RIPTIDE by VANCE JOY- 3 easy chords for the beginner
Intro Am G C [x3]
Verse 1
[Am]I was scared of [G]dentists and the [C]dark
[Am]I was scared of [G]pretty girls and [C]starting conversations
Oh [Am]all my [G]friends are turning [C]green
You're the [Am]magicians assis-[G]tant in their [C]dreams
Uh [Am]oooh [G]ooh [C]ooh
[Am]Oh oooh [G]oh and they [C]come unstuck
Chorus
[Am]Lady, [G]running down to the [C]riptide
[C]Taken away to the [Am]dark side
[G]I wanna be your [C]left hand man
And I [Am]love you [G]when you're singing that [C]song and
I gotta lump in my [Am]throat 'cause
[G]You're gonna sing the words [C]wrong
Verse 2
[Am]There's this movie [G]that I think you'll [C]like
This [Am]guy decides to [G]quit his job and [C]head to New York City
This [Am]cowboy's [G]running from [C]himself
[Am]She's been living [G]on the highest [C]shelf
Uh [Am]oooh [G]ooh [C]ooh
[Am]Oh oooh [G]oh and they [C]come unstuck
Chorus
[Am]Lady, [G]running down to the [C]riptide
[C]Taken away to the [Am]dark side
[G]I wanna be your [C]left hand man
And I [Am]love you [G]when you're singing that [C]song and
I gotta lump in my [Am]throat 'cause
[G]You're gonna sing the words [C]wrong
Chorus
[Am]Lady, [G]running down to the [C]riptide
[C]Taken away to the [Am]dark side
[G]I wanna be your [C]left hand man
And I [Am]love you [G]when you're singing that [C]song and
I gotta lump in my [Am]throat 'cause
[G]You're gonna sing the words [C]wrong
I gotta lump in my [Am]throat 'cause
[G]You're gonna sing the words [C]wrong
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The Story Behind the Song
Vance Joy (real name James Keogh) wrote “Riptide” in 2008, well before he was famous. At the time, he was experimenting with song writing and learning ukulele, which is why the song has that distinctive, bouncy sound.
What it means
The title “Riptide” comes from a fear he had of ocean riptides growing up in Australia. He used it more as a metaphor than a literal theme—representing being pulled into something powerful and a little out of control, like love or admiration.
Why it works
Even though the lyrics are scattered, the song feels cohesive because:
The ukulele gives it a warm, intimate vibe
The chorus is simple and catchy
The imagery feels personal, even when it’s abstract
That mix made it one of the biggest indie hits of the 2010s.