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,
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
It's not the things you do that tease and hurt me bad
But it's the way you do the things you do to me
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
Number one, number one
Every girl wants you to be her man
But I'll wait my dear 'till it's my turn
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
Number one, number one
Every girl wants you to be her man
But I'll wait my dear 'till it's my turn
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
I'm gonna be your number one, your, number one
I'm gonna be your number one
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
It's not the things you do that tease and hurt me bad
But it's the way you do the things you do to me
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
Number one, number one
Every girl wants you to be her man
But I'll wait my dear 'till it's my turn
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
Number one, number one
Every girl wants you to be her man
But I'll wait my dear 'till it's my turn
I'm not the kinda girl who gives up just like that, oh no
The tide is high but I'm holding on
I'm gonna be your number one
I'm gonna be your number one, your, number one
Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit
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Although it is a beach song, the tide here I think is more of a metaphor. For what? I guess "the tide is high but I'm holding on" means that she's perservering against the odds. The odds of what? The song is about trying to get the attention of a man who might be out of her league.
A-ha! So it is an admiited that there is still such a thing as leagues in society after high school!
Stoolhardy is exactly right. And I would also add the following: I loved the song as a kid, but just recently figured out the significance of it when I randomly heard it on the radio. I think of the expression "a high tide catches all boats," meaning when something is a hot commodity or in demand, then everyone wants to "ride the wave" so to speak and catch on. In fact they use the expression "a high tide catches all boats" all the time in business to refer to hot trends or in demand products or services that everyone immediately jumps on. So to me the song is about a guy who is very desirable and she’s saying well the tide is high, meaning you are a hot commodity but I am willing to wait my turn until you are done with everyone else.
I think this song is about how timing is important in how a relationship develops. The tide is high, meaning there are obstacles and it is rough right now, but she's hanging on and not going any where. Her love interest has other things in his life that are taking priorities over her and it hurts her. But she is going to fight for what she wants.
@kcat246
this songs means to me that she is in a beach taking a sun bath when the tide gets high and she has to move on so she moves somewhere else but the tide keeps getting and getting hire and she keeps moving and moving because she is not the kind of girl who gives up just like that and she wants to be the no. 1
You've all got it pretty much right, but I must say... Nobody is out of anyone's league... No one... It's foolish to say that...
Thats not true...
The Paragons did this in the 1960's. A Jamaican reggae group. "I'm not the kind of Guy who gives up just like that, oh no..."
Stoolhardy hit the nail on the head with the meaning.
This song was originally written by a Jamaican guy in the 30's. The original chorus line was "I'm not the kind of bloke who give up just like that!"
Thanks, stoolhardy. But what's she mean by 'tease and hurt me bad'?
Woah, out of Debbie Harry's league, must be a pretty great guy then, well Debbie Harry circa 1984 not the, ahem, women who claims to be her now.
I would also add to stoolhardy's interpretation that this song makes me think of it as the female analogue to Jimmy Cliff's "you can get it if you really want"