Waves

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of relentless internal pressure and a cycle of self-deception. The narrator feels a constant sense of obligation, admitting to "obsessin' and obsessin'" with no "time for restin'." This feeling is so pervasive that everyday brings a new "lesson," and the narrator seems to confess that "every lie makes a good confession," suggesting a pattern of rationalizing or even embracing their own dishonesty as a coping mechanism. The central tension lies in the narrator's struggle with this cyclical pressure and the potential for change. They acknowledge the common saying that "lightning doesn't strike twice," yet immediately counter it with "Nothing is impossible" and "Anything is possible." This creates a push-and-pull between fatalism and hope, a feeling that despite the predictable nature of their struggles, a breakthrough might still occur, even if "Life won't change tonight." The most striking lyrical device is the repeated motif of "waves" and things "coming around again." This imagery powerfully conveys the overwhelming, uncontrollable nature of the narrator's emotional state or circumstances. The repetition of "It comes in waves, it comes in waves" emphasizes a sense of being submerged and tossed about by forces beyond their immediate control, while "It's coming around again" reinforces the feeling of an inescapable, recurring pattern. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw portrayal of internal conflict and the cyclical nature of struggle. The narrator doesn't offer easy answers but instead captures the exhausting feeling of being caught in a loop, oscillating between resignation and a flicker of defiant possibility. The simple, repetitive structure mirrors the very cycle it describes, making the listener feel the relentless ebb and flow of the narrator's experience.