The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, it achieved double platinum status and won four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top fifty singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.
The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler, and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.
Danger
The Waifs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We missed the signs,
We lost all we had of you
I know you had time on your own
But you couldn't ever say that
You didn't have a place to come home to
But you never came home
Danger
How could anything get so bad
You turn down all the choices that you have
And run toward the darkest light you find
With hope it will ease you aching mind
Danger ahead we missed the signs
And now you've left us here
To work out all your reasons
We comb the past
To understand your grivevance
And we can't find a reason
Why you would justify
Why you were in dnger
You never came home
The Waifs's song "Danger" is a heartbreaking depiction of the suicide of someone who was searching for solace and meaning in their life. The opening line of "Danger...danger ahead" sets the tone for the rest of the song, foreshadowing the tragedy that will follow. The second line, "We missed the signs," further emphasizes the preventable nature of this person's death. The chorus repeats the word "Danger" multiple times, as though the singer is trying to warn the listener of the risks that come with struggling alone.
The verses focus on the aftermath of this person's death. The singer mourns the loss of this person, saying "We lost all we had of you," indicating that there was perhaps a closer relationship between the singer and the deceased. The line "You turn down all the choices that you have" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the person had other options and opportunities that they did not take. The metaphor of running "toward the darkest light you find" is a haunting depiction of someone who is desperately seeking comfort in the wrong places.
The last verse shows the struggle of those left behind to understand what they could have done differently. "We comb the past/To understand your grivevance," highlights the internal pain that this person must have experienced, but also shows the loved ones' willingness to try and understand. However, in the end, they are left with the disturbing realization that they "can't find a reason/Why you would justify/Why you were in danger/You never came home."
Line by Line Meaning
Danger...danger ahead
Warning of imminent danger
We missed the signs,
We failed to see the warning signals
We lost all we had of you
We lost connection with you completely
I know you had time on your own
We understand you needed your own space and time
But you couldn't ever say that
But you never communicated your true feelings to us
You didn't have a place to come home to
You never felt like you had a home or support system
But you never came home
You never returned to us
How could anything get so bad
We are confused at how things could have spiraled out of control
You turn down all the choices that you have
You refused to make any positive changes for yourself
And run toward the darkest light you find
You sought out harmful and negative situations
With hope it will ease you aching mind
In the hopes of finding relief from your emotional pain
Danger ahead we missed the signs
We missed the warning signals of incoming danger
And now you've left us here
You have abandoned us
To work out all your reasons
We are left to figure out your motives for leaving
We comb the past
We search through your history
To understand your grievance
In an attempt to understand your complaints
And we can't find a reason
But we cannot find any justification
Why you would justify
Why you felt the need to act in such a way
Why you were in danger
Why you felt the need to put yourself in a harmful situation
You never came home
You never returned to us
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: MARTHA DAVIS, TIM MCGOVERN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind