Dance of the Manatee

"Dance of the Manatee" is a moderately fast song at 110 beats per minute and is written in the key of F minor. Most of the song uses 4/4 timing, with the exception of one measure before the last chorus that uses 5/4 timing. During the introduction the song features a four-chord refrain of F5, B♭5, D♭5, and A♭5, followed by a fill lasting one measure.

The meaning of the song is widely disputed. Some claim that the song refers to the rant on prostitution.[1] In an interview, Fair to Midland guitarist Cliff Campbell commented on the song, saying:

If you asked me....well everybody has a different interpretation for all of our songs, and that's kind of what they're written for, to be open to interpretation. But if you ask me personally, I didn't write it, I've just read the lyrics, but what I get from it is what society views the modern day man as. That's what I get from it... he's the modern day man; he's just being treated how people treat a man that. You know, actually, he's not a modern day man. Because what people want in a modern day man, he is not him. It's just an example of what happens nowadays to people who are polite, kind, and who bend over backwards to help people. It's really like no pride, he's just out there and they're not really looking for him, you know what I mean, and nobody's there to care anymore. That's just what I get from it.[2]

All lyrics are written by Darroh Sudderth.

• Music Video "Dance of the Manatee"

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics