Tidal Waves (feat. Mark Hoppus)

I think this song is about mental illness. Sometimes people try to separate themselves from it, and I think this is about a depressed/disturbed person talking to their mental illness. Bold print is Mark Hoppus Singing

Falling on my face again / So I know I'm right on track Failing again, but they're used to it. It's happened so much it's “normal.”

It's hard for me to make amends / When you stab me in the back It's hard to make things better when the mental illness sabotages them.

Sailing on to another sorry shore / Talking shit / Say I’m you're filthy little, filthy little Moving on to another therapist. The mental illness is “talking shit” saying that it's not going to work and that your just being manipulated by the mental illness and always will be.

Like I just happened to be in the right place, right time / Just settle down The person getting angry, realizing it's not they're fault, and that the mental illness ins lying to them. People are telling to “settle down” and not show anger.

-Chorus Begins-

I earned my place / With the tidal waves Tidal wave is another name for a tsunami, they earned their place by being triggered into causing damage. (example: Something upset them and they lashed out)

I can't escape this feeling / That something ain't right Again, they are realizing that it isn't their fault that they have this mental illness, and that the mental illness is lying to them.

I carve my name / As I crash the gates They get a reputation for destruction as they lash out again.

Still, I can't escape this feeling / That something ain't right Again, they are realizing that it isn't their fault that they have this mental illness, and that the mental illness is lying to them.

Why don't you think before you speak? / Cause you don't know me at all / You don't know me at all Knowing that it's not your fault, bu still being judged by everyone. Asking why people say things without even asking about or knowing your history.

-Chorus Ends-

Tell me how you really feel / Write it on the bathroom wall A therapist trying to help, saying “Tell me the truth and if you can't, write it down – anywhere.” Don't be embarrassed for other people to know.

If anyone was watching / I know you'd say nothing at all They're being really secretive and the therapist saying they understand.

Treading water / Yeah you're angry and you're bored / But I’m sick of this / I'm just your filthy little, filthy little Saying that they know you're barely hanging on, that they know your angry and bored. But they're tired of you being like that and not responding to treatment. They're saying the same thing that your mental illness told you. That you think that you are manipulating them to get what you want.

Like I just happen to be at the right place, right time Angry again, knowing that the therapist was wrong.

Oh, would you settle down The therapist being condescending and not caring, telling them “oh, would you settle down”

“Chorus”

Spread your lies / Like fireflies / In a white hot summer / Trying to pull me under Telling the mental illness to “spread their lies” because they don't believe them any more “like fireflies” (Easy to see in the “darkness” of mental illness). The mental illness is using the lies to try to take them down when they are happy (in the summer).

You sharpen words / To use like knifes / When you lose your color / They'll be nothing left Saying that the mental illness tries to hurt them with words but (like fireflies) when they loose their color (light) they won't exist. This plays into the firefly analogy that lies (or fireflies) will be gone when you can't see them anymore.

“Chorus”