Black Wave/Bad Vibrations Lyrics

Lyric discussion by benjam326 

Cover art for Black Wave/Bad Vibrations lyrics by Arcade Fire

Quick French translation for anyone wondering... Je nage, mais les sons me suivent = I swim, but the sounds follow me Ce sera un long voyage = This will be a long voyage Sur les vagues de l'oubli = On the waves of oblivion

"Oubli" can also mean "forgetting," but I think "oblivion" fits in well with the song.

As for the actual song, it seems to be (on a literal level) about someone fleeing the political and social instability of Haiti, taking their chances on the open sea. I think it could also be about moving away from anything that is painful or hard to forget.