‘Shrinking’: How Ben Gibbard Was Inspired by Scary Fish of the Deep Sea for Show’s Theme Song
variety.comJazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Scary fish lurking in the depths of the ocean served as the unlikely inspiration for the title theme of Apple TV+’s newest show, “Shrinking.” Starring Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams, the series follows a group of therapists as they navigate their own problems along with those of their patients.
Aptly titled “Frightening Fishes,” the theme song — co-written by show composer Tom Howe and Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard — stems from the idea of “letting the wreckage of your life sink to the depths of the ocean and the seas – those unexplored places,” Gibbard tells Variety.
The song’s lyrics — “Help me carry this weight, that’s dragging me down/ Pull me out of the drink before I start to drown/ Let the wreckage all sink to where the fishes are frightening” — serve as a metaphor for the show’s struggling characters.
Ford plays Paul, a charming yet grumpy man who is dealing with his Parkinson’s diagnosis, while Segel is Jimmy, a man riddled with guilt, grieving the loss of his wife while trying to be a cool dad to his teenage daughter.
Read more on variety.com
