Meaning of “Waves” by Dean Lewis
“Waves” is the title of a 2016 single by Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis. While the lyrics of “Waves” appear to be about relationships, they are not – at least according to Lewis. So what is this song about then?
In a 2017 interview with Stack Magazine, the meaning of this song was explained by Lewis. According to him, he was well aware that people assume the lyrics to center on relationships and that relationships aren’t what the song is about. He said the song is about life’s dwindling excitement. Lewis explained that the lyrics talk about how the excitement in life keeps reducing as we age.
Facts about “Waves”
- This was the first single of Dean Lewis’ career. The song came out on September 30, 2016. It was the first single from Lewis’ debut EP titled Same Kind of Different. This EP came out on 12 May, 2017. It also features the noted single “Lose My Mind“.
- There are 6 tracks on the aforementioned EP. With a running time of 4:01, “Waves” is the longest of all 6 tracks.
- Songwriters/music producers Nick Atkinson and Edd Holloway wrote this song with Dean Lewis. The pair also produced. Atkinson and Holloway went on to work with Lewis on his 2018 global hit single “Be Alright“.
- On February 3, 2017, Lewis released an acoustic version of “Waves”.
- The background vocals on “Waves” were sung by the song’s co-composer Nick Atkinson.
- This song received as many as 5 nominations at the 2017 ARIA Music Awards. It didn’t win in any of the categories it was nominated in. The ARIA Award for Song of the Year was one of the several categories this song was nominated in. That award eventually went to the song “Stranger” by Peking Duk (ft. Elliphant).
- Since its release in 2016, “Waves” has been featured in several TV series, most notably Riverdale.
Are there any cover versions of this single?
Yes. The Australian pop band Sheppard covered this song in 2017. That cover appeared on the band’s 2017 EP titled Undercover.
How did “Waves” fare on the charts?
On the Australian ARIA Charts, the song climbed to number 12. Furthermore, it entered the top 100 in Ireland and Scotland.
add more information about what the song means it is a little vague.
Hey so like probs not gonna see this but like im probs just stupid or blind but do you mind highlighting the theme of waves or like say more of what its about
If you do see this thanks very much and i appreciate it
I feel like it describes my cptsd and wanting to get back to light and security. Emotional flashbacks like waves. The light in the dark that is what we want to be enveloped in. It slips through my fingers as the waves wash over me.
This song connects a lot for me. It makes me think about the ups and downs of my bipolar. To me it’s like waves…about the light at the end of the tunnel. I relate to it a lot, it’s one of my favourite songs because of the way it connects. It makes me think about the way I lost myself, and about how much it took from me. (Like a childhood) it was the hidden meaning behind the song for me.
“Person that I thought I was the boy I used to know”
“There is a light in the dark…why can’t I hold on”
“Memories of a stolen place…an echo lost in space”
It seems the music video lessen the song meanings… but that is just me. The Girl is cute though.
It also seems there’s a deeper meaning carried by the song. At the very least it also offer hope, that UPs will come after each Downs…
This song is so close to me. when I listen to this song i feel like i’m free from the rest of the world!
Haha I thought maybe the song was about doing ayahuasca
The song seems to be mourning the loss of feeling, excitement, or joy. The description Lewis gave makes sense. However, I feel like there is a deeper loss than that of excitement but speaking to the tragedy of the loss of life itself. It is often stated that emotions from grief come in waves. I think perhaps the childhood experiences of one of the three writers could have come into play here. There is mourning and pain but simultaneously breathtaking beauty. I love this song!
I thought it was about coming into puberty and a longing for the life of the child he was.
I love this song
Every song seems to be about relationships, which makes me so glad that they point out that it’s not.
After looking at this, it all makes sense. I love this song sm