Amongst the Waves

I think this song is excellent. One of the best on the new album.

I think this song is about loving, and losing love. In the first verse, the speaker is in love, "if not for love I would be drowning". And he's incredibly happy, "I am up/Riding high amongst the waves". Later on, "the channel changed/The first time you saw blood". He's been hurt for the first time. But after having been hurt, later on, "Now you're strong/You've bled yourself, the wounds are gone". So, even though he's loved and lost, he's stronger for the experience.

"Love ain't love until you give it up": In my opinion, the best lyric in the song. Sums up the character's experience.

Just incredible songwriting, Ed.

-Ryan

Amazing song, and +1 to the guy above.

He's not saying "Love ain't love until you give it up" he's saying "Love ain't love until you give it" the "up" goes with the Riding High Amongst the Waves as it did in the 1st verse.

I believe this is a song of intense gratitude. For a love that may have saved his life and how that has helped him to now see the light finally crack the darkness.

Really positive song this - absolutely love it.

Lots of stuff coming from it, love, living life, reflecting on life.

Beautiful

I think fanman475 got it backward. This song is about him and Jill. "Let's go swim tonight, darlin ... Just you and me and nothin' more"

It's because they have both loved and lost that they can love each other fully (because you know what's like to lose it). "Love ain't love until you give it up"

This song to me sounds like it was written from the point of view of a drug addict newly in recovery. His love is an inspiration to him and his sobriety. He is telling her that she can save the tears, that he is changed... now that he is free of his addiction (outside the undertow) he is going to live his life for her.

More references to recovery in the chorus... I can feel like I have a soul that has been saved... I put away my early grave... better now than too late.

Consider these lines: Remember back the early days when you were young and thus amazed--A user in the early days/stages of addiction, justt having fun and being curious Suddenly the channel changed the first time you saw blood--A reference to the blood drawn into the syringe before shooting up. Almost any addict will tell you that once they started that, their addiction took a turn for the worst. The addiction becomes not only one to a drug but also the needle.

Yes, yes, and yes, dmb1bartender. Beautifully put.

This song makes me wanna start tearing. Beautiful! Reminds me a lot of Given to Fly.

Ryan, nicely summed up. I relate to the first part like yourself. However for the 2nd part, I feel he is talking about surviving through the pain as love matures in the relationship and when he says "Love ain't love until you give it up", in my opinion, it is not love unless you learn to give up the bitter painful experiences

For me this song is about surfing and all the beauty of that. Surfing is a spiritual experience and can change lives "I can feel like I.. Have a soul that has been saved.. I can feel like I've.. Put away my early grave.." The best song from Backspacer.