Indovina and Human Drama began their career in New Orleans in the early 80s as The Models, releasing two singles along with compilation appearances. A mid-'80s move to Los Angeles and the discovery of an already existing Australian band also named The Models set the stage for Indovina and company to begin their new incarnation.
The newly renamed Human Drama became a member of the "Scream scene" of the mid-'80s, which sprang up around the short-lived Los Angeles underground goth/metal club that brought Guns N' Roses and Jane's Addiction to the world. Human Drama contributed a song, "Wave of Darkness", to the 1987 Scream Compilation LP, which led to a major label deal with RCA.
1989 saw the release of the debut Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death EP and the full length Feel LP. Both releases featured a electric guitar-oriented approach. Indovina felt that RCA wasn't properly promoting the band, and the band and label parted ways.
Moving to the independent Triple X label, the next Human Drama release was 1992's The World Inside. Stylistically different from the first two releases, Indovina moved Human Drama into a quieter, more strings-based sound. This album is widely regarded as Indovina and Human Drama's most important work. The LP earned the band critical raves and a near fanatical following, especially in Mexico. A solo performance of various cover songs by Indovina at the album's release party predicted the next Human Drama album. Released in 1993, PinUps was an open tribute to David Bowie's album of the same name, a collection of remakes of various sources of inspiration.
A move to New York city accompanied a temporary co-release stint on the Projekt label, resulting in two additional mid-decade releases, 1994's Human Drama EP and 1995's Songs of Betrayal, which was later re-released as two separate discs with additional tracks.
The next Human Drama release would be a live album. 1997's Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Four Days Later, featuring many of the early Feel-era songs, along with some new cover song choices.
1999 brought Solemn Sun Setting, which saw a merging of the two "different" Human Drama styles, before the following year's career overview, Best of Human Drama...In a Perfect World.
The final Human Drama album, 2002's Cause and Effect, continuing themes from Solemn Sun Setting, was an unexpected goodbye from Indovina and company, for both the band and their fans.
In 2004, Human Drama recorded their final track, the Beatles "Let It Be", which was given to fans who attended the band's farewell performance in Los Angeles. When asked why he chose "Let It Be" as their final recording Indovina answered, "I strived my entire career to write a song as good as that, but since I couldn't, I decided to record it as a salute to, what is in my opinion, the best song ever written".
Indovina has since moved on with his next project, Sound of the Blue Heart.
Wave of Darkness
Human Drama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Home to only shadows
Part of our love has died
We drive for miles
But we have no destination
Wells form in baby blue eyes
Darting, asking questions
This child will never be held again
She looks for answers still as recent as yesterday
But nothing comes
Only visions of highway 99
The brightness of the crossing line
Reflects father's eyes on highway 99
Oh! This wave of darkness
When will it be shed
ÔTill the day every step she takes be it left or right
Still leads her into the fire
Still reaching out
Crying baby tears for a mother's arms that let her go on
Highway 99
The brightness of the crossing line
Reflects father's eyes
On highway 99
On highway 99
The song Wave of Darkness by Human Drama seems to be a powerful and emotional song about dealing with loss and loneliness. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is lost and wandering, trying to make sense of their life without a loved one. The first verse talks about how they are surrounded by darkness and shadows, and how part of their love has died. The second verse is more explicit about the loss that the person is feeling, as they describe the image of a child stretching out her arms to be held, only to realize that she can never be held again. The final verse seems to highlight the sense of hopelessness and despair that the singer is feeling, as they describe how every step they take leads them further into the fire.
Throughout the song, there is a heavy focus on the image of Highway 99, which seems to play a significant role in the singer's life. The repeated lines about the "brightness of the crossing line" and "father's eyes on Highway 99" suggest that this place may hold some kind of special significance for the singer, perhaps relating to the loss they are experiencing. Overall, Wave of Darkness seems to be a poignant and thoughtful exploration of grief and loss, anchored by evocative imagery and a haunting melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh! This wave of darkness
The singer is referring to a feeling of overwhelming sadness or despair.
Home to only shadows
The singer feels like they are completely alone and surrounded by darkness.
Part of our love has died
The singer has experienced a significant loss in their life, which has affected their relationship with someone they love.
We drive for miles
The artist is physically traveling, but it is unclear why.
But we have no destination
The artist is lost and doesn't know where they are going.
Wells form in baby blue eyes
The singer is describing someone's tearful, sad eyes.
Darting, asking questions
The person is likely a child who is confused and doesn't understand why things are the way they are.
Stretching her arms out far to be held
The child wants comfort and love from someone who they can no longer get it from.
This child will never be held again
The child has lost someone who was a source of comfort and love in their life forever.
She looks for answers still as recent as yesterday
The person is still struggling to understand why things happened the way they did, even though it feels like it just happened.
But nothing comes
The person is not finding any answers or closure.
Only visions of highway 99
The highway is a symbol of the person's journey through grief and loss.
The brightness of the crossing line
The singer may be referencing a literal crossing line on the highway, but it could also represent a moment of clarity or realization.
Reflects father's eyes on highway 99
The singer is thinking about their father and the role he played in their life.
When will it be shed
The singer is wondering when they will be able to move past their grief and find some kind of healing.
ÔTill the day every step she takes be it left or right
The person will always be affected by their loss, no matter where they go or what they do.
Still leads her into the fire
The experience of loss is painful and difficult for the person to move through.
Still reaching out
The person is still searching for a sense of comfort or resolution, even though it may be difficult to find.
Crying baby tears for a mother's arms that let her go on
The singer is mourning their mother, who played an important role in helping them move on and grow.
Highway 99
The highway is a symbol of the person's journey through grief and loss.
The brightness of the crossing line
The artist may be referencing a literal crossing line on the highway, but it could also represent a moment of clarity or realization.
Reflects father's eyes
The artist is thinking about their father and the role he played in their life.
On highway 99
The highway is a symbol of the person's journey through grief and loss.
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.