In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I wish I could cross my arms and cross your mind
'Cause I believe you'd unfold your paper heart and wear it on your sleeve
All my life I wish I broke mirrors instead of promises
'Cause all I see is a shattered conscience staring right back at me
I wish I had covered all my tracks completely
'Cause I'm so afraid, is that the light at the far end of the tunnel or just the train
Lift your arms, only heaven knows where the danger grows
And it's safe to say there's a bright light up ahead and help is on the way
I forget the last time I felt brave, I just recall insecurity
'Cause it came down like a tidal wave and sorrow swept over me
Depression please cut to the chase and cut a long story short
Oh please be done, how much longer can this drama afford to run
Fate looks sharp, severs all my ties and breaks whatever doesn't bend
But sadly then, all my heavy hopes just pull me back down again
I forget the last time I felt brave, I just recall insecurity
'Cause it came down like a tidal wave and sorrow swept over me
Then I was given grace and love
I was blind but now I can see
'Cause I've found a new hope from above
And courage swept over me
It hurts just to wake up whenever you're wearing thin
Alone on the outside
So tired of looking in
The end is uncertain
And I've never been so afraid
But I don't need a telescope to see that there's hope
And that makes me feel brave
'Cause I believe you'd unfold your paper heart and wear it on your sleeve
All my life I wish I broke mirrors instead of promises
'Cause all I see is a shattered conscience staring right back at me
I wish I had covered all my tracks completely
'Cause I'm so afraid, is that the light at the far end of the tunnel or just the train
Lift your arms, only heaven knows where the danger grows
And it's safe to say there's a bright light up ahead and help is on the way
I forget the last time I felt brave, I just recall insecurity
'Cause it came down like a tidal wave and sorrow swept over me
Depression please cut to the chase and cut a long story short
Oh please be done, how much longer can this drama afford to run
Fate looks sharp, severs all my ties and breaks whatever doesn't bend
But sadly then, all my heavy hopes just pull me back down again
I forget the last time I felt brave, I just recall insecurity
'Cause it came down like a tidal wave and sorrow swept over me
Then I was given grace and love
I was blind but now I can see
'Cause I've found a new hope from above
And courage swept over me
It hurts just to wake up whenever you're wearing thin
Alone on the outside
So tired of looking in
The end is uncertain
And I've never been so afraid
But I don't need a telescope to see that there's hope
And that makes me feel brave
Lyrics submitted by bonjouramigo
Tidal Wave Lyrics as written by Adam Young Matthew Thiessen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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So happy to hear Adam singing about God and hope. Not to mention it brought a huge smile to my face as soon as Matty T chimed in :]
"Then I was given grace and love I was blind but now I can see 'Cause I found a new hope from above And courage swept over me" I love that.
i agree with such passion its unbelieveable.<br /> mathew thiessen is great.<br /> these lyrics are just poetic brilliance. once again.
I agree :) I couldnt have said it better. :)
Matt is the best!
Matt Thiessen + Adam Young = love
This song is so...just...so wonderful. All the words really sorta describe my life and...just...wow. Owl City is amazing.
I couldn't agree more.
As happy and peppy as this song sounds, I always found a bit of a darker part in these lyrics.
"Depression, please cut to the chase and cut a long story short Oh, please be done how much longer can this drama afford to run? Fate looks sharp severs all my ties And breaks whatever doesn't bend But sadly then, all my heavy hopes just pull me back down again"
"Cut a long story short" sounds like suicide- cutting a naturally long life short "How much longer can this drama afford to run?" hard times in life always seem to last a long time "Fate looks sharp/whatever doesn't bend" meaning that life sometimes dries us away from loved ones "all my hopes just pull me back down again" meaning that hopes have been smashed several times
To me, this song is about being depressed and possibly as low as you can go- but you still have the optimism to expect a "light at the end of the tunnel", meaning that soon you'll be out of this tunnel of depression and thrown into the light of being okay. It's an "everything is going to be alright, in time" kind of song, and I'm glad he wrote something like this. ♥
I agree with this completely.
i like that. this song talks about the downs in life, yet brings them up with his religion. i agree with you on the dark side of this, yet it also has the "happy" side. all in all, we all love owl city right? and his love for god. look in his album for instance. "all praise and glory for Jesus christ". thats the #1 reason we should all love owl city. and jesus.
I love how he remains secular while singing about a clearly spirtual theme. It really keeps him grounded. You can't accuse him of being some religious nut. He's just a hopeful man.
Such a beautiful song, he should write more like these. Adam and Matthew's voices just combine so amazingly.
wow. this song makees me feel so good about my future. All my struggles are . . . my slate is wiped clean through repentance. i ALWAYS have the courage to say no to whatever sins will bring me down. thank you, Adam. this song means the world to me, you have no idea. and great keys in it, too.
i agree with u. this song really got me thinking about our religion. he canmake songs that dont sound religous, yet they are! and yes, they keys are nice.
hahah, i always thought it said "i forget the last time i felt brave, for calling security". :P
This is probably my favorite song off of Ocean Eyes. I never realized how beautiful Matt Thiessen's voice was until I heard him sing along with Adam in this song and sound almost equally as awesome as him. I really like the lines "I wish I could cross my arms and cross your mind." and "I forget the last time I felt brave, I just recall insecurity. 'Cause it came down like a tidal wave and sorrow swept over me." I think this song is about being depressed and kinda unhappy with the way your life is right now, but being happy because you know someday it will be a lot better.
'Fireflies' and 'Tidal Wave' are the two songs that stand out for me on this album. Not sure on the new stuff though if i'm being completely honest, i prefer his previous albums (Maybe I'm Dreaming being the best so far in my opinion!) :)
This is about these lyrics: "Only Heaven knows, Where the danger grows, And it's safe to say, There's a bright light up ahead, And help is on the way"<br /> <br /> Did anyone else get the impression that is like an allusion to the movie Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory when they're in the boat. Not just the lines itself, but that scene. However, Owl City's lyrics are a much happier look on it than Willy did. Willy sings:<br /> <br /> "Not a speck of light is showing, So the danger must be growing"<br /> <br /> I dunno maybe I just read too much to into things. :p
Hmmm... "Depression cut to the chase." Nice verb choice.