"Riptide"

 

James Keogh, otherwise known as Vance Joy, is a singer-songwriter from Australia who is opening up for Taylor Swift’s 1989 North American concerts. This song gained overnight success in Australia and now you can’t turn on the radio without hearing, multiple times, this unique folk pop song.  The simplicity of the melody line and the driving background instruments makes for a memorable song.  

I think the overall meaning of this song is about change. Vance Joy creatively, through the lyrics, paints a vivid picture of this guy who was once afraid of “dentists and the dark” falling in love with this perfect girl. All of his friends are jealous. The lyrics say, “All my friends are turning green.”  

However, like a riptide, she is constantly changing. There’s a side to her that he didn’t know and she’s always doing thing wrong, but he’s willing to go there with her.  The lyrics say, “I got a lump in my throat because you’re going to sing the words wrong.” He’s scared, but he doesn’t care because he loves her no matter what. He’s pleading with her to answer his question whether or not she is going to stay.

There is no definite ending to the song’s story. The ending is left up for your own interpretation on whether or not she stayed with him. We know, though, that he loved her no matter what and was willing to risk it all for her.

The lyrics and imagery in the video portrays a meaning of change in a unique and subliminal way. Coming from a Christian perspective, it’s comforting to know that God has an unconditional love for us despite our fears and failures.