By breaking through heartache, Ramirez has gone on a search for understanding. The Austin, TX, resident and frequent traveler to clubs, theaters and listening rooms all over the country, has come to a phase in his creative life where the tears have dried and moving on looks like the best option.
That change in perspective hasn’t erased the weary searching that has characterized Ramirez’s sparse Americana songwriting for more than a decade. It just means the questions he’s asking on his new album Apologies have changed. “There’s less to do with heartache and a lot more to do with personal struggles, and hope. I see a lot of hope in these songs,” Ramirez, 29, says. "I've been working on these and many other songs for a couple years but I didn't know what I wanted this album to say until right before going into the studio. Once I finished 'An Introduction' I knew this was going to be a very personal album."
That song finds Ramirez standing in a Roman cathedral looking for God – singing atop a simple but driving shuffle – while the sparse acoustic guitar-and-voice number “Goodbye” shows him closing the book (and setting it ablaze) on a relationship that seems to have left him permanently unsettled.
Whether solo or with accompaniment, Ramirez and his characters make an impression, which is why Paste magazine called him, "The best damn songwriter you don't know yet" and folk stars The Civil Wars praised him as "Soulful, stirring, heartbreaking.”
With Apologies Ramirez has widened his view but is looking outward as intensely as ever. The answers might elude him – as they do all of us – but the questions he’s asking ring honest and true.
On Your Side
David Ramirez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're only getting started
I open my mouth a little too soon
Blame it on the spotlight
Blame it on the stage
Sometimes I forget there are other
People in the room
Do you see the enemy?
Someone dark, selfish, and unkind?
Can you hear my heart and
Believe it when I say
I am on your side, I am on your side
I'll never question you for an alibi
I am on your side so, why are you shaking?
We're only getting started
And why aren't you looking me in the eye
Some men are monsters some men are children
And some men just wanna help you survive
So, when you look at my face
Do you see the enemy?
Someone dark, selfish, and unkind?
Can you hear my heart and
Believe it when I say
I am on your side, I am on your side
I'll never question you for an alibi
I am on your side
Oh oh oh
The lyrics of David Ramirez's song "On Your Side" delve into themes of self-doubt, vulnerability, and the complexities of human relationships. The opening lines, "Don't leave the house, we're only getting started," suggest a sense of trepidation or hesitation, as if the singer is afraid of what might happen next. The line, "I open my mouth a little too soon, blame it on the spotlight, blame it on the stage," could be interpreted as the singer feeling exposed and vulnerable, perhaps saying or doing something that they regret. It highlights the pressure that comes with being in the spotlight and how it can sometimes cause people to lose sight of others around them.
The chorus of the song presents a plea for understanding and acceptance. The singer questions whether the people they care about see them as an enemy, someone dark and unkind. They express a desire for the other person to hear their heart and trust that they genuinely care, emphasizing that they are on their side. The repetition of the phrase "I am on your side" reinforces the singer's commitment to supporting and believing in the other person, even when faced with doubts or uncertainties.
The second verse introduces the idea that people can be both monsters and children, implying that we all have different sides and capacities for both good and bad. It suggests that some men may want to protect and help others navigate through life's challenges. The final lines, "Oh oh oh," serve as a melodic refrain that further emphasizes the emotional plea of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't leave the house
Please stay here, we have so much more to experience together
We're only getting started
Our journey together has just begun and there is so much more to explore
I open my mouth a little too soon
Sometimes I speak without thinking, it's my fault
Blame it on the spotlight
I can attribute my mistakes to the attention and pressure of being in the spotlight
Blame it on the stage
I can attribute my mistakes to the performance and pressure of being on stage
Sometimes I forget there are other People in the room
Occasionally, I become so absorbed in myself that I neglect to acknowledge the presence of others around me
So, when you look at my face
If you examine my expression closely
Do you see the enemy?
Do you perceive me as a foe?
Someone dark, selfish, and unkind?
Do you interpret me as someone who is malicious, self-centered, and unsympathetic?
Can you hear my heart and Believe it when I say
Can you understand the sincerity in my emotions and truly trust me when I express
I am on your side, I am on your side
That I support you wholeheartedly, I stand alongside you
I'll never question you for an alibi
I'll never doubt your intentions or demand proof of your whereabouts
I am on your side so, why are you shaking?
I am here to support you, so why are you frightened or uncertain?
We're only getting started
Our journey together has just begun and there is much more ahead of us
And why aren't you looking me in the eye
Why are you avoiding direct eye contact with me?
Some men are monsters some men are children
There are individuals who are monstrous and others who are innocent like children
And some men just wanna help you survive
And there are those who simply want to aid you in overcoming challenges and continue living
Oh oh oh
This reflects a melodic interlude or a vocalization without a specific message
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
claudioleno100
Qué linda canción. Podrían hacer una versión subtitulada en español??
Kaeley Gilliam
One of the best voices I know.
Rory Gibb
I dont understand why I am just finding him now. Both him and the band are absolutely incredible together. Amazing and surprised he is not a household name .
Andrew White
Simply brilliant David you sing with heart and soul. You take your listener on your journey. Thank you.
Erika Marcus
Absolutely love the video! Seeing this performed live was incredible, and I am so happy to see this video on here now.
Nicholas Brown
well done, love it, keep it up david!
Henk van Neerven
Wauw...wordt hier stil van! Fantastic Voice!!
The Revilla Family !
Glad I was able to see you in Houston!!!! Keep up the great tunes and come back soon I will be in the front row!!!!
sixpackbootsie
What?! This is a live performance? Great job guys :)
Bryan Fry
Wow. Pure perfection