song: Blue Fish
(© 1998/2022 Gudrich/Gudrich)
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Lyrics
I'm a friend of the seagulls
Of the river and the sea
It's the life of my waters
That I need to be free
Oh the godking is mighty
His noble priests are quite fine
But to the calm and wild waters
Belongs all that is mine
And every year our riverbank home is blessed
Every year by the holy Nile's bounty
And we can live, harvest our golden crops
And we can live by the holy Nile's bounty
And we can live among rabbits, cats, birds, bees, fish
And we can live by the holy Nile's bounty
The processions are joyful
And the pharaohs spring song
But when quietly sing my waters
That's when I will hum along
In later times men will build a forceful dam
To quell these ancient waves of life
On barren soil spoilt with a toxic wrong
You're out of balance, yearning, sold
So take my gift I wore close to my chest
Reminding you we can be safe in the elements
My lapis lazuli blue fish, lapis lazuli blue fish
Lapis lazuli blue fish, lapis lazuli blue fish
And every year our riverbank home is blessed
Every year by the holy Nile's bounty
And we can live, harvest our golden crops
And we can live by the holy Nile's bounty
And we can live among rabbits, cats, birds, bees, fish
And we can live by the holy Nile's bounty
So take my gift I wore close to my chest
Reminding you we can be safe in the elements
My lapis lazuli blue fish, lapis lazuli blue fish
Lapis lazuli blue fish, lapis lazuli blue fish
Lapis lazuli blue fish, lapis lazuli blue fish
Lapis lazuli blue fish, lapis lazuli blue fish
Story
In the beginning of this video, Xavi explains what this song is all about.
Mostly written in 1998, this song is an expression of Sabú's long-standing love for Ancient Egypt. Up until the 20th century, life along the River Nile revolved around the annual floods which made the land fertile and bountiful but also required people to accept that they were inextricably linked to and dependent on the elements. The damming of the River in an attempt to control its flows has led to conflict between countries as well as to problems of soil degradation and loss of soil fertility which developed after the completion of the Aswan High Dam, meaning that farmers downstream now have to use (and buy!) fertilisers.
Liner notes:
Xavi: guitar, vocals
Sabú: tenor recorder
Joe: drums
Recorded September 2020 at Material Studios, Liverpool | Engineered and mastered by Jim Power | Mixed by Jim Power and Sabú & Xavi Gudrich | Produced by Sabú & Xavi Gudrich
℗ Gudrich/Gudrich 2020