The duo first started working together in Los Angeles in 2005, after being introduced by Conor Oberst. Rice had traveled to Nebraska to make his first record before moving to L.A., where Lewis was beginning work with Mike Mogis on her solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat. They both ended up playing on each other's recordings, and struck up a lasting creative relationship. Rice joined Lewis’ band for the Rabbit Fur Coat world tour in 2006, and has played live with Lewis at every show of her solo career thus far. Jenny contributed both songwriting and singing to Johnathan’s Further North in 2007, and he was quick to return the favor as one of the producers of Lewis’ album Acid Tongue and again joining her on the road. During the Acid Tongue sessions, the band cut the song “Carpetbaggers” with Elvis Costello. The legendary songwriter was so inspired with the collaboration that he enlisted Lewis, Rice, their Acid Tongue crew, and the Imposters to help make one of his finest records of recent years, 2008’s Momofuku.
During hours of downtime on Lewis’ Acid Tongue world tour, she and Rice began writing a batch of songs different from anything they had previously created. The material was fast, ultra-melodic, and often blended both of their voices into one, creating a completely new sound. When the tour wrapped in Japan in August of 2009, Jenny and Johnny were eager to record the new tunes. They enlisted Rilo Kiley’s Pierre De Reeder to engineer a nine-day October session at his Bright Street Recorders in North Hollywood with the intention of making demos. Jenny and Johnny played as many instruments as possible, right down to the drums. Jason Boesel lent his considerable drumming talents to the songs that required something more. The four friends worked lightening fast, had a hell of a lot of fun, and were so stoked on the results that Lewis and Rice decided to start a new band and finish the record. Jenny and Johnny packed up a station wagon in December 2009 and drove to Omaha, Nebraska, the place where they first hung out all those years ago, to work with their friend, Mike Mogis.
Jenny and Johnny locked out Mogis’ world-class ARC studios for five weeks of tracking, vocals, and mixing during the worst Midwestern winter since the 1860’s. The front door of their guest house actually froze shut, so they used an alternate route to get to the studio every day. Cut off from the outside world in a blizzard’s haze, the record’s personality began to emerge. Gone were the vintage, classic-rock textures of their previous two albums, and in came a brand new sound which was tougher around the edges. The exuberance of love songs like Scissor Runner mask some of the record’s darkness, with Lewis chronicling the economic demise of her beloved California in Big Wave, Rice’s haunting vocal on Animal, and both songwriters raising a middle-finger kiss off in the acerbic My Pet Snakes. The overall result is genuine and original pop music for Right Now. This is not a Rilo Kiley record, a Jenny Lewis record, or a Johnathan Rice record. This is Jenny and Johnny. They’re having fun now, and they want you to, too.
Big Wave
Jenny and Johnny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the new American way
We're spending what we haven't made
And we save our money in good faith
And we work hard for our living wage
But still the banks gotta break
And the snake, it bit you
When you were awake
And the books all fried
You are bankrupting
Because all the loans you take
Big wave, do do do
Big wave, do do do
Big wave
It's going to hit you with a big wave
I can't sleep these days
And my blues, they won't go away
So there are these little pills I been takin'
And my doctor, she says that they're safe
But I been sleepwalking down to the lake
And wakin' up in the water
And the feeling it's alright
But the snake, it bit me
When I wasn't awake
And the scripts, they lie
I have been poisoned from
All the things I take
Big wave, do do do
Big wave, do do do
Big wave
It's gonna hit me with a big wave
Big wave, do do do
Big wave, do do do
Big wave
It's gonna hit you with a big wave
I know you feel deprived
(You don't trust me)
All of us still alive
(You never touch me)
It's really just that I don't feel
Like it much these days
And my love's a lie
'Cause the snake, he visits me
When you are away
And your dreams don't lie
I have been corrupted
'Cause all the lovers I take
Big wave, do do do
Big wave, do do do
Big wave
You're gonna hit me with a big wave
Big wave, do do do
Big wave, do do do
Big wave
It's gonna hit you with a big wave
Big wave, da da da
Big wave, do do do
Big wave
It's gonna hit you with a big wave
The song "Big Wave" by Jenny and Johnny is an introspective and somber take on the struggles of everyday life. The lyrics touch on themes of financial struggles, medicating oneself to cope with mental health issues, and the breakdown of relationships. The first verse paints a picture of the hardships faced by Americans who work hard and try to save their money but are still unable to stay afloat due to systemic issues like banks breaking and loans dragging them down. The chorus, with its repetition of "Big wave," serves as a metaphor for the impending feelings of doom and hopelessness that come crashing down on the singer.
The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's own struggles with mental health. They mention taking pills to help them sleep, but the medication causes them to sleepwalk and wake up in the lake. The snake biting them in their sleep is likely a metaphor for the dangers of relying too heavily on medication to numb their pain. The third verse hints at a failing relationship, with the singer confessing to being unfaithful and feeling corrupted by their actions. The repetition of "Big wave" in the chorus serves as a reminder that no one is safe from the tidal wave of problems that come crashing down in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Living your life in the gray
Living life without clear direction or purpose
Is the new American way
A reflection of the societal values in America
We're spending what we haven't made
Living beyond one's means
And we save our money in good faith
Saving money with the hope of better financial security in the future
And we work hard for our living wage
Working hard to make a living wage
But still the banks gotta break
Banking system is inherently flawed and works against the common people
'Cause the dream's a lie
The American Dream is a false promise
And the snake, it bit you
Being deceived
When you were awake
Being deceived even when one is aware of the situation
And the books all fried
Financial records are unreliable
You are bankrupting
Falling into financial ruin
Big wave, do do do
Incoming disaster
It's going to hit you with a big wave
An impending disaster will strike
I can't sleep these days
Difficulty sleeping due to personal struggles
And my blues, they won't go away
Feeling sad and hopeless without relief
So there are these little pills I been takin'
Dependence on medication to alleviate symptoms
And my doctor, she says that they're safe
Trust in a professional to recommend safe treatment
But I been sleepwalking down to the lake
Unaccounted for behavior due to the effects of medication
And the feeling it's alright
Momentary relief from personal struggles
But the snake, it bit me
Being deceived or harmed by a seemingly harmless force
When I wasn't awake
Being deceived or harmed without awareness of the situation
And the scripts, they lie
Pharmaceutical industry and doctors can be dishonest about medication risks
I have been poisoned from
Suffering from the side effects of medication
All the things I take
Relying on medication to make it through daily life
I know you feel deprived
Understanding of one's partner's feelings of neglect
(You don't trust me)
Lack of trust in the relationship
All of us still alive
Surviving despite personal struggles
(You never touch me)
Lack of physical affection in the relationship
It's really just that I don't feel
Personal struggles affecting emotional availability in the relationship
Like it much these days
Lack of enjoyment in daily life due to personal struggles
And my love's a lie
Insincere emotions due to personal struggles
'Cause the snake, he visits me
Being deceived by an external force
When you are away
Personal struggles taking over when loved ones are not around to help
And your dreams don't lie
Failing to achieve personal or societal aspirations
I have been corrupted
Personal struggles leading to moral decline
Because all the lovers I take
Relying on romantic relationships to fulfill emotional needs
You're gonna hit me with a big wave
Incoming disaster will strike
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jenny Diane Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
m1seed
This deserves so much more more exposure.
Trax
This is very nice. Good music. Love the beat. :)
Jane Doe
a timeless classic
Jessec C
10 years I’ve loved this song now…
Evan The Birdman
Wow, this is a great tune. It reminds me of bands like Velocity Girl back in the 90s.
Glen Russell
I just love this group...Jenny has grown into a WOMAN, long way from Rilo Kiley.
LateBarLondon
I heard this on BBC Radio 6 (UK) this week. Sounds great!
rocknrollstarlet
I love the bubblegum voices.. Reminds me of the 90's..
J141
recuerdo cuando sonaba en doble9 que recuerdos xD
lluis foguet
brilliant, even better live