: This often symbolizes a girl (or person) embracing a new, potentially dangerous or overwhelming direction in life.
: The title was also inspired by a motel called "Riptide" where Vance Joy stayed with his family as a child. The "Riptide" Mentality
: A playful way of saying he wants to be right by her side, despite her being "destined for the screen" and perhaps out of his league.
: Some describe grief not as a wave that passes, but as a riptide—unseen and cruel, pulling you under when you least expect it.
“Grief is not a wave. It's a riptide. Unseen. Unannounced. Cruel in its timing... In these moments, when you feel the currents are too strong to resist, allow yourself the freedom to relax and let it take you.” Facebook · Grief Speaks · 1 year ago
“The chorus ties into this. A riptide suddenly swallows you beneath the water before you can react. He's fallen into this relationship without thinking.” Reddit · r/LyricInterpretations · 8 years ago
: This idiom suggests someone who is delicate, refined, or being kept "safe" and secluded from the world.