In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I was scared of dentists and the dark
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations
Oh, all my friends are turning green
You're the magician's assistant in their dreams
Ah-ooh
Ah-oh, and they come unstuck
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
Here's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's running from himself
And she's been living on the highest shelf
Ah-ooh
Ah-oh, and they come unstuck
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
I just wanna, I just wanna know
If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay
I just gotta, I just gotta know
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way
I swear she's destined for the screen
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
Oh, lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
Oh, lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause you're gonna sing the words wrong
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations
Oh, all my friends are turning green
You're the magician's assistant in their dreams
Ah-ooh
Ah-oh, and they come unstuck
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
Here's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's running from himself
And she's been living on the highest shelf
Ah-ooh
Ah-oh, and they come unstuck
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
I just wanna, I just wanna know
If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay
I just gotta, I just gotta know
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way
I swear she's destined for the screen
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
Oh, lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong
Oh, lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
You're gonna sing the words wrong and
I got a lump in my throat 'cause you're gonna sing the words wrong
Lyrics submitted by deck, edited by Mellow_Harsher, thatismahogony, blarhblarh, roxycon, giggleglasses, 21hausaly, Chlabar, maiahapi12
Riptide Lyrics as written by James Gabriel Keogh
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Music videos either make or break a song- this one made me love this song even more, and watching him live at the Arias 2013. This guy is a genius! His voice sounds even better live. I believe this song is about a girl he loves who is slowly changing before his eyes. "I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations" meaning he'd conquered that fear and now he's found her. "All my friends are turning green" His friends are jealous because he has this beautiful girlfriend.
"Lady, running down to the riptide, Taken away to the dark side". His girlfriend gets caught up with bad people or an addiction or something that is changing her ways.
" i wanna be your left hand man" But he loves her so much he'll still stay and help her no matter what happens
" I love you, when you're singing that song, and I've got a lump in my throat, Cos your gonna sing the words wrong" The relationship starts going downhill because she's saying things and doing things that are out of character. It makes him feel sick inside that she's not the girl he first met.
"This cowboys running from himself" Meaning he's confused with why she's become this way so he questions himself and that maybe he's he's not good enough.
"And she's been living on the higher shelf" He's always worshipped her and put her up on a pedestal.
"I just wanna, I just wanna know, If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay" He asks her for the truth, he wants to know if she really loves him.
And that's my interpretation of some of the lyrics in this song ;)
i think this is the truest one
I feel like "living on the highest shelf" is in reference to top-shelf liquor.
@ElectraHeart2000 You're mistaken on a few counts. In Biblical terms, Lucifer sat to the left hand of God. He's pulling her in the wrong direction.<br /> <br /> Also, the Cowboy section. He's a cowboy in New York City; he's Completely out of his element.<br /> <br /> This is a song about a man who knows he's bad for this girl, but she's the greatest thing that's ever happened to him. they keep pulling each other down in hopes she'll stay with him, but they keep getting separated. 'And they come unstuck.' This is a song from the perspective of an abuser. And honestly, I'm not 100% convinced this song is about a woman. It's quite probably about the substance he's abusing; alcohol.
@ElectraHeart2000 The cowboy film he is referring to is "Midnight Cowboy" with Jon Voight
Oh gosh this was my interpretation exactly but I didn't know how to put it into words! Nice analysis! :)
@ElectraHeart2000 wow. That's really deep. And really good
@ElectraHeart2000 "video killed the radio star"??
I'm a dentist and I don't like when people are afraid of me!
I'm a pretty girl and I feel the same.
:)
i don't know why but I've always seen this as this awkward kid who deeply falls in love with this free spirited girl who also has tendencies to get sad and traumatised and run off and do fuck all for a bit. He fears for her when she goes through these dark stages, however is so infatuated with her at the same time. idkk just what i got
@chadthelad Sounds kinda like Forrest Gump hahaha
Ikr I think he loves her but hes all shy and awkward and she says she loves him but shes pretty and free spirited and she doesn't rlly like the guy that much and the guy can kind of tell
@chadthelad sounds kind of like skins (uk) to me. Kind of a Freddie and Effy type of relationship
It's definitely NOT a break-up song. It's about a woman's fears of loving a "cowboy who's running away from himself", and of a man who's afraid he isn't worthy to stand in the presence of a pretty woman. They are both stuck in these fears, in these darksides.
The riptide is a division of ways, a decision. The woman asks him whether he's going to stay or not. "I just wanna, I just wanna know If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay" - he's remembering when she said it, how she looked.
He answers that he will be her "left hand man", marry her. And it transforms their relationship from one of fear to one of hope.
They become unstuck - it's a reference to a song by The Cure called "Doing the Unstuck" - a couple in love are about to break up, but then decide to start over again. It's a very positive and moving song, and its reference shouldn't be missed.
@yarlypip I think of the riptide as love/commitment. "they come unstuck" from their fears and insecurities and let themselves get swept away to the "dark side" aka the unknown future. So I agree, it goes from fear and insecurity to hope and a willingness to run to and be carried away to an uncertain future together.
It's a break up song. Or rather the anticipation of a break up from a woman he loves who no longer loves him or has been attracted to another.
"And it comes unstuck"
"Lady, running down to the riptide Taken away to the dark side I wanna be your left hand man" He wants to marry her, he loves her but she doesn't love him.
"I love you when you're singing that song and I gotta lump in my throat cos your gonna sing the words wrong" He wants so badly to hear her say "I love you" but she can't or won't.
Just my interpretation anyway... Better than something about Trannys...
And of course you can't ignore the<br /> "I just wanna, I just wanna know<br /> If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay <br /> I just gotta, I just gotta know<br /> I can't have it, I can't have it any other way" bit..
Nothing wrong about trans people. Please don't use the term "tranny".
You just HAD to add that 'tranny' comment. Seriously? Why not just keep your hate to yourself? Dude. Like..dont.
yeah that's really rude & uncaring to say
I always thought it was about a man's love for a woman whom he's put upon a pedestal. She might not be the best person (she sings the words wrong, is being pulled to the dark side) but he still loves her and thinks she's beautiful (destined for the screen, etc.).
It's either that or a love that's just out of a reach. Maybe, he offers to be her left hand man because he can't be her right hand man for whatever reason.
Either way, the key lines seems to be: "she's been living on the highest shelf." The song has more of an unrequited-love-feel, as opposed to the break-up-song-feel.
I don't get it
me neither
Ikr I just like the melody its catchy:)
I think it is a song about people in a relationship changing.
"I was scared of dentists and the dark I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations" You helped me get over my fears.
"Oh, all my friends are turning green You're the magician's assistant in their dreams" My friends are envious of me because I have you.
"Oh, and they come unstuck" Things Change
"Lady, running down to the riptide" Riptides (life) pull you along and you are forced to sink (give up), or swim (change).
"Taken away to the dark side" Your becoming a person I don't recognize.
"I wanna be your left hand man" A reference to medieval times. Most people are right handed so it is easier to hurt/kill the person sitting to the right of you. However, the person sitting on the left side (King's weak hand) of the lord could easily kill him. In the case of this song he is saying that he doesn't want to be hurt [emotionally] by her.
"I love you when you're singing that song and I got a lump in my throat cause You're gonna sing the words wrong" I love that you love me back. But it's not in the ways I need.
"There's this movie that I think you'll like This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City This cowboy's running from himself And she's been living on the highest shelf"
I gave up everything for you and I'm regretting my decision but I don't want to admit it. I idealize you.
Oh, and they come unstuck [Chorus]
"I just wanna, I just wanna know If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay I just gotta, I just gotta know I can't have it, I can't have it any other way"
Please dont leave.
"I swear she's destined for the screen Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh"
She has bigger dreams than what we have.
@alexia1000 I love your insight to what ",,,left hand man" means. I was going to look up the meanings, and am fiding some great ones on this site! Thanks,
he starts with his fears 'I was scared of dentists and the dark I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations'
all his friends are starting to make a lot of money 'Oh, all my friends are turning green'
he cant believe he has gotten such a beautiful girl and all his friends are jealous 'You're the magician's assistant in their dreams'
'I wanna be your left hand man' he wants to marry her.
'I got a lump in my throat because You're gonna sing the words wrong' he tells her he loves her and when she replies she doesnt say it or mean it.
I just wanna, I just wanna know If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay I just gotta, I just gotta know I can't have it, I can't have it any other way I swear she's destined for the screen Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh
his isnt sure if she is going to stay with him and its killing him because she is blow hot blow cold about him and he is very insecure
this is my interpretation. i dont know if its right but in summary it is a song about unrequited love.
Yours is the closest to what I interpreted for this song, except I think it's more positive. I think he's remembering the day he proposed to her and she said yes.<br /> <br /> 'I wanna be your left hand man' he wants to marry her. (because the wedding ring goes on the left hand).<br /> <br /> "I just wanna, I just wanna know<br /> If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay<br /> I just gotta, I just gotta know<br /> I can't have it, I can't have it any other way" -- <br /> <br /> I believe that SHE said this, it's her ULTIMATUM. He remembers how beautiful she looked to him when she said it, like Michelle Pfeiffer.<br /> <br /> Lady, running down to the riptide<br /> Taken away to the darkside,<br /> I want to be your left-hand man.<br /> <br /> He answers her with these words. She had run down to the riptide - a divided place between two opposing currents, because she was afraid the love wouldn't last (to the darkside). She was wondering if he was gonna stay, because he's the cowboy that's always running. He answered that he's ready to marry her. <br /> <br /> <br /> "and they become unstuck"<br /> <br /> They were definitely stuck. Neither one knew where the relationship was headed. But now they do. <br /> <br /> It's headed down the aisle. <br />
I thought about the meaning , and the biggest theme in this song is change. The song can be interpreted as a awkward guy , who gets a beautiful girl that all this friends are jealous of , However the girl has a dark side and always does things wrong. But even after everything the guy still loves her. Further the guy is witnessing his girl change and become darker , she is literally changing like a were- wolf, (wolf is even in the lyrics of video and also the "woooooooo" and they come unstuck - sounds like a wolf's cry.
Vancy joy - said himself he was experimenting with sounds and images when he came up with this song. Anyway just my thoughts on it anyway.
@leadvocals Wolf is in the lyrics of the video, not for a reason. The line is "Your'e gonna sing the words wrong" but the video is just showing that the words are wrong because thats the lyric so they put in "Your'e gonna sank the world's wolf" to show that indeed, the lyrics are being sang wrong.