Out of all of the things that go hand in hand with music – we don’t need to go down the whole list – fishing usually doesn’t come to mind first. But contrary to popular belief, there’s always been a clear connection between recreational activities like fishing and the music and entertainment industries. After all, it’s common for fishermen to have music playing while on a boat or a dock trying to catch fish. The connection goes the other direction too with fishing having a strong influence on musicians. Let’s explore this sometimes overlooked connection a little deeper.
Songs About Fishing
First and foremost, it’s amazing to think about the volume of songs that have been written about fishing. Countless musicians have found a way to express their love of fishing in song form. Artists such as Tom Petty have even likened the art of songwriting to fishing, saying “Sometimes you come home and you didn’t catch anything and sometimes you caught a huge fish.”
Brad Paisley’s song “I’m Gonna Miss Her” is about a man choosing a fish over trying to fix his relationship with a woman. It’s not the most conventional approach to songwriting, but it clearly expresses Paisley’s fondness for fishing. Other country singers like Thomas Rhett and Trace Adkins have also written at least one song about fishing.
The list of famous fishing songs goes on and on, crossing a variety of genres. “A Pirate Looks at Forty” by Jimmy Buffett and “Fishin’ In the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are surely among the most iconic songs about fishing ever written. Also, who can forget “Barracuda” by Heart? It’s a great example of a memorable song that people sometimes forget was inspired by a fish.
Musicians Love Fishing
Why are there so many songs about fishing? Well, it has a lot to do with how much musicians enjoy fishing. Most musicians spend large periods of their time locked in a recording studio or living on tour buses playing shows. When they get time off, those musicians tend to favour relaxing outdoor activities like fishing.
A surprising amount of rock musicians have made it clear that they enjoy fishing or have been photographed holding fish they’ve caught. Eric Clapton is a famous fly fisherman while Roger Daltrey of The Who is known as a fisherman who even owned a trout farm. Musicians like Brandi Carlile and Avril Lavigne are also long-time anglers.
Games About Fishing
Last but not least, fishing has influenced many of the games people play to entertain themselves, spurring on new music creations. Casinos tend to operate the same way. A popular draw at casinos proves to be live music or familiar tunes playing in the background to help put people in a good mood. Many casinos also like to offer fishing-themed slot machines and other casino games, including the Big Bass Bonanza video slot game, which is among the most popular casino fishing games. Naturally, most fishing games also have a soundtrack to accompany them, further forging the connection between fishing and music.
Apart from casinos, pubs may also find themselves incorporating the fishing theme. In addition to offering live music and jukeboxes to add to the experience of visiting a bar, most pubs also have arcade-style video games available. Inevitably, at least one of the games will try to recreate the fishing experience.
Conclusion
Fishing has quite simply hooked the music industry, appearing as a motif in several musical numbers, particularly those belonging to the classic rock genre. Granted, fishing isn’t nearly as popular as love when it comes to inspiring song lyrics, but it certainly has made a firm impression on the industry.
