1. Sam Baker was a blac… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists by this name:
1. Sam Baker was a black Southern Soul artist born 1941 in Jackson, MS, who began his career singing secular music rather than in gospel like most other of his kind at the time. However, he was influenced by gospel as well as blues performers, and performed with the likes of Jimmy Reed, Clyde McPhatter, and others early in his career. He went on to become one of the memorable artists on the legendary Sound Stage 7 label, releasing more sides for the label than any other artist except Joe Simon. The Soulscape reissue label recently re-released this SS7 material on CD. The streamable tracks on this page are a few of his cuts. Sam was also known as Lord Sam Baker when John R and Hoss Allen and others would play his records on WLAC deep in the heart of Dixie, Nashville, TN.
2.: Sam Baker is a country singer-songwriter out of Austin, Texas. Here’s a man who can’t really sing, but mostly just speaks. Who’s deaf on one side, partially deaf on the other. And who can’t use all his fingers while playing guitar anymore. And yet Sam Baker manages to make what has got to be one of the finest Americana albums in recent years. He believes in storytelling and that everyone is at the mercy of another one's dream.
Waves
Sam Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many laughs, so many tears
So many things to remember
'Cause they had 50 years
Their own kids have grown
She told him not to worry
Say he'd be fine when she was gone
He walks down to the ocean
Bends to touch the water, kneels to pray
Writes her name in sand
Waves wash it away
There are seagulls circling shrimp boats
That turn inside the bay
There's an emptiness inside
That never goes away
He walks down to the ocean
Bends to touch the water, kneels to pray
He writes her name in the sand
Waves wash it away
So many years, so many hardships
So many laughs, so many tears
So many things he cannot remember
'Cause they had 50 years
He walks down to the ocean
Bends to touch kneels to pray
He writes her name in the sand
Waves wash it away
He writes her name in the sand
Waves wash it away
Sam Baker’s "Waves" is a poignant ballad that sublimely narrates the life story of an old man who has lost his wife after spending 50 years together. The first verse sets the stage for the narrative by highlighting the many hardships and joys that the couple shared together during their marriage. The second verse addresses the aftermath of losing a spouse, as the old man faces an empty life that he cannot fill. The chorus recounts the old man’s daily pilgrimage to the ocean where he kneels to pray, touches the water, and writes his wife's name in the sand that is eventually washed away by the waves. The song smoothly blends together the theme of reminiscing about a cherished past and the painful reality of losing that past, while beautifully capturing the essence of grief and loss.
Baker's emotionally devastating lyrics resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one or dealt with grief, making “Waves” a deeply touching song that packs a powerful emotional punch. The simple yet effective metaphor of using the ocean waves to represent the ephemeral nature of life and love gives the song an emotional depth that is hard to capture with words alone. The song’s simplicity and profoundness ensure that it will remain an emotional masterpiece for years to come.
Line by Line Meaning
So many years, so many hardships
They have been through a lot in their 50 years of marriage.
So many laughs, so many tears
There were happy and sad moments that they've shared throughout their marriage.
So many things to remember
There were countless memories that they've created and shared together.
'Cause they had 50 years
Their long-lasting love and union have created a lot of things to remember.
Now the kids, they got their own kids
Their children have their own families now.
Their own kids have grown
Their grandchildren have already grown up.
She told him not to worry
She had assured him that things will be alright after she's gone.
Say he'd be fine when she was gone
She had assured him that despite her passing, he'll still be okay and that he needs not worry.
He walks down to the ocean
He goes to the beach to feel the calming waves and be with his thoughts.
Bends to touch the water, kneels to pray
He touches the water and prays for strength and guidance.
Writes her name in sand
He honors her by writing her name in the sand.
Waves wash it away
The waves erase her name, symbolizing that everything is temporary and that things can be washed away with time.
There are seagulls circling shrimp boats
The environment is alive with the sound of nature and thriving with life.
That turn inside the bay
The shrimp boats are navigating their way carefully through the bay.
There's an emptiness inside
Despite the lively environment, there's still a deep feeling of emptiness inside him.
That never goes away
The emptiness brought about by the loss of his wife would always linger.
He walks down to the ocean
He returns to the beach, wanting to feel the comfort and solace of the ocean waves again.
Bends to touch the water, kneels to pray
He touches the water again, and prays more fervently this time.
He writes her name in the sand
He writes her name again, as a way of remembering and honoring her.
Waves wash it away
The name gets washed away again, and he is reminded that nothing is eternal and that everything would eventually come to an end.
So many years, so many hardships
The years may have been long, and the hardships may have been many.
So many laughs, so many tears
They may have shared countless moments of joy and sorrow together.
So many things he cannot remember
While there are countless memories, there are also things that he cannot recall and remember.
'Cause they had 50 years
The passage of time may have contributed to the difficulty of remembering everything.
He writes her name in the sand
In his grief, writing her name is one of the only things he can do for her now.
Waves wash it away
Despite the temporary nature of writing in the sand, he still does it every time he visits the ocean, knowing that the waves will eventually wash it away.
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Larkin
Isn’t this just one of the most beautiful songs ever written... Thank you Mr Baker 🙏🏼
reteipdevries
Some songs just get criminally overlooked. Then at some point someone's gonna have a huge hit with it.
Stephen McDonald
Big fan of Sam and this is a beautiful song thank you for sharing 💜
Deborah gunter
A true talent, like Guy Clark, John Prine, and so many others I wonder that his name is not known to everyone. I only discovered him last year and as I am reaching the end of the yardstick of time this song touches me more profoundly than it would have at the other end of the yardstick of life. Wow more people need to hear him.
robin reilley
After my father introduced me to this amazing man and song.....there's not a day that goes by, that I don't listen to it. Truly one of my all time favorites ❤
Mark Kelly
Sam, you, Carrie and Chip are just amazing together. Thank you.
Susan Quardokus
Truly anointed
Aart Hooijmeijer
It definitely brought me to tears during their concert in Utrecht in 2015. Still gets me shivers everytime I hear it...
George Mansell
I first heard Sam as a guest on Bob Harris' BBC Radio 2 show in the UK. This song brings tears every time
John Thorburn
We have seen Sam Baker a couple of times at the Canmore Alberta Folkfest, and each time he deeply touched the audience. Sam is a genuine soul in his music reaches deep into people’s emotions.