Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Catfish” by Waxahatchee
The song ‘Catfish’ by Waxahatchee tells the story of a woman looking back on a lost love that she never fully understood. She is living with the deep regret of not being able to make things work between them and speaks of the “catfish” as a metaphor for the relationship. The “catfish” she’s speaking of is someone who has sunk to the depths of her consciousness, which could be seen as someone who lies or mislead her.
The narrator looks upon the “catfish” with sadness as she can feel the potential that was there, but was never nurtured and led to a doomed outcome. She reflects on the reality that these things take time and are often bigger than either of them. The chorus speaks of the desire to experience this person and understand them better but things never came to fruition.
The song could be interpreted as a cautionary tale for learning lessons on how far to invest in a relationship before it is too late. The narrator looks back fondly and with regret at what could have been and the importance of growing and learning to open up to others who could know us inside and out. While things may not have worked out for the narrator in the end, she’s left with a lasting impression of the “catfish” and the potential that was left untapped.