Waxahatchee, named after Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama where Crutchfield grew up, began in 2010 during the breakup of P.S. Eliot. Crutchfield released her first music as Waxahatchee as a split cassette with Chris Clavin on Plan-It-X Records. Her bedroom-recorded debut album, American Weekend, was released on Don Giovanni Records in 2012.
On June 11, 2012 "Be Good" was the song of the day on NPR as well as one of the best 50 songs of 2012. Her debut album, "American Weekend," was named a top album of 2012 by Dusted magazine.
Subsequent albums include Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), Out in the Storm (2017), Saint Cloud (2020), and the upcoming Tigers Blood (out March 22, 2024)
Waiting
Waxahatchee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You’ll hunt me down, smack me around
I know you
We’ll burn down every tree
Live out a dream
And we’ll be alone
This grave is our home and we’re free
And you’ll never cut me as deep
But my blood is my own
And we’re free
Red forest that once stood
We come unwound
Lay on the ground, don’t make a sound
We’re waiting
‘cos everything has to end
So I would recommend
To be waiting
These lyrics from Waxahatchee's "Waiting" paint a vivid and somewhat ominous picture of a forest and a relationship. The titular "red forest" seems to refer to a forest that has been burned down or destroyed in some way, with the "double cross" suggesting that this may have been intentional or malicious. The singer knows that whoever is responsible for this destruction will come after them, and they will be pursued and "smacked around." Despite this, there is a sense of freedom in their situation - they have each other and the "grave" they are in is their home. The singer seems to feel that they will never be hurt as deeply as they have been in the past, and they plan to build a life for themselves in this destroyed landscape.
The second verse continues the theme of waiting for the end, and the recommendation to be waiting suggests that this is inevitable - perhaps they are waiting for their pursuer to catch up to them, or for some other kind of disaster. The sense of finality in the lyrics is mirrored by the slow, almost mournful melody of the song. There is a sense of darkness and urgency woven throughout, with the repeated "we're waiting" serving as a reminder of the impending end. Overall, "Waiting" is a haunting and powerful song that explores themes of destruction, survival, and the enduring bonds of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Red forest double cross
The environment we live in is deceiving, and we have to be wary of possible traps and pitfalls.
You'll hunt me down, smack me around
You'll put me through emotional and physical stress and cause me pain.
I know you
I'm familiar with your ways, and I understand what you're capable of.
We'll burn down every tree
We'll leave no stone unturned or no challenge unaddressed in our pursuit of success and happiness.
Live out a dream
We'll make our desires and aspirations a reality and experience the things we've always wanted to have and do.
And we'll be alone
We might have to go through the journey of life by ourselves, making our own decisions and depending on ourselves to achieve our goals.
This grave is our home, and we're free
Death doesn't signify defeat or failure, but rather release, liberation, and freedom from pain and suffering.
And you'll never cut me as deep
No matter what you do, you'll never be able to break me or cause me as much hurt as I've already experienced.
We'll garnish a home
We'll decorate and personalize our living space and make it a cozy and welcoming place for ourselves and others.
But my blood is my own
I'm the only one responsible for my decisions and actions, and no one can judge me or decide for me.
And we're free
We have the power and ability to control our lives and make choices that lead to our happiness and fulfillment.
Red forest that once stood
The world around us was once full of life and hope, but now it's broken and damaged.
We come unwound
We're unraveling and falling apart, losing hope and direction in life.
Lay on the ground, don't make a sound
At times, it's best to stay still and silent and just observe what's happening around us, without making any rash decisions or actions.
We're waiting
We're waiting for a sign or direction in life, an opportunity to get back on our feet and start anew.
'cos everything has to end
Nothing in life is permanent or eternal, and everything has to come to an end, sooner or later.
So I would recommend to be waiting
Patience is a virtue, and it's essential to wait for the right moment, the right opportunity, or the right person to come into our lives, instead of rushing or settling for less.
Contributed by Levi K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keasey
This song always gives me an intense nostalgic feeling. Very beautiful.