In 1999, Delmhorst released a live album with The Vinal Avenue String Band, consisting of herself, Sean Staples, and Ry Cavanaugh.
Delmhorst is married to Jeffrey Foucault. In 2003, Delmhorst, Foucault, and Peter Mulvey released an album entitled Redbird.
Delmhorst's more recent albums include Strange Conversation (2006), Shotgun Singer (2008), and Cars (2011).
Waiting Under The Waves
Kris Delmhorst Lyrics
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Losing my how and why, losing my great divide
And in this world where we are, who can say what's going too far?
You punch out the windows baby, I slash all the tires
I'm feeling that undertow, like maybe it's time to go
It's getting so sick and thin, getting right under my skin
And in this song that we sing, who could ever point to one thing?
Waiting under the waves
Waiting under the waves
Waiting under the waves to be saved
And I am sorry that we're sinking but we're sinking just the same
I'm losing my faith in you, losing my balance too
How does it get so wrong, how can it all take so long
And in this time that we live, who could find a way to give a damn
That we are drowning in two separate stormy seas?
Waiting under the waves
Waiting under the waves
Waiting under the waves to be saved
And I am sorry that we're sinking but we're sinking just the same
Darling, don't you ever wonder if we two could both slip under?
Learn to sink and learn to swim and breathe again, and breathe again
All these tears that we cry
Who can say if we will live or die
Stand or fall, live in love or none at all?
Waiting under the waves
Waiting under the waves
Waiting under the waves
...
The song "Waiting Under The Waves" by Kris Delmhorst is a powerful and emotional exploration of the themes of loss, hopelessness, and the struggle to stay afloat amidst the turbulent waters of life. The lyrics open with the artist confessing the loss of her faith and the things that once held her together, such as her open hand, her how and why, and her great divide. She goes on to describe the sense of being caught in an undertow that is pulling her under, and the feeling of being sick and thin under the skin. The world around her is confusing and uncertain, and she and her partner are both struggling to keep their heads above water.
As the song progresses, the lyrics touch on the idea that sometimes people can sink or swim together, and sometimes they sink separately. Ultimately, the artist expresses remorse at the fact that they are both sinking, but there seems to be no way to stop it. The chorus repeats the phrase "Waiting under the waves to be saved," conveying a sense of helplessness and desperation. The song ends on a somewhat hopeful note, with the artist expressing the idea that perhaps they can both learn to sink and swim together, and breathe again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm losing my faith again, losing my open hand
I am losing my trust and confidence again, losing my willingness to be open and receptive to experiences
Losing my how and why, losing my great divide
I am losing my sense of purpose and direction, losing the strong boundaries I once had
And in this world where we are, who can say what's going too far?
In this unpredictable world we inhabit, who can predict the limits of what is acceptable?
You punch out the windows baby, I slash all the tires
We are both destructive towards each other and the things we share
I'm feeling that undertow, like maybe it's time to go
I am sensing the pull of a powerful force, like it might be time to leave
It's getting so sick and thin, getting right under my skin
The situation is becoming unbearable and is affecting me deeply
And in this song that we sing, who could ever point to one thing?
There are too many complexities in our relationship to pin down one issue
You are still in hiding baby, I am still on fire
You are still avoiding facing reality, while I am still passionate and intense about this
Waiting under the waves
We are waiting passively for someone or something to rescue us from our problems
And I am sorry that we're sinking but we're sinking just the same
I am saddened that we are both experiencing the consequences of our actions, despite being together in this
I'm losing my faith in you, losing my balance too
I am becoming increasingly uncertain and unsteady about our relationship
How does it get so wrong, how can it all take so long
I am questioning how our situation can have deteriorated so much and taken so long to reach this point
And in this time that we live, who could find a way to give a damn
In this time of apathy and indifference, who cares enough to make a difference?
That we are drowning in two separate stormy seas?
We are both struggling to stay afloat in different, but equally turbulent situations
Darling, don't you ever wonder if we two could both slip under?
My dear, have you ever thought that both of us might sink beneath the surface?
Learn to sink and learn to swim and breathe again, and breathe again
We need to learn to adapt and find a balance between sinking and swimming, in order to breathe again and find new life
All these tears that we cry
We are both shedding tears over this difficult situation
Who can say if we will live or die
It is impossible to know what the final outcome of this will be
Stand or fall, live in love or none at all?
Will we rise to the challenge and fight for love, or give up and have none at all?
Waiting under the waves
We are still waiting and hoping for salvation from our troubles
...
The song ends unfinished, just like our situation is unresolved and uncertain.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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