"Waves" by Normani & 6LACK is a song about the complex and conflicting emotions that arise when thinking about an ex-lover. The lyrics depict the struggle of trying to move on from someone who still holds a prominent place in one's thoughts and heart.

Normani begins the first verse by expressing gratitude for the weekend, indicating that she is ready to let loose and distract herself from her thoughts. She acknowledges that she should not be thinking about her ex-partner, but she cannot help it. The line, "When I'm with someone else, it's feeling like I’m cheating," suggests she hasn't fully emotionally moved on and still feels like she is betraying her ex by being with someone new.

In the chorus, Normani repeats the phrase "You come in waves," emphasizing the emotional fluctuations she experiences when thinking about her ex, who holds a powerful grip on her thoughts and feelings and comes back to her in waves that she cannot control.

The second verse talks about how she should be over her ex by now, but he keeps coming back into her thoughts and memories like crashing waves. Despite trying to suppress and numb her emotions, she is still drowning in her devotion to him.

6LACK's verse provides the male perspective on this topic. He describes the ups and downs that he experiences and the relationship's intensity. He notes that he cannot replace his former partner and they had shared an intense, emotional connection. However, he also emphasizes the difficulty of being on this emotional rollercoaster, describing himself as "ecstatic" one moment and "sad" the next.

Overall, "Waves" describes the complex and confusing patterns of emotions that one goes through after a breakup, showing how one can be filled with conflicting feelings of love, anger, and sadness, among others. It is a somber yet cathartic song about the struggle of letting go of someone you still love.