Crest of a Wave
Rory Gallagher Lyrics


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Well you can ride on the crest of a wave,
If that's where you want to be,
But does the look on your face,
Mean you're really feeling happy?
Or do you feel like you're standing on a wooden leg,
Or a poor man much to proud to beg,
Or a page from a book that can't be read at all?
You gotta see by the way that they are talking,
That it's time for you to pick up your grip... start walking,
'Cause they want to see your long ... legs flying,
Go to the place where the earth meets the sky and,
Don't stop to turn around and wave goodbye at all.

They won't be satisfied,
Till you're out of their sight,
But I wonder how will they feel,
With a deck of cards,
And you're not around to deal, yeah.

They won't be satisfied,
Till you're out of their sight,
But I wonder how will they feel,
With a deck of cards,
You're not around to deal?
You're not around to deal.

Well, they say it's a lie, a joke that you are living,
But you know one thing they don't, you won't give in.
'Cause you're like a cat, chasin' its tail,
Makes a million circles, but you're gonna fail,
Look down you just don't understand.

Well you can ride on the crest of a wave,
If that's where you want to be,
But does the look on your face,
Mean you're really feeling happy?
Well, do you feel like you're standing on a wooden leg,
A poor man much to proud to beg,
Or a page from a book that can't be read at all?

Well, do you feel like you're standing on a wooden leg,
Or a poor man much to proud to beg,




Or a page from a book that can't be read at all?
Read at all.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rory Gallagher’s song ‘Crest of a Wave’ explore the idea of success and the cost of achieving it. The opening lines “Well you can ride on the crest of a wave, If that's where you want to be” suggest that the singer has made a choice to pursue success, but doubts the true meaning behind it. The following lines, “But does the look on your face, Mean you're really feeling happy?” suggest that success is not always an indication of happiness. The feeling of being on a “wooden leg” or being “a page from a book that can't be read at all” suggests that success may not always feel genuine, and may even be unsustainable.


The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that success may come at a cost, as the singer warns that those around them will not be satisfied until they are gone. The lines “But I wonder how will they feel, With a deck of cards, And you're not around to deal” suggest that the cost of success may also affect those around the individual who has achieved it. The second verse reinforces the idea that the pursuit of success may be futile, as the singer compares the individual to a cat chasing its tail, ultimately leading to failure. The repeated lines “Or a page from a book that can't be read at all?” at the end of the song drive home the idea that success may be meaningless if it is not true to oneself.


Line by Line Meaning

Well you can ride on the crest of a wave,
You can be successful and popular.


If that's where you want to be,
But is that really where you want to be?


But does the look on your face,
Do you appear genuinely happy?


Mean you're really feeling happy?
Or are you just pretending?


Or do you feel like you're standing on a wooden leg,
Do you feel unstable and unsupported?


Or a poor man much too proud to beg,
Do you feel too proud to ask for help even if you need it?


Or a page from a book that can't be read at all?
Do you feel misunderstood or overlooked?


You gotta see by the way that they are talking,
You can tell what people are really thinking by the way they talk.


That it's time for you to pick up your grip... start walking,
People are telling you to move on or make a change.


'Cause they want to see your long ... legs flying,
They want to see you succeed and do well.


Go to the place where the earth meets the sky and,
Go to a place where you can achieve great things.


Don't stop to turn around and wave goodbye at all.
Don't look back or say goodbye to things that are holding you back.


They won't be satisfied,
They won't be happy.


Till you're out of their sight,
Until you are gone or have left.


But I wonder how will they feel,
I wonder how they will feel.


With a deck of cards,
With just a deck of cards (meaning they will have nothing).


And you're not around to deal, yeah.
Because you won't be there to help or provide for them.


Well, they say it's a lie, a joke that you are living,
People don't believe in you or doubt your success.


But you know one thing they don't, you won't give in.
But you know that you won't give up or back down.


'Cause you're like a cat, chasin' its tail,
You're working hard but not really getting anywhere.


Makes a million circles, but you're gonna fail,
Despite all your effort it seems like you are going to fail.


Look down you just don't understand.
You might not even understand what you're doing or why.


Well, do you feel like you're standing on a wooden leg,
Do you still feel unstable and unsupported?


A poor man much too proud to beg,
Do you still feel too proud to ask for help even if you need it?


Or a page from a book that can't be read at all?
Do you still feel misunderstood or overlooked?


Read at all.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RORY GALLAGHER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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