Good one Neil. Glad to see you here.

Thanks ...I followed your trail.

Welcome Neil, great to have you here, and Thank You for sharing this lyric.  Haven't we all been in that predicament before, guess the ole bass boat and lake has saved more than one relationship.  Good luck and best wishes,

Speak soon

Hello Neil. Welcome to the Junction. My name's Jenny, but folks around here just call me Jen. Great to have you join our little community.

What I love about this lyric is that when I read it the first time, I thought "bigger fish to fry" was not referring to actual fish, but just a guy saying "I've got better things to do now." Then, in the second verse, it becomes clear that he's gone-a-fishin' there was this moment of laughter as I figured out you had me fooled. I love a song whose meaning develops slowly. Yup, I'm liking this one.

If I had to pick one thing about this song that could be tightened up it'd be the line "Only simply need a break." It's an odd turn of phrase, but I expect that you've got it covered just fine by the melody.   🙂

Jen

Jen. pleased to meet you as I arrive safely LOL
I'm glad you enjoyed the slow reveal.

Cheers

Deacon,
If not a bass boat,  a shade tree and guitar 🙂

Welcome aboard, Neil.

I enjoyed the slow reveal too. This song has that often undervalued quality - charm. We can all relate to what he's saying. I agree with Jen about that one line. "Only" and "simply" seem to say the same thing in this context. How about "I just need a break" or "I just need a little break"?

There's a nice little implied double meaning in the line "She’s wants a fresh coat of paint" LOL.

Will you be putting this to music?

Jen & Gavin
The "only simply" is more just a fun melodic phrase ...I think it will work.
I understand that it seems repetitious
I have started the music...country swing.

Keep in mind that it could be because I'm a foreigner that I don't get the turn of phrase. My comment was more directed at the fact that the song is very conversational, but I have never come across that collection of words in conversation. To me, if the song is conversational in style, then the whole song should read as something that the listener might hear in conversation. But, as I said before, if it works when sung, then all of this talk is moot.

BIGGER FISH TO FRY (Neil Cotton)

(I wondered if switching the Verse I Lines around sets up the situation better, before giving his solution to the problem.)

See ...

She's worried 'cause our neighbour
No longer comes to see her
(I'LL) Havta set her fix it list aside
I'm so tired of her moaning' 
I’m goin’ down the road an'
Find (MYSELF) a chill place to unwind

She wants, a fresh coat of paint
Needs ME to hang, 2 sets of drapes (The alternative 'hang' idea, left by the 'rest' suggested by the comma, could be humorous.)
But my priorities
Are frankly none o' these
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 

I love her up to the moon
But I'VE got handy man blues
(I'M) Not really gonna leave (Lining up the Rhyme-Scheme)
Only simply need a break 
In my bass boat on the lake
Let’s call it a very short reprieve

She wants, a fresh coat of paint
Needs ME to hang, 2 sets of drapes 
But my priorities
Are frankly none o' these
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry.

(Bridge? Change of Melody, Rhyme-Scheme, cadence, to break the Verse/Chorus, Verse/Chorus Repetition.)

The call of a loon, the solitude
The hit on the end of the line
I’M GONNA catch the boss this time (Brief, as a Bridge only needs to be. This break in Repetitions enables a final giving of the Chorus to end.)

She’s wantin', a fresh coat of paint (Alternative idea. Say it the same each time, whichever you choose.)
Needs ME to hang, 2 sets of drapes 
But my priorities
Are frankly none o' these
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 

(Here's a Coda recitation to end the story.)

Better head for shore.
I'm losin' the light.
Out here all day

Without a single bite.
What?
No honey, I didn't catch any fish.
Spaghetti? Sounds delicious.
You'll make it while I hang the drapes?
But, it's gettin' dark outside!
She gives me that million dollar grin,
Makes me wonder, where she's goin',

points at the switch,

and flips the lights on!
I've Got, Bigger Fish To Fry.

Posted by: Gary E. Andrews

BIGGER FISH TO FRY (Neil Cotton)

(I wondered if switching the Verse I Lines around sets up the situation better, before giving his solution to the problem.)

See ...

She's worried 'cause our neighbour
No longer comes to see her
(I'LL) Havta set her fix it list aside
I'm so tired of her moaning' 
I’m goin’ down the road an'
Find (MYSELF) a chill place to unwind

She wants, a fresh coat of paint
Needs ME to hang, 2 sets of drapes (The alternative 'hang' idea, left by the 'rest' suggested by the comma, could be humorous.)
But my priorities
Are frankly none o' these
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 

I love her up to the moon
But I'VE got handy man blues
(I'M) Not really gonna leave (Lining up the Rhyme-Scheme)
Only simply need a break 
In my bass boat on the lake
Let’s call it a very short reprieve

She wants, a fresh coat of paint
Needs ME to hang, 2 sets of drapes 
But my priorities
Are frankly none o' these
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry.

(Bridge? Change of Melody, Rhyme-Scheme, cadence, to break the Verse/Chorus, Verse/Chorus Repetition.)

The call of a loon, the solitude
The hit on the end of the line
I’M GONNA catch the boss this time (Brief, as a Bridge only needs to be. This break in Repetitions enables a final giving of the Chorus to end.)

She’s wantin', a fresh coat of paint (Alternative idea. Say it the same each time, whichever you choose.)
Needs ME to hang, 2 sets of drapes 
But my priorities
Are frankly none o' these
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 
I’ve Got Bigger Fish To Fry. 

(Here's a Coda recitation to end the story.)

Better head for shore.
I'm losin' the light.
Out here all day

Without a single bite.
What?
No honey, I didn't catch any fish.
Spaghetti? Sounds delicious.
You'll make it while I hang the drapes?
But, it's gettin' dark outside!
She gives me that million dollar grin,
Makes me wonder, where she's goin',

points at the switch,

and flips the lights on!
I've Got, Bigger Fish To Fry.a

Thanks Gary the line switch is a solid idea, not quite as controversial and alerting. I'll think on it.
The "me" in the chorus, good
The comma punctuation . LOL
Not really gonna leave...I had that the switched, probably go back
Thanks again for your suggestions.