On a Wave
In a spiral, a comet on the blood-red horizon
Falling headlong, in flames I tumble into the ocean
In a fever, it’s never gonna let you forget her
Come whatever, and who are you to know any better?
On a wave, never gonna see her again
On a wave, gonna ride it right to the end
A tsunami, slamming on floor of the ocean
An emotion, a butterfly has put it in motion
On a wave, never gonna see her again
On a wave, got it right right to the end
On a wave, breaking away
On a wave, don’t care what you’re saying
She always swore that
We’d make it whatever
Through any tempest
We’d stick together
She’s in my system
She’ll stay there forever
Like a virus that’s in my heart
On a wave
On a wave
At night I’m floating on the seabed
White horses, charging over my head
And all is destined to decay
All is programmed to betray
In your heart and soul enslaved
Brake away on an ocean wave
Devotion, I’m falling to the floor of the ocean
I’m a depth of charge
A fireball of love and emotion
Yeah
On a wave, never gonna see her again
On a wave, got it right right to the end
On a wave, breaking away
On a wave
Don’t care what you say
I’m leaving today
I’m breaking away on a wave
Song Notes
Debuted live on May 8th, 2003 at the Manchester Apollo. The band said of the song:
Tim: It’s like an apocalyptic surf song, it’s from this weird situation I kind of dreamed up in my head. It’s a weird sort of vision song about surfing in this apocalyptic situation where the world’s fucking crumbling and relationships are crumbling.
Rick: “On a Wave” is definitely one of the darker songs. It’s definitely got a dark vibe to it. It’s like satanic surfing. I think a lot of the new stuff has a bit of a darker edge to it. There are fewer references to summer in there. There’s a few in there - it’s Tim, he can’t help it - but generally the themes are about the darker side of love. It definitely a little bit different