Green began his musical career when he was 18 and in college at Texas Tech in Lubbock. "I started playing guitar to pick up the chicks," Green laughs. "Before that, I only sang in the shower. I could mimic other people's voices. It took me a long time to find my own voice, but once I did, I became very comfortable with it. It's not real pretty but it's believable."
During those college years, Green started playing clubs and opening shows for other artists. In 1995, he put out his first independent record.
"I don't know exactly where it began, if it was Willie Nelson's picnic or one of Jerry Jeff's shows, but I got asked to play and there was a huge crowd there," Green says. "After that show, we started getting some radio support. All of a sudden, everything started happening at once. We were selling a ton of records. We were able sell out Billy Bob's. In Dallas-Fort Worth, we were selling 4, 5, 6000 seats. In Houston and everywhere else, it started being 1000, 2000 seats. It just started steamrolling. I think it was a combination of the popularity of Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker and Willie Nelson leading the forefront for us little guys. We just all fell in line behind them."
The result of that faith was Green's 2001 major-label debut, Three Days, on Republic/Universal. The album Wave On Wave followed in 2003, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard country albums chart, and the title track cracked the Top 5 on the singles chart. He released Lucky Ones in 2004. In 2006, after a move to the RCA imprint BNA, he issued Cannonball.
Wave on Wave
Pat Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're all playin' the same game.
We're all lookin' for redemption.
Just to pray, to say the name.
So caught up now in pretendin'
That what we're seekin' is the truth.
I'm just lookin' for a happy endin'.
You came upon me, wave on wave.
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah.
Am I the one you were sent to save?
You came upon me, wave on wave.
I wandered out into the water,
An' I thought that I might drown.
I don't know what I was after,
Just know I was goin' down.
And that's when she found me.
Not afraid anymore.
She said: "You know, I always had you, baby.
"Just waitin' for you to find what you were lookin' for."
You came upon me, wave on wave.
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah.
Am I the one you were sent to save?
You came upon me, wave on wave.
Wave on wave.
Wave on wave.
You came upon me, wave on wave.
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah.
Am I the one you were sent to save?
You came upon me, wave on wave.
The clouds broke and the angels cried:
"You ain't gotta wipe the floor."
That's why it put me in your hands.
When it came upon me wave on wave.
You came upon me, wave on wave.
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah.
Am I the one you were sent to save?
You came upon me, wave on wave.
To fade.
You came upon me, wave on wave.
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah.
Am I the one you were sent to save?
You came upon me, wave on wave.
In Pat Green's song "Wave on Wave," the singer expresses his feelings of aimlessness and lack of direction, along with the rest of humanity. He admits that everyone is "playing the same game" and seeking redemption, even if they are pretending that what they are seeking is the truth. The singer admits that all he is looking for is a happy ending and the person he is looking for - his savior - is the one who has come upon him wave on wave.
The singer describes how he wandered out into the water, as if looking for something, and was overwhelmed by the waves. When he had given up hope, he was found by the one he was seeking. This person tells him that they have always had him, and they were just waiting for him to find what he was looking for. The clouds break and the angels cry, as if a great victory has just been won, and the singer realizes that he has been put in the hands of the one who came upon him wave on wave.
"Wave on Wave" is a song that speaks to the human experience of seeking happiness, redemption, and direction in life. It paints a picture of a person lost in the waves, overwhelmed and searching for the one who can save them. The song is ultimately uplifting, as the singer realizes that he has found what he was looking for and is put in the hands of his savior.
Line by Line Meaning
Mile upon mile, got no direction.
Lost and wandering, unsure of where to go or what to do next.
We're all playin' the same game.
No matter who we are or where we come from, we all face the same struggles and challenges in life.
We're all lookin' for redemption.
We all hope to find a way to make up for our mistakes and find peace within ourselves.
Just to pray, to say the name.
Some of us turn to religion or spirituality in our search for redemption and meaning in life.
So caught up now in pretendin'
We often pretend to be someone we're not in order to fit in or please others, losing sight of our true selves in the process.
That what we're seekin' is the truth.
We may think we know what we want in life, but it's not always easy to discern the truth or find what truly matters.
I'm just lookin' for a happy endin'.
Despite life's challenges, all we really want is to find happiness and contentment in the end.
All I'm lookin' for is you.
Ultimately, what matters most in life is finding the people who make us happy and give our lives meaning.
You came upon me, wave on wave.
Just when things seemed hopeless, someone special entered the artist's life and changed everything for the better.
You're the reason I'm still here, yeah.
The person who entered the artist's life is the reason he or she is still alive and hopeful for the future.
Am I the one you were sent to save?
The singer wonders if this person is meant to be their savior, their salvation from a life of despair and loneliness.
I wandered out into the water, An' I thought that I might drown.
The artist was lost and drowning in despair before this person entered their life.
I don't know what I was after, Just know I was goin' down.
The singer was lost and confused, but knew that the path they were on was leading nowhere good.
And that's when she found me.
The singer found hope and redemption in the person who came into their life.
Not afraid anymore.
The singer was finally able to let go of their fear and find peace thanks to this person.
You know, I always had you, baby.
The person who entered the artist's life had been there all along, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves and show their love.
Just waitin' for you to find what you were lookin' for.
The person knew that the most important thing was for the artist to find their own way and discover what truly matters in life.
The clouds broke and the angels cried: "You ain't gotta wipe the floor."
The singer found redemption and forgiveness, and was no longer burdened by the mistakes of their past.
That's why it put me in your hands.
The singer puts their trust and faith in the person who brought them out of despair and gave them hope for the future.
To fade.
The song ends on a note of hope and possibility, as the artist continues on their journey to find happiness and love with the person who changed their life.
Lyrics © CALHOUN ENTERPRISES, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Nneuhauser, Justin Pollard, Pat Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LieutenantDan11
After being shot, stabbed, struck by lightning, ran over by a truck, and had Covid -19 twice...............I live this song every fuckin day. God speed ahead......John 3:9
@suedonovan9655
Omg God had his hands on you 🙌. Your attitude is one 💯 percent awesome🤜🤛.
@healy21
One of the most underrated songs ever.
@lilbit9214
This one and Carry On. I love that he stuck to Outlaw Country instead of going full Nashville.
@philbornstein6866
Just heard the song today. It's December 2023. Lost my wife of 30 years this year. This song describes every moment. God I miss her so.Thank you Pat Green
@stargazer713
❤
@jtme8108
SO, very sorry for your loss.
@cdiffin88
Much love brother.
@bgirardin01
When I try to explain to someone, what I was feeling the moment I asked Christ to come into my life, this song comes to mind and I immediately tear up.
@freedomfitness8720
Me too! My heart fills up with pure gratitude.