Flyleaf is an American rock band, formed in Belton, Texas, United States in… Read Full Bio ↴Flyleaf is an American rock band, formed in Belton, Texas, United States in 2000. They originated as a band called Listen, and then changed name to Passerby, but due to an existing band owning the rights to that name, their name was changed to Flyleaf after they were signed to their record label. "A flyleaf is the blank page at the front of a book," explains Lacey Mosley, Flyleaf's vocalist. "It's the dedication page, the place you write a message to someone you're giving a book to. And, that's kind of what our songs are -- personal messages that provide a few moments of clarity before the story begins".

Their music is a mix of hard rock styles. The band cites influences such as Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana.

Early on, vocalist Lacey Mosley began playing music with drummer James Culpepper. Later on guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya were recruited. "Sameer and Jared are really experimental with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical," said Mosley. When they were still playing as Listen, they played with bassists Josh C. and Jonathan B.. The bassist was replaced by Kirkpatrick Seals in 2002 after he left his previous band The Grove.

All five members of the band are of the Christian faith. This faith in Jesus influences their music, but lead singer Lacey Mosley doesn't necessarily believe that makes Flyleaf a strictly Christian band. "We all share the same faith. And so when we deal with the whole 'Christian band thing,' we kind of think about something P.O.D. says, like, 'If you're a Christian, it affects everything in your life. So if you're a plumber, does that make you a Christian plumber?'" Mosley said. "I don't know the answer. We're a band, it's part of who we are, so it comes out in our music, and it's the fuel for what we do. And finding Christ saved my life. So I'm not ashamed of it at all. And most of our album reflects that".

Flyleaf released a song "Cassie" that was about the shooting of Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. They were shot in the head after admiting they were Christian. This is just one example of how Flyleaf are touched by events and touch others through their music.

Flyleaf released their first full-length studio album, "Flyleaf", in October 2005. The album was re-released in United States in October 2007 along with their latest digital EP, "Much Like Falling", that was released onto the iTunes store. The re-released version of "Flyleaf" contains additional acoustic tracks.

On the 10th of November 2009, Flyleaf released their second album, called "Memento Mori". The album is a little less heavy than their debut album. Two songs that were released before the official release are "Beautiful Bride" and "Again".

Songfacts reports that their third album will be called "New Horizons". The title track premiered on 89X Radio on August 1, 2012, and will be released on iTunes on August 21, 2012.

On October the 22nd 2012, Lacey Sturm/Mosley declared that she was leaving Flyleaf and that the band was splitting up. This was only a week before their new album was due to be released (New Horizons - 30th October 2012).

On November 7, 2022, it was announced by Flyleaf that Sturm had returned to the band, with the band now calling themselves "Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm".

Official site: www.flyleafmusic.com

Ocean Waves
Flyleaf Lyrics

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So many wasted days
Come and go like ocean waves
It hits me like a freight train
And now I can't get off my face

How could I have been so polite to simply let them die
Who am I to spread my fingers after God has filled my hands
Watching the moments slip through like desert sand

Respect her ignorance
Just in case she takes offence
The darkness that's killing her
Well that is just not my concern

You're not guaranteed tomorrow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Flyleaf's song Ocean Waves speak to the realization that we often waste our time and take the precious moments for granted. The first lines depict the theme of the song succinctly, as the persona laments, "So many wasted days, come and go like ocean waves." Waves in the ocean are unending, and there's an almost hypnotic quality to them, as they repeat over and over again. The persona's wasted days seem to be slipping away just like the waves. The phrase "It hits me like a freight train" suggests that the realization of wasted moments has just dawned upon the persona. They cannot help but feel overwhelmed and powerless to stop time from slipping away. They are stuck on this realization, unable to shake it off, as seen in the lines, "And now I can't get off my face."

The second verse goes deeper, as the persona wonders how they could have sat back and just let people die without doing anything. The lines "How could I have been so polite to simply let them die? Who am I to spread my fingers after God has filled my hands?" showcases this guilt and helplessness that the persona feels. They realize they could have done something to help yet did nothing, and it's a mistake they can never take back. The final lines speak of the moments slipping away like desert sand, another metaphor for the endless passing of time that we tend to ignore.

Line by Line Meaning

So many wasted days
There have been a lot of days that have gone by without any meaningful actions or results.

Come and go like ocean waves
These wasted days pass by just like waves in the ocean, without leaving any lasting impact.

It hits me like a freight train
Suddenly, the realization of all these wasted days hits the singer hard, like a train crashing into them.

And now I can't get off my face
The weight of these wasted days has taken their toll on the artist, and they feel unable to move forward or shake off the feeling.

How could I have been so polite to simply let them die
The artist laments the fact that they did not take action or speak up when they had the chance, and allowed opportunities or moments to pass them by.

Who am I to spread my fingers after God has filled my hands
The singer questions their right to complain or feel unfulfilled when they have been given so much by a higher power or divine force.

Watching the moments slip through like desert sand
The singer observes how opportunities, moments, or time slip away from them like sand in the desert, and wonders if they can ever get them back.

Respect her ignorance
The artist advises others to treat someone who doesn't know or understand something with respect and compassion.

Just in case she takes offence
The artist wants to avoid hurting or upsetting someone, even if they may not fully understand why.

The darkness that's killing her
There is something negative or harmful that is affecting someone else, and it is causing them to suffer.

Well that is just not my concern
The singer chooses not to get involved or try to help with someone else's problems, even though they may have the ability to do so.

You're not guaranteed tomorrow
The artist reminds the listener that life is unpredictable and anything can happen, so it is important to make the most of each day and not take things for granted.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Culpepper, Jared Hartmann, Kirkpatrick Seals, Lacey Nicole Mosley, Sameer Bhattacharya, William Hoffman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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