Loosefish Scapegrace

Loosefish Scapegrace is an ‘epic’ in the style of Hope Day, but unlike the latter doesn’t feel thrown-together or disconnected (though it does contain similar war themes). By this point Tim Smith had become a master of huge choruses and anthemic sections of music and these are employed gleefully in the song.

There is a bit of instrumental showing off but for the most part Loosefish Scapegrace keeps this to a minimum and focuses on the melodies and words. Lyrically there is heavy wordplay and substitution, making the meaning slightlymunclear, but there are general themes of war (“Put dirty water in their tea/Join them to the armies”) and power (“I’m a man seeing if I can be a bigger man/And be the big world holder”).

Never once boring, Loosefish Scapegrace was rather unfairly relegated to B-side status. However, it was included on the Cardiacs Live LP and the Songs For Ships and Irons compilation CD.