Waves
Guided by Voices Lyrics


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I'm awaken
To the sound of a deafening horn
I'm shaken
By the creak of an opening door

As the waves crash around me

I'm breaking
Cracking my heavenly bones
And a vision
Of a vision won't leave me alone

I'm falling
But the ground keeps falling away
I can see you
But I couldn't say where you are





As the waves crash around me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Guided by Voices's "Waves" present a vivid image of an unsettling and disorienting experience. The song starts with the singer being awakened by a deafening horn and the creak of an opening door, which immediately sets an atmosphere of chaos and distress. As the waves crash around them, the singer expresses feeling shaken, breaking, and falling. Despite being able to see someone in their line of sight, the singer cannot pinpoint their location. The repetition of the "waves crash around me" line creates a sense of being trapped and overwhelmed.


The interpretation of the song can vary, as with any lyrical analysis. However, one possible interpretation could be that the song is about facing personal turmoil and uncertainty. The use of the waves as a metaphor for the struggles and challenges that one may encounter in life is a fairly common motif in music. The repetition of the line "As the waves crash around me" also underscores the feeling of being stuck and unable to escape from the problems at hand.


Additionally, the vision within a vision line may suggest that the singer is being haunted by memories or regrets. The inability to locate the person in sight could represent a feeling of being lost in life and unable to find one's direction. Overall, the song creates a tense and unnerving atmosphere that reflects the struggle of facing personal demons.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm awaken
I've suddenly become aware


To the sound of a deafening horn
Startled by a loud noise


I'm shaken
Feeling unnerved or disturbed


By the creak of an opening door
The sound of a door opening is making me uneasy


As the waves crash around me
I am surrounded by the chaos of the moment


I'm breaking
My inner self is being shattered


Cracking my heavenly bones
My spirit is being crushed


And a vision
A thought or an image in my mind


Of a vision won't leave me alone
This idea or scene keeps recurring in my thoughts


I'm falling
I am losing my ground


But the ground keeps falling away
I'm desperately trying to hold on, but everything is slipping from my grasp


I can see you
I have a sense of your presence, but not a clear vision of you


But I couldn't say where you are
I don't have a concrete idea of where you might be


As the waves crash around me
I am engulfed by chaos and uncertainty of the moment.




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ride the Wave of Fun!

πŸ˜† Misheard lyrics you say?

"I'm shaking...this peppercorn grinder awayyyyyy....." 😁

"I'm taking....big huge hits from the Volcanoooo.... πŸ˜‰

GBV = GOAT ! 🀘🀘🀘


P.S.
For those unaware, the volcano is a fantastic vaporizer for Mary Jaaaaaaaaane of the waking universe! πŸ˜„πŸ˜‰

🌝 Enjoy!



All comments from YouTube:

Matt MacNeil

I was so blown away when I heard this back in 2012. Tobin Sprout is such an incredible song-writer and artist. This video is really amazing and fitting too.

Ride the Wave of Fun!

I just discovered this song's greatness! Another gem from the legendary GBV!!

GBV - Always, Sooooooooooo cherry! πŸ’ 🀘

James Spencer

Demos giving life to bass through the outro. I love any incarnation of GBV, but the chemistry of this lineup was undeniable.

wmprokipchak

I've missed Tobin's sweet vocals & his undeniable presence in the magical chemistry of the original GBV (versus RPollard alone at the helm). Ahhhhh

Dfactor Pop

That messy pop melancholy gets me every time...

Franklin Alatee

Tobey should add this tune to his solo set. Love!!!

John Evans

Toby does some great head music. I think this is one of his best ones.

SpaceHopperCopter

Love this.

Robert Haydon

Hey man. You made a rad video.

mrcreech2009

Anybody know the chords for this song, by chance? This is an amazing tune and I'd love to learn to play it.

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