Kristine Flaherty grew up outside of Chicago, devouring her father's classic rock records and staying up late dancing to Parliament-Funkadelic in the living room. It was this same musical open-mindedness that would later spark her artistic development. She found her musical voice in college, fusing the eclectic power of the Bay Area hip hop scene with her own unique presence, inspired by strong, independent female artists ranging from Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill to Fiona Apple and Liz Phair.
On stage, K.Flay is a one-woman whirlwind: whether she’s creating beats, singing, rapping or playing guitar, her wit and acerbic charm shine through. Her talents have led her to share the stage with artists including Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and 3OH!3, where she quickly won over audiences who hadn’t seen anything quite like her before. Further setting her apart from the pack, she serves as her own producer in the studio, methodically infusing her hip hop swagger with a dose of sonic exploration.
With one mixtape (the genre-hopping MASHed Potatoes) already available online, K.Flay is spending the rest of 2010 recording in San Francisco and touring with Passion Pit in October and 3oh!3 in November.
Black Wave
k.flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can taste the fear yeah it's written on my lips
Sipping on a cold one waiting for the rinse
Woke up with an omen tatted on my wrist
Black wave coming will it drop
I can see the fear yeah it's written on the wall
Who you gonna trust when the killer is the cop
Fire in my bloodstream, water in my lungs
Waiting on a black wave
Running in a rat maze
Shaking in my own cage
What do I believe? I believe
Waiting on a black wave
Living under bad days
Shaking in my own cage
What do I believe
Stumbling down the street I swear to god you don't wanna test me
Black wave blocking out the sun
Baby when you go down ain't no coming up
Thought that you were safe but nobody ever was
Choking on a diamond, poison in your lungs
At the end guess we're all just animals
At the end is it all just greed
When the ocean crash down who you gonna call
Hold your breath, hold your breath, counting 1 2
Waiting on a black wave
Running in a rat maze
Shaking in my own cage
What do I believe? I believe
Waiting on a black wave
Living under bad days
Shaking in my own cage
What do I believe
Stumbling down the street I swear to god you don't wanna test me
How did a girl like me
End up in a world so mean
The lyrics to K.Flay’s song “Black Wave” convey a sense of impending doom and fear for the future. “Black wave coming will it hit, I can taste the fear yeah it’s written on my lips” is a powerful opening line that sets the tone for the entire song. It suggests that something destructive is on the horizon, and the singer is unable to escape it. The idea of a “black wave” is repeated throughout the song, which could be interpreted in different ways. It could refer to a natural disaster or a societal collapse, but it’s clear that whatever it is, it’s going to be catastrophic.
The chorus, “Waiting on a black wave, running in a rat maze, shaking in my own cage, what do I believe? I believe,” is a reflection of the singer’s uncertainty and anxiety. She feels trapped and powerless, unable to escape the chaos that surrounds her. The repeated phrase “shaking in my own cage” emphasizes this sense of feeling trapped and helpless. The line “stumbling down the street I swear to god you don’t wanna test me” suggests that the singer is on the brink of breaking down, but is still holding on.
The final verse, “How did a girl like me end up in a world so mean,” is a poignant acknowledgement of the singer’s vulnerability. It’s a reminder that even though she feels helpless and trapped, she’s still fighting to survive.
Overall, “Black Wave” is a powerful and haunting song that captures the sense of fear and uncertainty that many people feel in uncertain times.
Line by Line Meaning
Black wave coming will it hit
Is impending disaster inevitable?
I can taste the fear yeah it's written on my lips
Am I alone in my anxiety?
Sipping on a cold one waiting for the rinse
Am I numbing myself before the storm?
Woke up with an omen tatted on my wrist
Do I have a premonition of what's to come?
Black wave coming will it drop
Is the disaster imminent?
I can see the fear yeah it's written on the wall
Do others sense the impending doom too?
Who you gonna trust when the killer is the cop
How can I trust anyone in a corrupt system?
Fire in my bloodstream, water in my lungs
Am I consumed by passion and anxiety?
Waiting on a black wave
Am I anticipating the disaster?
Running in a rat maze
Do I feel trapped and unable to escape?
Shaking in my own cage
Am I paralyzed by fear?
What do I believe? I believe
Am I searching for meaning amidst chaos?
Living under bad days
Am I struggling to survive in a difficult time?
Stumbling down the street I swear to god you don't wanna test me
Am I at my breaking point?
Black wave blocking out the sun
Is complete destruction imminent?
Baby when you go down ain't no coming up
Is there any hope for survival?
Thought that you were safe but nobody ever was
Is anyone truly safe?
Choking on a diamond, poison in your lungs
Is material wealth worth sacrificing our health?
At the end guess we're all just animals
Are we all just driven by primal instincts?
At the end is it all just greed
Is greed the root of our destruction?
When the ocean crash down who you gonna call
Will anyone be able to help when disaster strikes?
Hold your breath, hold your breath, counting 1 2
Am I preparing for the worst?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL WILSON, KRISTINE FLAHERTY, THOMAS JAMES SCHLEITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind