Just a Wave
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

Thirst is not the answer, oceans come and go
Desire alone doesn't suffice in a relationship as it may fade away like the ebb and flow of a sea

I loved her seven seas worth, Lord I loved her so
The singer was deeply in love with the woman he mentions, more than words can express

But she let me down so easy, one slow drop at a time
She broke up with him gradually which was less hurtful for him, but still painful nonetheless

I would've killed myself but it made no sense
The artist was devastated upon losing her, but understood it wasn't worth losing his own life over

Committing suicide in self defense
To help himself cope with the loss, he thinks of it as an act of defense, avoiding further pain

But I lost everything I brought her
He invested in the relationship with her, but she didn't appreciate it

When she said babe, you're just a wave, you're not the water
The woman compared him to a wave, which is temporary and insignificant when compared to the water, implying he didn't truly matter to her

Centuries ago we were living on the gold coast
The relationship was over a long time ago, but its memory still lingers for the artist

She was still in love with a long, gone, cold ghost
The woman was still attached to someone in the past who was no longer around, and couldn't fully love the artist

I was only trying to turn back the tide of her tears
He wanted to comfort her and take away her pain, but ultimately failed

I felt like an endless ocean, rolling through the fog
The singer's emotions were intense and overwhelming, hard to control or navigate

Full emotion drifting like a weather beaten log
His feelings were adrift and exhausted, like a log battered by harsh weather

I even thought that I out-thought her
He thought he knew more than her, only to be surprised by her response

Till she said babe, you're just a wave, you're not the water
Her comment about him being insignificant was a reality check for him, showing that he didn't truly know her as he thought he did

I said someday we'll love again, then you'll know the score
He believed that they could rekindle their love in the future, showing a glimmer of hope

I've taught you everything I know and maybe even more
The artist feels like he has given his all to the relationship, and showed her things she's never known before

That's true she said, more than you ever will
She acknowledges that he may have shown her new things, but there are still things he doesn't know about her

I've said I've been your raging river, precious African queen
The singer compares himself to a powerful force of nature, and her to a beautiful and rare individual

I've shown you everything that I've ever seen
He feels he's opened up to her and shared his deepest thoughts and experiences

But she knew more than I had taught her
She had already surpassed what he had to teach her, knowing more about life and love than he originally thought

When she said babe, you're just a wave, you're not the water
The woman reaffirms her belief that he was only a temporary, fleeting thing in her life, and not someone that mattered in the long run

Well I followed her far and wide with all of my will
The artist tried his best to keep the relationship alive, venturing far and wide to be with her

Water on the move, you know it never stands still
He compares himself to water, always on the move, always seeking a way to find peace or happiness

And I moved every muscle, just to prove it can be done
He tried as hard as he could to make the relationship work, even if it meant putting in more effort than he thought possible

Then up some old sad river, where snow white lilies float
He reflects upon a time when things were happier between them, but it's now a distant memory

I came to her for mercy, but I hardly rocked the boat
He tried to reconcile with her, but it was a small effort that hardly made a difference in their situation

She seemed surprised that I have caught her
She didn't expect him to find her or try to reach out to her again, but he did

But she said babe, you're just a wave, you're not the water
Despite his best efforts, she reminded him that he was still just a temporary aspect of her life, and not worth her time or attention