Tread Water

Album: 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This surreal children's story set to a Hip-Hop beat features a crocodile sporting a daisy in his hat, a monkey that can't peel his bananas because of a bandaged hand, and a fish swimming in the bathroom sink. Despite its nursery rhyme lyrics, Posdnous told Melody Maker that the track has a serious side to it. "It's saying that when you're feeling down, when you feel like you're drowning, just keep going," he explained. "That's how it was for us, we had to keep striving towards a goal which always seemed to be shifting around. It's a push song and even if it sounds like we're talking to little kids, we're really talking to everybody."
  • The song samples Pennsylvania funk band People's Choice's single, "I Likes to Do It," which reached #38 on the Hot 100 in 1971.
  • The trio came up with the idea for the song in producer Prince Paul's room. "The sample just sounded so happy-go-lucky, skipping, playing hopscotch, the whole walking through the water and meeting animals and crocodiles and telling a story," Trugoy told Rolling Stone. "It's like a children's story. Paul was always instigating our foolishness. When we started talking about meeting Mr. Crocodile, his eyes just lit up. He was like, 'Yeah, you talk about Mr. Crocodile, and you talk about meeting Mr. Rabbit.' So blame that one on Paul."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.