When Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez, Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins, and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas, also known as the all-female American Pop group TLC, first burst onto the scene, they became one of the pioneers of a music subgenre that went on to be called Modern R&B. Their impotence was not fully understood at the time. But, nowadays, they get flowers for their achievements and some fantastic songs.
The meaning behind “Waterfalls” by TLC, which is easily their biggest and most influential hit ever, is sometimes misunderstood. When it was initially released on 29 May 1995, it was a gargantuan hit worldwide. It stayed atop the Hot 100 Billboard Charts in the US for seven weeks and became an instant Pop classic. But what does the song “Waterfalls” mean? Let’s find out.
Breaking Down Song Meanings
When we first listen to any song, do we listen to the lyrics right away? I usually bask in the vibe of a song for the first few listens before I start breaking down the lyrics and their meaning. But, that’s just me. Some listeners delve right into meaning and lyrics from the get-go. Others just get lost in the music itself.
“Waterfalls” by TLC is the perfect example of how you can get lost in sweet-sounding Soul vocals and an even smoother R&B track and ignore the lyrics and what they mean.
I listened to “Waterfalls” for over a decade without even considering its meaning. First, let’s get some background information on the song. The lyrics were written by Marqueze Etheridge, while the actual music was by a production team named Organized Noize.
What Is The Meaning Behind “Waterfalls” by TLC?
The main hook line in the chorus is “Don’t go chasing waterfalls.” So, it would be easy to surmise that this means that we are in constant pursuit of something ferocious and beautiful at the same time. But the truth is that the verses are much deeper and starker than the initial feel of the chorus hook.
In many ways, the song is episodic. Each verse takes on a different scene and circumstance. If you listen to the lyrics of “Waterfalls,” the two verses are very somber and sad. They tackle some important issues. And, if you don’t listen closely, you can lose the meaning in the soulful sound of the production and the super-catchy chorus.
Breaking Down the First Verse of “Waterfalls” by TLC
There are a few very important lyrics in the first verse that really make you think. I didn’t expect the track to be this deep until one day in the mid-2000s when I tried to understand its meaning. The first verse is written from the perspective of a worried mother who is concerned her son is taking the wrong path in life regarding making money. The verse is about the mom advising her son.
Lyrics such as, “A lonely mother gazing out of her window staring at a son that she just cannot touch” and “So, he goes out, and he makes his money the best way he know how, another body laying cold in the gutter” are stark and thoughtful in a harrowing sort of way.
Essentially, her son is always in trouble because he makes cash by nefarious means. And, it’s his greed that’s interpreted as the ‘waterfall’ that leads to his death. I wonder how many kids at the time listened to the lyrics and realized what it was about. It’s a verse that any worried parent with a troubled child can relate to.
Breaking Down the Second Verse of “Waterfalls” by TLC
If you think the meaning behind the lyrics in the first verse of Waterfalls was quite sad and scary, the second verse is just as thought-provoking. The second verse is a different scene and story unrelated to the first.
This next ‘waterfall’ is a man who cannot quell his overriding desires for the opposite sex. Essentially, this man is a womanizer that cannot stop having assumingly unprotected sexual relations with numerous partners.
You can start to put the picture together with some of the most important lyrics in the second verse. Check out “Little precious has a natural obsession for temptation” and “She gave him loving that his body can’t handle.” Finishing off with “His health is fading and he doesn’t know why, three letters took him to his final resting place.”
Have you figured out what the three letters that led to his demise were?
HIV! The man caught AIDS from having unprotected sex with too many partners. He died from AIDS, and it’s a shocking way to end the track. It’s very surprising how profound the lyrics in both verses are. And, if you are not paying attention, you could easily miss them like I did for many years.
“Waterfalls” – Lyrics and Meaning
Most didn’t realize that TLC had such a conscious stance on life and the things that can happen. Mothers from the hood worrying about their adult kids on the streets making cash or contracting HIV from not being careful and not keeping their sexual desires in check are interesting topics of contention.
The meaning of the chorus now takes on a different vibe after listening to the verse lyrics. Everyone in life is “chasing waterfalls.” These are essentially vices or things that appear beautiful and harmless but are very dangerous. They can swallow you up and spit you out without the waterfall even realizing it.
That’s why we have to tread carefully. And, not go diving headfirst into proverbial waterfalls or deep waters that might seem see-through, transparent, and serene, but are potentially dangerous and murky.
Watching the “Waterfalls” Video by TLC
I remember the official music video for “Waterfalls” by TLC and didn’t particularly pay much attention to it at the time. Now, I’ve watched the video with a new set of eyes or newfound meaning, so to speak. And it also takes on a different meaning from what I remember.
Before I go into its meaning…
The video was directed by F. Gary Gray, and it scooped a bunch of awards. It won four prizes at the 1995 MTV awards; they were Best Group Video, Video of the Year, Best R&B Video, and the Viewer’s Choice Award.
The video itself had a massive budget. This was secured when one of the band’s vocalists, T-Boz, wrote “Please believe in us” on a poster she gave to L.A. Reed, a prominent figure at their record label. The band knew it was important to make a great video. That’s because this was going to be the make-it-or-break-it track, and they wanted to give it the best opportunity to succeed.
Fortunately, the record label did heavily invest in making the video, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Commercial Performance of Waterfalls by TLC
“Waterfalls” by TLC was the third single to their second studio album, CrazySexyCool. The album, to this day, is still one of the biggest-selling R&B albums of all time, with 15 million sales worldwide.
“Waterfalls,” the single, is the song that projected that album to the heights it achieved. The single sold 1.2 million copies in the US alone and also sold 600,000 units in the UK and 250,000 units in Germany. It reached #1 on Pop charts across six different countries and is still played daily on radio stations across the entire planet.
Even though the members of TLC knew the song was special, even they couldn’t predict its popularity. This type of modern R&B music was just starting to gain traction and led the way for other all-girl R&B/Pop groups in the future. There might not have been a Destiny’s Child or The Pussycat Dolls if TLC didn’t pave the way beforehand.
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The Meaning Behind “Waterfalls” by TLC – Final Thoughts
One thing I have learned from the meaning of “Waterfalls” by TLC is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. You shouldn’t see three stunning Pop and R&B vocalists and naturally assume their lyrics have no real-life meaning. You always have to go beyond the superficial to find the realness in life. And the subject matter of “Waterfalls” is the perfect example of this.
The lyrics are about how we shouldn’t be chasing things that seem beneficial but could rip us apart on a second’s notice. We need to be more cautious in our approach to things. Just because something is glittery and shiny, it doesn’t mean it’s valuable and can make our lives better.
We need to keep our vices in check, so they don’t get out of control and ruin us. Waterfalls are seemingly beautiful from the outside but are vicious, violent, and brutal if you step inside without exercising caution. But don’t let that put you off listening to this classic Pop and R&B song that was one of the biggest singles of the 1990s.
So, until next time, happy listening.
