hey miss, I don't think you've broken into heaving sobs quite enough today. I can help you with that. I can dig up forgotten skeletons and make them dance..."

    I've never heard this song.

    Our love story was tragic and staged, at best.
    True story..His name is 'Fish' and my name is (black) 'Bird'.. and my heart is breaking for the second time since I met Fish.

    *shakes fist* damn you Tom Waits!! and DAMN YOU YOUTUBE..randomly sending me HERE! Sadist.

    B.... B....

    Bug Bailey "...dig up forgotten skeletons and make them dance." I love that.

  24. m.... ....

    'Unfortunately I'm more into fish' - I love the lyrics of this song <3

  25. B.... ....

    Been a while since I heard this one... *sigh*

  26. J.... B....

    You didn't mention Tom Waits Old 65

  27. O.... A....

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tomwaits/fishbird.html

  28. v.... g....

    mas o oceano está cheio de lágrimas/ e o mar se torna um espelho

  29. t.... ....

    One of my favourite songs ever. Having said that, a whale is not a fish.

    t.... ....

    @***** you may be sick of American idol, but please don't go silly and dissect a song title and the actual words, and get questionay about it... Tom Waits music is woven magics  of imagery, melody, beauty, horror, and sang from a place of experience, and depth most humans don't truly get these days.. And if you truly hate AI so much, then I invite you to shut up and listen to Tom Waits music.

    t.... ....

    That always bugged me too.

    t.... ....

    I imagine Mr. Waits thought the title "flowed" more smoothly than did "Whale & Bird." Poetic license

    t.... ....

    never let language get in the way of communication

  30. A.... B....

    I know that we both must part
    You can live in my heart

    In memory of my son
    Tom Waits was one of his favorites

    A.... B....

    Your comment moved me to tears. Your son's memory lives on.

    A.... B....

    The beautifull soul floats and glows forever...even more so with songs like this....thank you for shareing such a song lass...

    A.... B....

    that line brought me here as well <3

    A.... B....

    God bless your soul..

  31. B.... A....

    automatic sea of tears

  32. M.... a....

    My equal favourite (along with three other Tom songs - 'Fawn', 'Ruby's Arms' and 'Kentucky Avenue') song ever.

    M.... a....

    Also three of my top Tom songs. Good musical taste, you have. :-)

    M.... a....

    Ok given how much this song, fawn, and ruby's arms break my heart I'll have to go check out kentucky avenue. Pray for me.

  33. R.... L....

    ... but a mammal

  34. R.... T....

    And you are NOT a music critic. See what I did there?

  35. p.... ....

    Adam Monica Amber Tasha


    for you my special

  36. L.... M....

    To my lost love...had it actually come together, we would have destroyed each other, but you are always the fish to my bird.

  37. M.... R....

    amore.. <3

  38. h.... ....

    I know of only one other master story teller, but you are right, nothing can compare to the things Tom Waits does or how he does them.

  39. L.... ....

    the story of my life. :´( i ´m that bird

  40. D.... ....

    Avett Nation

  41. b.... i....

    That feel when no Liz

  42. S.... ....

    A master storyteller..the incomparable Mr. Waits. This song tugs at the heart.