Anatomy of a Tidal Wave
Cold Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's when my world comes down
You want to change the little ways
Tomorrow's another start but it looks like everyday
You can't imagine how
I wish that you could be the one
Inside you're not the same but you look like everyone

It's like a tidal wave that runs to take a start
A hurricane that wrapped around that heart
If I could find a way I'd make a brand new start
I can believe it was the calm that killed the storm

Inside you broke my heart
And took a little piece of me
Maybe one day we'll try again
But it won't ever be the same
If I don't hold on now everything fades and slips away
Tomorrow's another start but it looks like everyday

It's like a tidal wave that runs to take a start
A hurricane that wrapped around that heart




If I could find a way I'd make a brand new start
I can believe it was the calm that killed the storm

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cold's "Anatomy of a Tidal Wave" speak to the feelings of anxiety and confusion that can come from a tumultuous relationship. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer feeling like their world is falling apart. They acknowledge that everyday feels like the same struggle and express a desire for change.


The chorus seems to describe the turbulent emotions that come with a complicated relationship. The tidal wave and hurricane metaphors evoke the sense of overwhelming power and devastation that can go hand in hand with love and heartbreak. The singer seems to be searching for a new beginning, wishing they could "make a brand new start."


The second verse suggests that the relationship has already caused some damage - the other person has "broke[n] [their] heart / And took a little piece of me." Despite this, the singer still holds out hope that they might be able to reconnect with their partner in the future. However, they also acknowledge that "it won't ever be the same."


Overall, the song seems to be expressing the anguish that can come from trying to hold onto a relationship that has become toxic or difficult. The tidal wave metaphor perfectly captures the relentless, overwhelming nature of these emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

It's when my world comes down
The lyrics convey the occurrence of a major change in the singer's life that has left them feeling like everything around them has crumbled apart.


You want to change the little ways
The singer's partner desperately wants to fix things between them by making small adjustments to their behavior.


Tomorrow's another start but it looks like everyday
Despite repeated efforts at starting over, each new day feels like just another day with the same stagnant circumstances.


You can't imagine how
The singer expresses their inability to truly understand why the relationship has deteriorated.


I wish that you could be the one
The singer desires for their partner to provide stability and become the supportive presence that the singer needs in their life.


Inside you're not the same but you look like everyone
The partner may appear to conform to society's expectations, but their inner turmoil prevents them from being truly present and supportive in the relationship.


It's like a tidal wave that runs to take a start
The singer compares their emotional turmoil to a massive surge of water that is taking over and beginning to overwhelm them.


A hurricane that wrapped around that heart
The singer compares the emotional turmoil to a storm that has surrounded their heart and left them feeling trapped and unsteady.


If I could find a way I'd make a brand new start
The singer expresses a deep desire to start over and end the emotional turmoil that they are experiencing.


I can believe it was the calm that killed the storm
The singer acknowledges that the temporary lulls in the emotional turmoil did not solve anything, and instead may have been the reason that the issues continued and worsened.


Inside you broke my heart
The singer communicates that their partner's actions or behavior have left them feeling deeply hurt and damaged on the inside.


And took a little piece of me
The singer feels that their partner's actions have chipped away at their sense of self and left them feeling incomplete or broken.


Maybe one day we'll try again
The singer holds out hope that the relationship can be repaired in the future, despite the current issues.


But it won't ever be the same
The singer acknowledges that the relationship can never return to how it was before the emotional turmoil began and the damage was done.


If I don't hold on now everything fades and slips away
The singer feels that letting go of any hope for the relationship will cause everything else in their life to fall apart and fade away.


It's like a tidal wave that runs to take a start
The emotional turmoil and associated confusion continue to be compared to a massive, overwhelming wave that seems to have a life of its own.


A hurricane that wrapped around that heart
The singer repeats the earlier line to emphasize the extent of the emotional turmoil and the sense of feeling trapped or helpless.


If I could find a way I'd make a brand new start
The singer repeats the earlier line to reinforce the deep-seated desire to start fresh and put the emotional turmoil behind them.


I can believe it was the calm that killed the storm
The singer repeats the earlier line to serve as a reminder that false senses of security or temporary solutions will not solve the underlying issues in the relationship.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEREMY D. MARSHALL, RONALD WARD, RONALD WARD, JR., SAMUEL MC CANDLESS, SAMUEL ALAN MC CANDLESS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions