Wet Sand

My next couple of blogs will be on the greatest written love songs in the world of rock and alternative music. It is in music that I found great insight and meaning into the world of love and the emotions it brings out.

While this is not necessarily the best of all love songs- In “Wet Sand” I found a melancholy feeling in its melody and the lyrics. Here’s my interpretation of this song. The song begins with the protagonist talking about his shadow side being amplified.. meaning all he feels next to him is his shadow when he wants this loved one to be there. But in the presence of his shadow he feels dissatisfied and alone. Its all very “elementary” and obvious to him.. but its also frustrating. In his innocent love affair with everywhere he talks about the wanderlust he has been a part of but that it means nothing. He knows that this person “is the best I know” and the line seems deeper that it appears.

In the agony of being apart from the one he truly loves, he feels his “sunny side has up and dried”. He knows that with every collision or argument his universe shifts into a new low. He realizes that what he did not recognize his true feelings for this person and he them for a momentary high of power in the relationship. (“The travesties that we have seen, Are treating me like Benzedrine”)

He goes on to dream of being with this person.. walking in the sun.. getting to know her and saying that he’d really try. He wants to make her his bride and leaves the thought hanging of who its for the better for.

The second part of the song goes on about how Norma Jean’s despair (Marilyn Monroe) is nothing compared to what she seems to be going through. He’s thought about it now and he has no doubt.. perhaps this is after he seems to have lost this love.

The last part of this song is the part which blows me over. The lyrics could mean a million things for each time it is sung. It has this strange quality of sounding different and possibly meaning all of the different things each time its sung out-
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He knows now that she is divine and of an angelic quality and so she does not form in the wet sand.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – When he walks he sees his footprints and not hers and he wishes for a second chance.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He is with this person but every time he wants to hold on to her, she washes away like the wet sand.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He finds her temperamental and does not know if he has her or she even exists or if it’s just a part of an illusion.

The song has a quality of going back and forth in time periods, sometimes reminiscing and sometimes talking about a moment in the present. Its lyrical genius makes it impossible for a reader to understand whether the protagonist is talking about the now or the past.

And for those of you who haven’t heard or paid attention to the lyrics, here it is:

Wet Sand - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
My shadow side, so amplified,
Keeps coming back dissatisfied
Elementary son but it's so...
My love affair with everywhere was innocent,
Why do you care?
Someone start the car time to go...
You're the best I know

My sunny side has up and died,
I'm betting that when we collide
The universe will shift into a low
The travesties that we have seen
Are treating me like Benzedrine
Automatic laughter from a pro

My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to get to know you a little better, baby,
God knows that I really tried

My, what a good day for a take out bride
I'd like to say we did it for the better of

I saw you there, so unaware,
Those hummingbirds all in your hair
Elementary son but it's so...
The disrepair of Norma Jean
Could not compare to your routine
Balarama beauty going toe-to-toe

My, what a good day for a... let it slide
I'd like to say we did it for the better of

I thought about it, and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, yeah

Right on the verge, just one more dose
I'm traveling from coast-to-coast
My theory isn't perfect, but it's close
I'm almost there, why should I care?
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up and let it show

My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to think we did it for the better of

I thought about it, and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, ohhhhh

You don't form in the wet sand,
You don't form at all
You don't form in the wet sand.