Sam Recommends: “Penelope” by Pinback

“Penelope” is such a strangely evocative song. I’ve always been intrigued by its ability to make me feel — quite viscerally — the anxiety, trepidation, and impending heartbreak of the singer as he considers the imminent death of his beloved pet goldfish.

And while this might seem like a rather simple story on the surface, I think the reason I connect so deeply with this song is that I can relate to the singer’s desire for control over an uncontrollable situation — the urge to protect, comfort, and nurture those we love in their most fragile moments because it, in turn, allows us to soothe our own fears and insecurities in those moments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn3gfd6FZMo(Song recommendation by Samantha Lamph/Len)