Synopsis

"Great Waves" is presented as a drifting visual poem rather than a conventional narrative. Dreamlike images of figures, landscapes, sky, and water unfold in a spare, handcrafted style, creating an atmosphere of quiet unease. The imagery mirrors Chan Marshall's hushed vocal and the song's apocalyptic language, moving from earthly calm toward a sense of instability and disappearance. Instead of illustrating every lyric literally, the clip turns the track's themes of catastrophe, weightlessness, and cosmic release into an impressionistic mood piece.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Great Waves" comes from Dirty Three's 2005 album "Cinder," released by Touch and Go Records. The song features vocals and lyrics by Chan Marshall, better known as Cat Power.

• "Cinder" marked the first Dirty Three album to use guest vocalists. Marshall sings on "Great Waves," while Sally Timms appears on "Feral."

• The video was filmed on September 1, 2005. Sam Levy handled cinematography, with additional camera work by Matt Boyd, Jem Cohen, and Braden King.

• Editing was shared by Braden King and Ian Williams. Tim Grimes served as art director, and the production was made by Truckstop Media.

• The song was issued as a single in November 2005, backed with "Lisa's Mountain." The clip was also included in promotional material connected with "Cinder."

• The music video is commonly identified as a collaboration between Dirty Three and Chan Marshall, reflecting how central her vocal performance is to the track.

• The song's short, concentrated structure was part of the broader approach on "Cinder," an album that pared back Dirty Three's usual extended instrumental forms in favor of more concise compositions.