The New Zealand rock band have released three albums - 2004's platinum selling 'You Are Here', 2007's multi-platinum selling 'Second Hand Planet', and 2010's 'Until The End Of Time'.
Opshop were winners of the coveted 'Peoples Choice Award' at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards. Also in 2007 their single “Maybe” achieved the honour of being the biggest song at New Zealand radio ever, holding the #1 most-played spot for 12 consecutive weeks.
Opshop describe their sound like this: "An equal opportunistic grab bag of semi-funkster pop and crackle 'muesli' rock. We like playing music that sounds nice and loud. And dirty and quiet and every nook 'n' cranny in between. If you're not sure what it is. Its likely to be ours".
Low Tide
Opshop Lyrics
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No more sheltered pools to feed in
How can I make my dreams come true
I am in isolation
One by one they've taken my friends
However I got here
God only knew
[Chorus]
When it was easier
It was easier
We couldn't turn our heads and look the other way
When it was easier
It was easier
We couldn't turn our heads and look the other way
Sun filters through this grey mess
Fills my days with drunken happiness
Don't ask when your wishes will come true
Ah-ha∦
I am in isolation
And one by one they've taken my friends
However I got here
God only knew, yeah
Then it was easier
It was easier
We couldn't turn our heads and look the other way
When it was easier
It was easier
We couldn't turn our heads and look the other way
And would it feel like heaven
Would it feel like hell
Would it feel like heaven
[Instrumental]
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream is dreaming itself
This dream'
Is dreaming itself
For you
Only for you
For you
The lyrics to Opshop's song "Low Tide" speak to feelings of disillusionment and isolation in the face of changing circumstances. The season has brought low tide, leaving the singer with no sheltered pools to feed in. He laments his inability to make his dreams come true in this new reality. The singer is also in isolation, with his friends being taken from him one by one. The cause of his current state is unclear, but he suggests that only God knows how he got here.
Despite his bleak situation, the sun still filters through the grey mess and fills his days with drunken happiness. However, he doesn't know when his wishes will come true. The chorus repeats the sentiment that when things were easier, they couldn't turn their heads and look the other way. The instrumental section allows for a moment of reflection before the lyrics reveal that the dream is dreaming itself. The song ends with a declaration that this dream is for you, whoever that may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Low tide the season brings me
This time of year, there is less water in the ocean, leaving me with fewer options to find safety and nourishment.
No more sheltered pools to feed in
I can no longer go to my usual places to find food and safety, leaving me more exposed to danger.
How can I make my dreams come true?
Amidst these challenges, I am struggling to find a way to make my aspirations a reality.
I am in isolation
I am alone and separated from others.
One by one they've taken my friends
The people I rely on have been taken away from me, leaving me feeling more alone and vulnerable.
However I got here, God only knew
I don't know how I ended up in this situation, and it feels like it was out of my control.
When it was easier, it was easier
In the past, when things were simpler, we didn't have the luxury of ignoring problems because they seemed too big to tackle.
We couldn't turn our heads and look the other way
We had to face our problems head-on back then, and not just ignore them.
Sun filters through this grey mess
Despite the difficulties I face, I still find joy and solace in small things, like the sun shining through the clouds.
Fills my days with drunken happiness
These small moments give me a temporary sense of contentment, though I know it won't last.
Don't ask when your wishes will come true
I know that my dreams may never come true, and it's something I'd rather not think about.
Would it feel like heaven? Would it feel like hell?
I'm unsure of what the future holds, and whether it will be good or bad for me.
This dream is dreaming itself
I feel like I'm trapped in a dream-like haze, where nothing feels real or within my control.
For you, only for you, for you
Despite everything, I still hold onto the hope that my struggles will lead to a better future for someone else.
Contributed by Eli V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.