I think the song is about his girlfriend, or about a Vietnamese woman he would like to be his girlfriend. "I am at the mercy of the tide" is how her mood changes through the month. "I see you in the distance by the river" is a reference to how her outlook is shaped by the culture of her parents.
I think the song is about his girlfriend, or about a Vietnamese woman he would like to be his girlfriend. "I am at the mercy of the tide" is how her mood changes through the month. "I see you in the distance by the river" is a reference to how her outlook is shaped by the culture of her parents.