tsunami is japanese for 'big wave'. tsunamis are the most destructive waves in the ocean. Tsunamis, often wrongly called 'tidal waves', are not caused by tides or even by the wind, but by underwater earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions. These disturbances cause the sea bed to move very quickly, which shifts a large amount of water and disrupts the sea surface. A train of waves is set in motion traveling away from the source of disturbance.

The song 'tsunami' was inspired by 'The Silent Twins', June and Jennifer Gibbons, who at a certain point decided not to speak anymore. Despite being transferred to special schools, the girls reached adulthood with no hope of achieving normal goals such as jobs, friendships and marriage. Chillingly, teachers and therapists thought one twin to be the very personification of evil.

Life became a constant battle, both for the twins and between them. Confined to their room by choice and living as virtual recluses, they tried desperately to achieve normality - or, at least, what they perceived as normality - by mail order. They ventured out only to experiment with drugs, alcohol, glue sniffing and casual sex, all the while maintaining the elaborate rituals and games upon which they had come to believe that their very life depended. Gradually, their excursions into the real world began to involve first petty, then major crimes. they were found guilty of burglary, theft and arson in May 1982 and were sent to a psychiatric prison called broadmoor. Jennifer Gibbons died from an undiagnosed inflammation of the heart just after she was released. when jennifer died, her sister June suddenly began speaking again. Gibbons now lives in Wales.the twins wrote poetry, which was bundled in 'the september poems'.

IN GENERAL, THIS SONG IS ABOUT THE WAY THING CAN SUDDENLY CRUMBLE DOWN WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE GOT ALL YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER.the song is called 'tsunami' as a metaphor for the wave that came washing over the twins and drowned them forever in silence. it can also be seen as a metaphor for the speaking of june, which came - just like a tsunami from underwater - from deep within her.the silent twins are also compared with nicky wire and richey edwards, who were like inseperable twins. when richey dissapeared, nicky started writing lyrics as an independent person, like june gibbons started talking when her sister died.