An intravenous lead for use with a cardiac device for implantation in the coronary venous system of the heart includes a lead body that is adapted to be routed through the vascular system into the coronary sinus with the distal end portion of the lead placed in the great cardiac vein or branch vein. The lead body includes a preformed section disposed just proximal of its tip so that the lead body exhibits a two-dimensional wave having peaks and valleys for contacting the endothelial layer of the vein at discrete, longitudinally spaced points to stabilize the electrode against displacement.