Waves
Canyon City Lyrics
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We went with the breeze
I bet on your blue eyes
You set for my green
We moved with the water
The tumble and sway
The slow dance gets harder
So now I'm out drifting away
What can I say
You're barely listening, asleep in
The shade of tidal waves
Someone throw a lifeline
I don't want to drown
I can't hold you closer without just sinking down
Once I'm safe from the deep you're the waves at my feet that just keep pulling me out
By the power of the moonlight, when the tide comes around
You think that I worry about
What I can't see but fear
The truth's always blurry somehow
We still hear these heartbeats clear
And yours might be steady now, yeah yours could be true
Mine's always heavy with doubt
Like the current dragging on you
Someone throw a lifeline
I don't want to drown
I can't hold you closer without just sinking down
Once I'm safe from the deep you're the waves at my feet that just keep pulling me out
By the power of the moonlight, when the tide comes around
Oh when it's gone
I'm right back where we start,
Waves from so long ago come and crash on my heart
All that we were and I dreamed you to be
Shines so bright on the deep and darkened sea
Someone throw a lifeline
I don't want to drown
I can't hold you closer without just sinking down
Once I'm safe from the deep you're the waves at my feet that just keep pulling me out
By the power of the moonlight, when the tide comes around
"Canyon City" is making use of oceanic imagery in "Waves," describing a tumultuous relationship between two people who are at odds with each other. The song begins with a picture of a clandestine escape, as the two depart "under the moonlight" and "with the breeze." The reference to betting on blue eyes amplifies the sense of risk and passion in the relationship. As they move ahead, the sensations are described as a "slow dance," which becomes more difficult as they drift farther apart. The singer feels that while the other person is still "barely listening" and even dozing off, they are being pulled away by the surging tide of their emotions.
As the song proceeds, it becomes clear that the relationship is at risk of drowning, but that the singer struggles to let go. The singer is looking for a "lifeline" that will keep them from drowning, but at the same time, they don't want to lose their connection. The lyrics illustrate the turmoil that can come from trying to hold on to something that is slipping away.
In summary, "Waves" employs powerful imagery to portray a stormy, challenging relationship. The singer plays with the ocean as a metaphor, which heightens the sense of uncertainty and riskiness in love.
Line by Line Meaning
We left under moonlight
We departed from our place under the moon's light
We went with the breeze
We moved alongside the wind's natural flow
I bet on your blue eyes
I placed my trust in your blue eyes, believing in your words
You set for my green
You made a plan with me, despite my inexperience
We moved with the water
We traveled in cohesion with the water's movements
The tumble and sway
The unsteady and fluctuating movement of the water carried us
The slow dance gets harder
As time passes, the journey becomes more difficult and strained
As level shorelines fade
The recognizable and predictable boundaries disappear and become unknown
So now I'm out drifting away
I am now aimlessly moving away from you
What can I say
I don't have the words to express my feelings
You're barely listening, asleep in
You're not taking my concerns seriously, you're inattentive
The shade of tidal waves
The shadow of immense and overpowering waves
Someone throw a lifeline
I need someone to help me out of this situation
I don't want to drown
I don't want to succumb to the overwhelming feelings
I can't hold you closer without just sinking down
I can't fully invest in our relationship without it taking a toll on me
Once I'm safe from the deep you're the waves at my feet that just keep pulling me out
After I have overcome my struggles, you still have the power to pull me back in
By the power of the moonlight, when the tide comes around
When the natural forces align in our favor, we can overcome our hardships
You think that I worry about
You believe that I am anxious about
What I can't see but fear
The unknown and unseen things that I am afraid of
The truth's always blurry somehow
The reality of the situation is never clear
We still hear these heartbeats clear
We can still feel the strong connection between us
And yours might be steady now, yeah yours could be true
Your heart may be stable and faithful at this moment
Mine's always heavy with doubt
My heart is always burdened with skepticism
Like the current dragging on you
Like the water's force pulling on you, my doubts weigh me down
Oh when it's gone
When our relationship is over
I'm right back where we start,
I am back to the beginning, where we first started
Waves from so long ago come and crash on my heart
Memories from our past come flooding back and affect me emotionally
All that we were and I dreamed you to be
The ideal version of us that I imagined and yearned for
Shines so bright on the deep and darkened sea
That vision is still bright and fresh in my mind, despite being in a darkness and uncertainty
Contributed by Brooklyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.