Wave
Beck Lyrics


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I move away from this place
In the form of a disturbance
And enter into the world
Like some tiny distortion

If I surrender
And I don't fight this wave
I won't go under
I'll only get carried away

Wave
Wave
Wave

Isolation
Isolation




Isolation
Isolation

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Beck's song "Wave" speak about abandoning one's current state and becoming a part of the world in a new way. The idea is expressed through the metaphor of a wave. The lyrics suggest that sometimes, there is a disturbance that pushes us away from our current state, urging us to enter the world in a new way that might be uncomfortable initially. However, if we surrender to this wave and don't resist it, we won't go under or drown in it. Instead, we will just get carried away to a new state, just like a wave.


The chorus of the song consists of the repetition of the word "wave" three times followed by "isolation" repeated four times. The repeated use of "isolation" in the chorus highlights the idea that it is possible to feel alone even in the midst of a new situation or a different state. The use of the word "wave" repeatedly in the chorus is intended to create a sense of transformation and rebirth.


Overall, the lyrics of "Wave" convey a sense of hope and liberation, urging listeners to embrace change and letting go of their fears of losing control.


Line by Line Meaning

I move away from this place
I am leaving my current location


In the form of a disturbance
My departure causes a disruption or disturbance


And enter into the world
I am entering a new environment or situation


Like some tiny distortion
My presence in this new place is small and insignificant


If I surrender
If I give in or let go


And I don't fight this wave
And do not resist the challenges that come my way


I won't go under
I won't fail or be defeated


I'll only get carried away
I'll be swept up by the momentum of the experience


Wave
A reminder of the unpredictable nature of life


Wave
A call to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come our way


Wave
A recognition of the powerful forces at play in our lives


Isolation
A contrast to the previous themes of movement and engagement


Isolation
A reminder of the potential for loneliness and disconnection in life


Isolation
A reflection on the need for balance between solitude and social interaction


Isolation
A contemplation on the deeper meaning of the human experience




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BECK HANSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

pifie

I think this whole album is about getting prepared to die, and all that

In Morning , he acknowledges what he's seen about the world, and wishes to live again like pushing a reset button, and admitting death is a possibility - not running away from that idea.
In Heart is a drum, he's tired from what is expected about him from people, and wishes to be freed from it
In Say goodbye, he figures how can he say goodbye from life to the rest of the people so they don't get upset when he 'sleeps the eternal sleep'.
In Blue moon, he's again, tired, but struggling with the experience of death, as it is a journey he can travel only alone.
In Unforgiven, he tells someone that he'll be expecting him/her at 'the end of the tunnel' (if that is the experience of death), and that he/she has to go for 'the light' at the end. That's the 'unforgiven' place.
In Wave (this song), he's started noticing he's dying indeed, seeing his life in retrospect and checking what his intention has to do with the process of death. He has to stop trying to avoid it to avoid some bad experience
In Don't let it go, he says that 'faults' are there for a reason and are not really 'sins': you don't have to deny them.
In Blackbird chain, he says that even with reason and criticism, he never gave up on the idea of a god, when confronted with an experience he associates with it
In Phase,  he's into the process of death itself, past whatever previous stages there are, he's onto the next phase.
In Turn away, he's embracing his new type of existence, not getting affixed to whatever he previously knew, his memories, admitting a dreamlike experience... or just a rebirth.
In Country down, he looks at existence outside an experience of a fixed time frame and fixed to a body, seeing centuries as nothing and whole places as tiny. He criticizes the importance he put to that things (contrary to 'Morning' in a mild way)
In Waking light, he notices he now has reborn as another person (not a baby), so that now his previous memories serve no purpose and make no sense, being different from what he has felt as home.
In Defriended, he's starting to live his new life as whatever each day brings, giving up whatever he recalled of the death experience.
In I won't be long, he recognizes a pattern in life where we make our collective lifes worse for no good reason, since it makes no sense in the long run
In Gimme, he subsides to the widespread anxiety and avarice of society, mindlessly.
In Spiral staircase, he already is involved in wasting time in doing whatever is possible (as we all do), to do stuff in order to entertain ourselves and forget all the existentialism around, mostly like the reverse of the start of the album. In his situation, he's at the same situation as we are now, running away from the thought of death without even noticing we do that.

If you see, it starts with Cycle, telling that it's all a cycle we all go through: we live, die, have this weird death experience, get reborn, and forget it, starting over.

Maybe I'm utterly wrong. Since I doubt any interviewer will ask Beck if this album is about death, or even if someone did... I doubt Beck would answer for sure, we'll never know. Nevertheless, poetry is mostly never about literal meaning. To me, the fact that it can be about such a widespread thing (death), that touches upon the meaning of everything we do... it's why many of us got hooked to this album that doesn't seem to be too poppy or the like in the first place.

In your opinion, how wrong am I?



All comments from YouTube:

Diane Rinella

This song is an experience, not just a song. Beautiful.

lord bawnchie

U said it best

Mia Lehmann

This song is absolutely beautiful! It completely captures the sense of melancholy and yet, is slightly hopeful... Just beautiful <3 

78LedHead

I think you nailed this entire album, even the title. Mourning Phase turns to (a new) morning phase. Death and rebirth, which is the pattern of everything.

Amanda Mc

Perfect

Jenkins. JPEG

this song captures all the emotions in my life right now, sadness, hope, indifference, and isolation from everything. just wow.

PHenn

Relevant today.

Claudionor Victoria Junior

@Audriana Pequeno
this song is part of the last episode of the Lenox Hill series. Amazing !

Audriana Pequeno

An even more so now, in the age of COVID-19

Brandon Owens

No, he has not lol

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