The Longest Wave
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


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Throw me all around
Like a boomerang sky
Whatever you do
Don't tell me why
Poppies grow tall
Then say bye bye
The wave is here
A seamless little team
And then we tanked
I guess we're not so sacrosanct
The tip of my tongue
But then we blanked
The wave is here
Waiting on the wind
To tell my side

Ready set jet
But she never gets far
Listen to your skin
From the seat of my car
Two centipedes stuck
In one glass jar
The longest wave
Waiting on the wind
To tell my side

Whatcha want
Whatcha need
Do you love

Maybe I'm the right one
Maybe I'm the wrong
Just another play, the pirate, and the papillon
Time to call it a day

Maybe you're my last love
Maybe you're my first
Just another way to play inside the universe
Now I know why we came

Sterile as the barrel
Of an old twelve gauge
Under my skin
And half my age
Hotter than the wax
On a saxifrage
The longest wave
Waiting on the wind
To turn my page

Steady your sails
For the butterfly flap
Whatever you do
Don't close that gap
I'm dreaming of a woman
But she's just my nap
Your ship is in
Waiting on the tide so I can swim

Whatcha want
Whatcha need
Do you love

Maybe I'm the right one
Maybe I'm the wrong
Just another play, the pirate, and the papillon
Time to call it a day

Maybe you're my last love
Maybe you're my first
Just another way to play inside the universe
Now I know why we came





Now I know why we came
Now I know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "The Longest Wave" appear to describe a turbulent relationship that is unfolding like a wave. The first verse speaks to chaos and confusion, with the image of being thrown "all around like a boomerang sky." The singer pleads with their partner not to explain what is happening, even as the poppies grow tall and then wither away. The wave is here, indicating that the tumultuous experience may have been anticipated.


The second verse suggests that the two people may have been working together as a team but didn't succeed, indicating that the relationship has failed. The wave is still present, and the singer is waiting for the wind to tell their side of the story. The third verse employs a variety of surreal images that suggest a feeling of being stuck or trapped, but also an awareness of beauty in the world. The singer is waiting for the wind to turn the page and bring clarity.


Overall, the song appears to be about a relationship that is breaking down or has already met its end. The wave is a metaphor for the tumultuous emotions that come with letting go of love. The singer is waiting for the wind to bring clarity and bring a new understanding of why the relationship was meaningful or important. They are struggling to move on and are hoping for a sign of what they should do next.


Line by Line Meaning

Throw me all around Like a boomerang sky Whatever you do Don't tell me why Poppies grow tall Then say bye bye The wave is here
I am ready for anything, just like a boomerang flying across the sky. Don't bother explaining anything to me. Things may seem beautiful and tall, but eventually they wither away. Change is inevitable.


A seamless little team And then we tanked I guess we're not so sacrosanct The tip of my tongue But then we blanked The wave is here
We were so compatible, but suddenly everything fell apart. We are not as invincible as we thought. I almost had the answer, but then I lost my train of thought. Change is upon us again.


Waiting on the wind To tell my side Ready set jet But she never gets far Listen to your skin From the seat of my car Two centipedes stuck In one glass jar The longest wave Waiting on the wind To tell my side
I am awaiting nature to take its course and reveal the truth. We tried to escape, but we didn't get very far. Listen to your intuition, even if it's from a mundane perspective. Two adversaries are trapped together, vying for dominance. The forces of change are working again, and I am waiting for it to play out and tell my story.


Whatcha want Whatcha need Do you love Maybe I'm the right one Maybe I'm the wrong Just another play, the pirate, and the papillon Time to call it a day Maybe you're my last love Maybe you're my first Just another way to play inside the universe Now I know why we came
What do you desire? What is necessary? Do you love? Maybe I'm suitable for you, or maybe I'm not. Our lives are like a play, with a pirate and a butterfly. It's time to wrap it up. You may be my last or first love, but either way, it's just another game within the cosmos. Now I understand the reason for our existence.


Sterile as the barrel Of an old twelve gauge Under my skin And half my age Hotter than the wax On a saxifrage The longest wave Waiting on the wind To turn my page
I feel empty, like the barrel of an old gun. I am young, but I carry the weight of experience. Passion ignites within me like the wax on a plant. The longest wave is here again, and I am waiting for it to create a new chapter in my life.


Steady your sails For the butterfly flap Whatever you do Don't close that gap I'm dreaming of a woman But she's just my nap Your ship is in Waiting on the tide so I can swim
Prepare yourself for the smallest changes, as they may cause a great impact. Stay open to possibilities, even if they seem small. I fantasize about a woman, but it's just a fleeting thought. Your opportunity has arrived, and I am patiently awaiting the right conditions to take action.


Now I know why we came Now I know
Finally, after all of these experiences, I understand why we exist and what our purpose is. Everything has a reason and a purpose, and I have found mine.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Peter Balzary, Josh Adam Klinghoffer, Chad Gaylord Smith, Anthony Kiedis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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