Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian musician and record… Read Full Bio ↴Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian musician and record producer from New Westminster, British Columbia. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist, in which his work usually leans more towards a progressive metal style.

After performing in a number of metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, Townsend was discouraged by what he found in the music industry, and vented his anger on a solo album released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band under the name, and released the critically acclaimed City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent record label, HevyDevy Records. Townsend's solo albums, a diverse mix of hard rock and progressive metal, have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians. In 2002 he formed The Devin Townsend Band, a dedicated lineup which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases.

In 2007, Townsend disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began work on a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, with each album written in a different style. The first two entries in the series, Ki and Addicted, were released in 2009. Townsend scheduled tours throughout Australia and North America in 2010 in support of the albums, and released the next two, Deconstruction and Ghost, in 2011.

Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.

Seventh Wave
Devin Townsend Lyrics

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Running away, running away
Running away forever
It was her only chance of finding home
Running away, running away
Running away together...
With only thoughts of finding home

I'll wait for the ocean to rise up

And meet me as it rose up before
(I'll know the time)
I'll wait for the ocean to rise up
And greet me as it rose up before
(I'll know the year)

Because you're never alone
...Even when you're alone
You're never alone...
Watch the seventh wave

Running away, running away
Running into the weather
With only thoughts of finding home
Running away, running away
Running away forever
I realize I'm on my own

On my way pass it on
On my way pass it on

I'll wait for the ocean to rise up
And meet me as it rose up before
(I'll know the time)
I'll wait for the ocean to rise up
And greet me as it rose up before

We're never alone

Even when you're alone
We're never alone... watch the ocean

Overall Meaning

In "Seventh Wave," Devin Townsend sings about running away from something towards the idea of finding home. The first verse clearly sets the theme of running away from something, which is the only chance the character has of finding home. In the second verse, the character accepts the fact that they are on their own while running away from the weather. There is something that the character is after, and it's expressed in the phrase "only thoughts of finding home."

The chorus of the song is the most memorable part as it reminds us that even when we feel alone, we are never truly by ourselves because someone is watching over us. The seventh wave, which is alluded to in the lyrics, is a massive wave that comes after six smaller waves. According to an ancient belief, the seventh wave is the most significant, and everyone should watch it. The song encourages listeners to watch this wave and understand that they are never alone in the face of life's challenges.

Overall, "Seventh Wave" is a contemplative song about what it means to find home and the importance of understanding that others are watching over us, even in the face of loneliness. It's a hopeful message that encourages us to watch for the seventh wave and to understand that we are never truly alone.

Line by Line Meaning

Running away, running away
Fleeing from something and trying to escape from reality

Running away forever
Planned escape to cut ties with the past

It was her only chance of finding home
Leaving was the only way to discover a sense of belonging

Running away together... With only thoughts of finding home
Finding a home was the only priority even if it meant committing to it with someone else

I'll wait for the ocean to rise up
Hopeful for the opportunity to start anew

And meet me as it rose up before (I'll know the time)
Hoping for signs of when time is ripe for new beginnings

And greet me as it rose up before (I'll know the year)
Hoping for another chance to take control of life

Because you're never alone
Reassuring oneself while struggling with loneliness

...Even when you're alone
One can create security and peace of mind simply by being aware of oneself

You're never alone...
A reminder to hold on to the feeling of connectedness

Watch the seventh wave
Observe the natural progression of things and be patient