UPDATED: Special thanks to Pacific Longboarder Magazine for publishing some of this blog on July 13th 2016!
FADE IN:
EXT. [Establishing shot: MALIBU, California USA COASTLINE]
Ominous waves crash on the shore. A young rugged surfer enters the water.
Cutaway to an FBI agent shooting targets.
Wait a minute…that’s the opening title sequence to the original movie “Point Break”! But I’ll go ahead and let Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze introduce my new single, “The Wave”.
When I moved to Los Angeles, one of the first things I did was head to the beach. I already scored a used surfboard and a thrashed O’Neill wetsuit for $50.00 bucks.
I think I first surfed with my high school buddy, Alex Knight, in Virginia Beach VA. When Alex came out to visit me after I moved to L.A., we hit the beach immediately: LAX to Malibu. Alex suggested we chill on the Pacific Coast Highway a bit and watch the sets of waves roll in. Watch the swell and see if it was worth paddling out. I've never had a bad time out in the ocean surfing; even if I didn't catch a wave. And I suck at surfing.
Catching the wave was a whole other story. Surfing is exhausting. Half the battle is paddling out which will just about do you in if you're not in shape.
Broke not too soon.
You wanted a good long ride that wouldn't fizzle out. Kinda like a relationship. The proverbial wave that breaks not too soon. Another element to surfing (not songwriting) is...you don't want to cut off another surfer (i.e; take their wave) because you will get your ass kicked. Those Malibu dudes are very territorial. But now that I think about it...another songwriter might wanna kick your ass if they think you stole their line or melody. Kinda like Led Zeppelin in court over "Stairway to Heaven". Quality problem to have.
Here's a picture of my girlfriend, Robin (who is now my wife!), and me in Virginia Beach VA in Fall of 1993. The year we met! This is a simple song. Its obviously a love song more than it is an ode to surfing. But as I wrote this song I was thinking about the two: falling in love and surfing. When you catch a sweet wave...it is like falling in love. Try it sometime ;) I may also be singing to Jesus (now that I am older). I hear myself singing "You are the way" in the outro. He is the way, the truth and the life. May this song be a gift to my wife and a little bit of Pop music magic to you. I pasted the lyrics below for you ;) #blessup, Phil Hyland
Lyrics:
“The Wave” written and performed by Phil Hyland (BMI) / published by VTown Cartel Music & Kona Coast Music
You are the wave I fell into,
You are the wave, broke not too soon,
You are the swell, you’re pulled by the moon,
Can you tell...from this mood?
I want to give myself to you,
I’ve been to hell and back in an afternoon,
I had to dig me out this dark room!
To find you always knew...yeah,
You are the wave I fell into,
You are the wave, you broke not too soon
You are the swell, you’re pulled by the moon
Can you tell...from this mood?
I want to live this life with you,
Would you save me? Save me! My sweet rescue,
You are the wake that cuts the face of my black pools,
You’ve been so good to me,
You are the wave I fell into,
You are the wave, you broke not too soon,
You are the swell, you’re pulled by the moon
Can you tell...from this mood?
The wave I fell into. The wave I will give myself to.
You are the wave I fell into,
You are the wave, you broke not too soon
You are the swell, you’re pulled by the moon
Can you tell...from this mood?