To me, these lyrics are explaining how much people underestimate themselves. The wave is a trend, and people like trends. Most of us think that we need to mimic others and fit into a group to be happy ("get into character"), and we put on a front that suppresses our actual selves. For the part about the "bigger wave", it might have something to do with how increasingly more people are willing to do anything to fit in, including harming others.
Another interpretation I have is this: People stress out about very small things (waves), especially when nothing of actual importance is worrying them. These people then lie and convince themselves ("get into character") that the stress is unavoidable. Then when a life catastrophe happens (a bigger wave), it is impossible to react to.
To me, these lyrics are explaining how much people underestimate themselves. The wave is a trend, and people like trends. Most of us think that we need to mimic others and fit into a group to be happy ("get into character"), and we put on a front that suppresses our actual selves. For the part about the "bigger wave", it might have something to do with how increasingly more people are willing to do anything to fit in, including harming others.
Another interpretation I have is this: People stress out about very small things (waves), especially when nothing of actual importance is worrying them. These people then lie and convince themselves ("get into character") that the stress is unavoidable. Then when a life catastrophe happens (a bigger wave), it is impossible to react to.