Tidal Wave – English Lyrics

• By: Portugal. The Man
• Album: Woodstock

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth of Portugal. The Man's "Tidal Wave" to explore English that beautifully captures the intensity of human emotions and resilience. The song's evocative metaphors, like 'hit me like a tidal wave, triggered by the aftershock,' offer a rich vocabulary for expressing profound feelings and inner battles, making it special for learners eager to grasp nuanced English expressions.

[English]

I can see it in your eyes

See it in your face

Banging on your chest

Acting tough looking unfazed

Tripping over landlines

Cutting deep with a dull blade (blade)

Running out of unrest

Goin' out of your mind

Lonely days will follow

Days will follow

And the gaze that stuck

The halls will know your name

Hit me like a tidal wave (ooooh)

Triggered by the aftershock

Hit me like a tidal wave (ooooh)

Triggered by the aftershock

...

Hit me like a tidal wave (ooooh)

Triggered by the aftershock

...

I can see it with my own eyes

The tracks down your face

It can't be easy tryna unwind

Sleepin' on your day dreams

I'm not tryna role play

I keep thinkin' break us take the wheel

These days can break

But I'm gonna take the wheel

You know I can't feel this pain in my heart

Because it's honestly been falling apart

Maybe I'm too blind to see

How trouble finds me

Well if it's here I'm gonna see where it leads

Call me Mr. Lonely

Bet on the winners

Worst of you's born to lose

Bed with no dinner

The rest of you's born to lose

Better than zero

Worst of you's born to lose

Bet on the winners

Bet on the winners

Worst of you's born to lose

Bed with no dinner

The rest of you's born to lose

Better than zero

Worst of you's born to lose

Bet on the winners

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of sight
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes
banging /ˈbæŋɪŋ/ B1	verb - striking or hitting something with a loud noise
tough /tʌf/ A2	adjective - strong, resilient, able to endure hardship
unfazed /ʌnˈfeɪzd/ B2	adjective - not showing shock or surprise
cutting /ˈkʌtɪŋ/ B1	verb - to penetrate or divide something with a sharp instrument
deep /diːp/ A2	adjective - extending far down or in
blade /bleɪd/ B1	noun - the flat part of a knife or other cutting tool
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - moving quickly on foot
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world
lonely /ˈləʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
gaze /ɡeɪz/ B1	verb - look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought. noun - a steady intent look
tidal wave /ˈtaɪdl weɪv/ B2	noun - a large wave caused by the displacement of a large volume of water
triggered /ˈtrɪɡəd/ B1	verb - to cause something to happen or exist
aftershock /ˈɑːftərʃɒk/ B2	noun - a smaller earthquake following a larger one
tracks /træks/ B1	noun - a mark or line left by something passing
unwind /ʌnˈwaɪnd/ B2	verb - to relax after a period of work or tension
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, strain, or pressure. noun - an interruption of continuity
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
blind /blaɪnd/ A2	adjective - unable to see
trouble /ˈtrʌbl/ A2	noun - difficulty or problems.
leads /liːdz/ B1	verb - cause someone or something to go in a particular direction or to a particular place.
winners /ˈwɪnərz/ A2	noun - a person or thing that is successful in a competition or contest.
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - be defeated
dinner /ˈdɪnər/ A1	noun - an evening meal
apart /əˈpɑːrt/ B1	adverb - into pieces; away from each other.
zero /ˈzɪərəʊ/ A1	noun - the number 0

Key Grammar Structures

• Acting tough looking unfazed

  ➔ Present Participles as Adjectives

  ➔ "Acting" and "looking" are present participles describing a temporary state. They function like adjectives modifying the implied subject (you).

• Triggered by the aftershock

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ The action ("triggered") happens TO the subject rather than being performed BY the subject. Emphasizes the event's cause ("aftershock").

• Lonely days will follow

  ➔ Simple Future Tense

  ➔ "Will follow" predicts inevitable future consequences using auxiliary "will" + base verb. Expresses certainty.

• Hit me like a tidal wave

  ➔ Simile with 'like'

  ➔ Uses "like" to explicitly compare emotional impact ("hit me") to a natural disaster ("tidal wave"). Highlights intensity.

• It can't be easy tryna unwind

  ➔ Modal Verb for Deduction + Informal Contraction

  ➔ "Can't" expresses negative deduction about difficulty. "Tryna" is colloquial contraction of "trying to" + verb ("unwind").

• Because it's honestly been falling apart

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous Tense

  ➔ "Has been falling" describes an ongoing process starting in the past ("been") continuing to present with visible results ("apart").

• How trouble finds me

  ➔ Interrogative Adverb Clause

  ➔ "How" introduces a noun clause acting as object of "see". Functions as indirect question showing confusion about recurring problems.

• But I'm gonna take the wheel

  ➔ Future Intention with 'gonna'

  ➔ "Gonna" (colloquial for "going to") expresses strong personal determination to control a situation ("take the wheel").