The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) Lyrics

<i>William:</i>
And here come the waves
And the wanting comes in waves
And the wanting comes in waves
And the wanting comes in waves
And I want this night
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Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

Well, if you're right about William having just killed the rake (at his fortress, remember), it stands to reason that Margaret and William would at that point be criminals in whatever land was across the river. I'd probably be in a hurry, too, if I'd just invaded some foreign territory and murdered someone there.

Good point.

Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

Ok, so I think the Rake's been killed and this is the bittersweet reunion of William and Margaret... The music at the end confused me for a while, but I think they realize they're still not safe and must hurry to the river.

How could this be after he killed the rake? This is track 8, the rake isn't introduced til track 10. Why would they tell a story out of order? Exactly.

I love this track, just the sound of it. The meaning's sort of eluding me here...I mean, I dunno...maybe he wants her? [Sarcasm]

you've got the wrong track here bud, this is 16, not 8.

There's also a sort of double entendre on "in waves": originally, it meant that the wanting comes and goes whereas here it (obviously) means that the wanting comes while he is literally in waves. A nice mini-motif and some foreshadowing if you're somehow smart enough to catch it the first time around.

Nvm, I was listening to an online version and they had this track and 'Repaid' switched around. I actually think it's better to listen to that way, less repetitive and such.

Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

I just think of this as William's "I've just crossed the river, I am currently running dramatically towards the castle and I'm seriously horny as hell" song.

Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

fantastic song, when they played it live last night they seriously just stretched this song out to about five minutes, just repeating his mantra, i think its william wondering if he wants to risk everything and go some where new with margret, or stay where he's comfortable and keep living. the wanting comes in waves means his confusion and inner turmoil come and go in waves, and the literal words in the song forshadow the events at the river at the end where they both drowned

Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

If they were on a boat, then the last song would not have William telling Margaret to help array the rocks to avoid drowning. Before calling others stupid take a look at the crap you spout yourself.

Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

I think the music signifies as a way of Margaret telling William she was so injured by the Rake that it killed the baby that's why in the next song he asks if it was "a forest's son or a river's daughter". Also probably a reminder that William did let the Annan Water claim his life which sort of puts a damper on their reunion.

Cover art for The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) lyrics by Decemberists, The

Wow. You people are stupid.

This song is when William and Margaret are flowing across the river on Williams boat. The end of the song is when the boat begins sinking.

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