WAV Files

## Song by Lupe Fiasco

"**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.

## 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."

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." 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.'" *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."

## Lyrics

**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

1. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. November 13, 2018.
2. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". *Instagram*. September 19, 2018.
3. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". *Instagram*. September 24, 2018.
4. ↑ Josephs, Brian (September 29, 2018). "*Drogas Wave* by Lupe Fiasco". *Pitchfork*.
5. ↑ Ch, Devin (September 22, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Begs For Patient Understanding On "WAV Files"". *HotNewHipHop*.