"WAV Files" is a song by Lupe Fiasco, released as the sixth track from his album, Drogas Wave (2018). Along with the personification of nature and recurring elements (sea, forest, stars, sugar), it tells the story of the LongChains, and lists off several slave ships in the third verse. The hook talks about the deaths of slaves—which is why the beaches are white—along with slaves jumping overboard the slave ships to return home. The fourth verse, he explained on Twitter, is about celebrities.[1]
Background[]
Concerning the line, 'walking on water,' Fiasco referenced towards the captain logs of the slave ship, HMS Black Joke. He quoted, "They walked on water. Sure footed and swift as if it was paved road. Their eyes were black as opal and shined in the sunlight like diamonds. Their weaponry was always at the ready. Large spear-like harpoons and massive whaling hooks connected to long chains and heavy ropes. Their clothing was a blend of African cloth and salvaged sailor uniforms. They were poised, organized and regal. It was all at once the most impressive and the most bewildering thing I'd ever seen in all my years on the seas or on the land for that matter."[2]
Speaking upon the use of sugar, he explained, "As a tribute to the LongChains the slaves they helped set free would go to the beach and pour sugar into the sea so that the LongChains would have something sweet to enjoy amidst the saltiness of the ocean. Also the sugar would act as a trail for the LongChains to follow to return back to their homes in Africa."[3] Fiasco also sold incense as part of Drogas Wave merchandise to enhance this concept and experience for listeners.
Critical reception[]
Pitchfork wrote, "Fiasco's voice reflects a genuine mournfulness. It helps him sell his revisionist fantasy, whether incorporating a sympathetic Poseidon into the narrative or stumbling upon a new backronym: 'Walking on water/WOW WOW.'"[4] HotNewHipHop added, "Lupe Fiasco densely packs the 6th track plenty of deftly hidden symbols, some more obvious than others. The mention of iconic figures like Jesus, Jay-Z, and Mother Earth herself (under several of her pseudonyms) serves not to worship the ground they walk but to push his personal agenda in an artful yet devilish manner. The beat on "WAV Files" also highlights his skills as a producer."[5]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Wade with us
Baptize and convert to the waves with us
I tuned in to what the future holds
I could never be a slave, n***as
They gon' have to pay me, Navy
Downloaded by the tidals like Jay-Z
That's a roll offshore like an A.P., Davy
Jones' locker on top of those hoppers off the side of the ship
Suicide, didn't die from the dip
Submarine man, keep your eyes on the blips
Sonar, echolocation, know where we are facin'
Get back to our nation—oh, Lord!
So we walkin' back to Africa
And I found a detour to the seashore
Yes, jumped off the deck
To leave footsteps on the depths of the sea floor, ayy
[Chorus]
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water, ayy
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, ayy
[Verse 2]
Yeah, uh
Dive with us, vibe with us
Imbibe with the tide
Sea salty 'cause it cry with us when we looked it in the eyes
Like how could you help her?
Poseidon apologized and said that I'm sorry, we're shelter
Y'all can live down here forever, drownin' is severed
From all your lungs and the lungs of your sons
Tell your daughters the water's a treasure
Summon the forest
Talkin' to trees, now how could you be in the chorus
With something so horrid?
You became boards for the floors and the doors of the warships
Anthropomorphic, the forest returned with a match
Made from itself and said, "Burn us with that"
Then left again and came back with a axe
We can serve you as furniture or furnace us black, ayy
[Chorus]
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water, ayy
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, ayy
[Verse 3]
Yeah, shipwreck with us
Grab vessels, bring 'em down to the depths with us
Take ahold of the bow of the Jesus
And The Brigantine Sanderson and La Amistad
And The Henry of London and Elizabeth
Fanny Butler And The Hector and The Gree
The Baratoga and The Martha
Glorin, and The Corralline and The Brittany
And The Comet
Alabama and The Wanderer, Henrietta Marie
The Molly, The Sloop
The Molican
The Boa Morte and The River Volta
The Lordboard, The Elisee, The Eagle
The Agent Coker and The Colorado
Tar Tar, Morgan, The Mizer
The Pangas and The Mary Baugh and The Surf (Surf, Surf)
Williamsbury and The Liverpool
The Marquis O' Grady
The Inbus, The Ferris, The Leons
The Navigator, and The Phoenix
Claytor, Muhgel, Dragon, Gray Way, Ruby
Caroline, Bark, and The Tiger Nanny of Carlington
Pinnace Swallow
The Green Dragon and The Charles
The Abel Aide, The Moon Tavern, and The Slan
Hannibal of London, Jeffry, Little Fleet, Mediterranean
Li Anelia, The Solomon and The Tyre, Kaff
The Mersey, The Inbe, and The Little Napoleon
Rainbow, Enterprise, The Katherine, Bristol
The Kambia, The Ann
The Adelaide Brookes and The Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
[Chorus]
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water, ayy
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, ayy
[Verse 4]
Yeah, uh
Rise with us
From out the sevens to the Heavens in the skies in us
Conversations with the constellations
While you navigate the haters, black baby alligator baiters
Supposed to do greater, with all of your alphas and betas
And minors and majors
You were so busy just tryin' to shine
You shoulda been tryin' to save us
Star said, "Excuse our behavior
We will be indebted to you for all of eternity
If you counseled your heart and forgave us
Remove all our favors from childrens of sailors and slavers
Repay you with acres
But here in the heavens where harvest is greater
A meager inheritance, pardon our arrogance
Those with Americans, guide them to places much safer, ayy"
[Chorus]
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water
Wow, wow, walkin' on water, ayy
My bones is why the beach is white
Why the beach is white 'cause they bleached us light
So I'm goin' back home, I took a leap last night
So I'm walkin' on water 'til my feet just like Jesus Christ
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, wow, wow
Walkin' on water, ayy
[Outro]
Seas, all that I have for you, forest
Fire and maps for you, stars
Fall off the flag for you, sugar
Sweeten the path for you, seas
All that I have for you, forest
Fire and maps for you, stars
Fall off the flag for you, sugar
Sweeten the path for you, seas
All that I have for you, forest
Are fire and maps for you, stars
Fall off the flat for you, sugar
Sweeten the path for you, seas
All that I have for you, forest
Are fire and maps for you, stars
Fall off the flag for you, sugar
Sweeten the path for you
References[]
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. November 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". Instagram. September 19, 2018.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". Instagram. September 24, 2018.
- ↑ Josephs, Brian (September 29, 2018). "Drogas Wave by Lupe Fiasco". Pitchfork.
- ↑ Ch, Devin (September 22, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Begs For Patient Understanding On "WAV Files"". HotNewHipHop.