“Amber Waves” is a new english song by Ethel Cain, published on Ethel Cain’s official YouTube channel. Written and produced by Ethel Cain, the track serves as the cataclysmic final piece of the album Perverts and was released on January 8, 2025. With its hauntingly ethereal tone and introspective lyrics, the song offers listeners a deeply emotional and immersive experience.
The song explores themes of longing, addiction, and emotional detachment, reflecting a narrative of heartbreak and cyclical self-destruction. Drawing inspiration from The Reflecting Skin and the imagery of “amber waves” from America the Beautiful, Ethel Cain intertwines the mystical and macabre. Through vivid storytelling, she depicts the character’s fixation on fleeting euphoria, capturing the fragile balance between self-sabotage and yearning for solace.
Amber Waves Details
| Song | Amber Waves |
|---|---|
| Album | Perverts |
| Artists | Ethel Cain |
| Written By | Ethel Cain |
| Produced By | Ethel Cain |
| Label | Ethel Cain |
| Language | English |
| Released Date | Jan 8, 2025 |
Amber Waves Lyrics
[Intro]
Um, I don’t know
I— I’ll take it
Um, how much?
I would recommend that you take just as much as you need to feel good
[Verse 1]
Before she leaves
Amber waves at me
Days go by, time on without me
I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright
I take the long way home
Shaking the bottle and letting them roll
‘Cause the devil I know
Is the devil I want
[Chorus]
Is it not fun, oh
To feel many other ways?
What you do
Is nothing to me, to me
[Verse 2]
I still kick rocks when the walking is good
And pretend at the chain link that I am the wood
As I’m leaning my head back
Saying “Take me, I ain’t gonna scream”
Yet here I am empty
Watching love of mine leave
But I’ll be alright
Me and my amber waves
I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright
[Chorus]
Is it not fun, oh
To feel many other ways?
What you do
Is nothing to me
Is it not fun, oh
In the catatonia
Maybe it’s true
You were nothing to me
[Outro]
I can’t feel anything
Amber Waves Meaning
[Intro]
In this opening section, Ethel Cain sets a disorienting and vulnerable tone. The dialogue, reflective of inner conflict, suggests an attempt to find balance or control in seeking comfort. The phrase “just as much as you need to feel good” implies a precarious reliance on external sources of solace, foreshadowing the addictive cycles explored in the song.
[Verse 1]
Ethel Cain paints a scene of isolation and resignation as the individual observes the passing of time and clings to familiar vices. The “amber waves” serve as a metaphor for both comfort and despair, symbolizing the duality of longing for stability while being drawn to destructive patterns. The imagery of shaking the bottle and embracing “the devil I know” reflects an acceptance of harmful habits, finding solace in the familiar rather than facing the unknown.
[Chorus]
This section explores the allure of emotional detachment and fleeting pleasures. Ethel Cain questions the value of vulnerability, suggesting a desensitized state where the actions of others carry little significance. The repeated questioning of whether it is “fun” to feel highlights the internal struggle between numbness and emotional fulfillment.
[Verse 2]
Here, Ethel Cain delves deeper into the tension between hope and resignation. The act of “kicking rocks” and pretending to be strong reveals a façade of resilience. The plea for release juxtaposed with the individual’s quiet acceptance of abandonment reflects a complex relationship with pain. The “amber waves” once again symbolize a fragile connection to fleeting solace amidst a backdrop of emotional emptiness.
[Chorus]
The second iteration of the chorus intensifies the feelings of detachment and introspection. Ethel Cain introduces the concept of catatonia, portraying a state of emotional paralysis. The repeated acknowledgment of insignificance suggests a resigned acceptance of disillusionment, amplifying the song’s themes of inner turmoil and longing.
[Outro]
In the final section, Ethel Cain conveys complete numbness, signaling the culmination of emotional exhaustion. The inability to feel reflects the devastating aftermath of addiction to fleeting euphoria, leaving the individual in a state of emotional void. This haunting conclusion ties together the song’s narrative of cyclical suffering and the struggle for meaning amidst despair.
Amber Waves Official Video
Perverts Songs
FAQs
The "Amber Waves" song is sung by Ethel Cain.
The "Amber Waves" song by Ethel Cain lyrics was written by Ethel Cain.
The "Amber Waves" song by Ethel Cain was produced by Ethel Cain.
Ethel Cain released "Amber Waves" song on Jan 8, 2025.
