Comes in Waves

Song Meaning

These lyrics open with a striking image: a boy in a beach town who "never learns to surf." This immediately sets a tone of proximity to potential, yet a lack of engagement. The narrator then frames this as a "perfect distillation" of their own life experience, hinting at a deep-seated feeling of unfulfilled possibility. The emotional core of the song quickly shifts to a sense of internal struggle. The narrator describes feeling "like a lightbulb / When the filament won't glow," surrounded by darkness because "the current's moving slow." This vivid metaphor powerfully conveys a feeling of lost intensity or purpose, raising the poignant question: "Am I losing my intensity / Is that feeling here to stay?" It's a raw, honest grappling with personal energy and drive. Perhaps the most profound moment arrives with the observation that "nothingness and God" can "do each others job" if stared at too long. This suggests a blurring of boundaries between existential void and spiritual awe, where profound silence can be both "holy" and a drift "into space." This philosophical turn expands the central idea of things arriving "in waves" beyond mere physical phenomena, applying it to spiritual and mental states. Ultimately, the lyrics pivot towards a cautious, shared optimism. With the "grip is getting looser" and a sense of collective possibility, the narrator suggests celebrating victories while remaining vigilant: "Let's keep an eye on all our enemies / While we're popping the champagne." The recurring chorus, "It comes in waves," acts as both a lament and a comfort, unifying these disparate experiences into a single, profound truth about life's inherent cycles—a powerful acceptance that all things, good and bad, are transient.