RAC is also an electronic project created by Richard Benson, which released a few projects via Warp Records in the mid 90s.
Tear You Down
RAC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be in the basement
Time the rhythm
Racing on the gold card
Hey, middle finger
Sticking through the eye
Of poor little thinkers
Made in the sun
From cutting to the chase
From beating round the bush
Then burns when we embrace
And braces for the teeth
That long for what's beneath
The skin that hides the fruit
From time, from the truth
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
Lets it to the silence
Of the rhythm of my bones decay
I'm still hiding from my mother
In the fatherland of manly faith
Woke up drunk on the job
My head was smoking from the US of A
Now I'm tearing down the drapes
Of complementary consequence
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
To be found
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
Lay in the middle
I'll be in the basement
Time the rhythm
Racing on the gold card
Hey, middle finger
Sticking through the eye
Of poor little thinkers
Made in the sun
I'm bleeding from the wounds
From cutting to the chase
From beating round the bush
Then burns when we embrace
And braces for the teeth
That long for what's beneath
The skin that hides the fruit
From time, from the truth
Say what, what
All the money went
You lie, you lie, you lie, you lie
Say where, where
All the money go
You lie, you lie, you lie, you lie
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
To be found
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
The lyrics of RAC's "Tear You Down" are filled with various imagery and metaphorical phrases that allude to moments of vulnerability and self-acceptance. The first few lines depict an intimate scene where the singer is asking the other person to lay in the middle while they go down to the basement. This could symbolize the different levels of trust and courage needed to fully experience a relationship. The line, "Time the rhythm / Racing on the gold card," could mean the urgency of time passing coupled with the rush or pressures of life, and the desire to indulge in a lavish lifestyle. The following line, "Hey, middle finger / Sticking through the eye / Of poor little thinkers," might imply the singer's rebellion against societal norms or expectations, while reminding the listener to stay true to themselves.
The chorus, "Let our love tear you down / And begin to be found," could suggest that the turbulent parts of a relationship can create a sense of truth and rawness that is essential in finding oneself. In the second verse, the line "I'm still hiding from my mother / In the fatherland of manly faith" speaks to the singer's attempt to escape from familial or societal pressures placed on them, to find their own identity. The line "Woke up drunk on the job / My head was smoking from the US of A" could imply that the singer is trying to cope with the expectations of being successful, which has pushed them to rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms.
The lyrics of "Tear You Down" hint at the challenges of navigating societal and personal expectations, and the importance of self-discovery and self-acceptance in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay in the middle
Let's lie down in the center
I'll be in the basement
While you're in the center, I'll be in the underground cellar
Time the rhythm
Let's synchronize ourselves with the beat
Racing on the gold card
We're in a constant competition, fuelled by wealth and desire
Hey, middle finger
An expression of disrespect towards those who lack empathy
Sticking through the eye
An act of intentional harm towards someone's conscience
Of poor little thinkers
Who refuse to think beyond the surface level
Made in the sun
People shaped by a society that values superficiality
I'm bleeding from the wounds
The scars we carry from our past mistakes
From cutting to the chase
Skipping the pleasantries and getting straight to the point
From beating round the bush
Avoiding a direct answer or action
Then burns when we embrace
The pain that comes with intimacy
And braces for the teeth
Preparing for the future conflicts in the relationship
That long for what's beneath
Desiring something deeper and more meaningful
The skin that hides the fruit
The superficial layer that prevents us from seeing someone's true essence
From time, from the truth
The illusions created by time and our own perceptions
LET IT IN
Allow yourself to be vulnerable
Let our love tear you down
Let our affection be powerful enough to break down your barriers
AND BEGIN
Start a new chapter in your life
To be found
To discover yourself
Lets it to the silence
Embrace the stillness
Of the rhythm of my bones decay
Accepting the natural aging process
I'm still hiding from my mother
The struggle to detach from parental influence
In the fatherland of manly faith
The societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles
Woke up drunk on the job
The consequences of irresponsible behavior
My head was smoking from the US of A
The backlash from indulging in excess and the American Dream culture
Now I'm tearing down the drapes
Removing the obstacles that prevent clarity
Of complementary consequence
The consequences that complement each other
Say what, what
Expressing confusion
All the money went
Money being misplaced
You lie, you lie, you lie, you lie
Calling out deceit
Say where, where
Asking for location
All the money go
The whereabouts of money being questioned
LET IT IN
Open yourself to the unexpected
Let our love tear you down
Allow yourself to be vulnerable to the power of our love
AND BEGIN
Start anew
To be found
Discover yourself and your potential
Contributed by Addison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jkraft2652
Lay in the middle
I'll be in the basement
Time the rhythm
Racing on the gold card
Hey, skinny lips
Sticking through the eye
Of poor little thinkers
Made in the sun
I'm bleeding from the wounds
From cutting to the chase
From beating round the bush
Then burns when we embrace
And braces for the teeth
That long for what's beneath
The skin that hides the fruit
From time, from the truth
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
Lets it to the silence
Of the rhythm of my bones decay
I'm still hiding from my mother
In the fatherland of manly faith
Woke up drunk on the job
My head was smoking from the US of A
Now I'm tearing down the drapes
Of complementary consequence
LET IT IN
Let our love tear you down
AND BEGIN
To be found
To be found
LET IT IN
Let our love tear…
@johanavargas4155
I super LOVE videos like this! It's as if the song is supporting the story unfolded by the video, not the other way around. Also, I was not expecting the plot twist at the end, but I'm guessing that's why I love it so much. Great job, RAC! Along with Let Go ft. Kele, MNDR, this video is definitely in my top favorites! Love it!
@gaboper
I thought you'll never make this a single!
Love the song and now, the music video.
Keep it up, RAC! Still hoping to see you play live.
@EricBurbeck
***** I was fortunate enough to see him live at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor - it was such a fun show!!
@gaboper
Eric Burbeck I bet it is! Lucky you! If he happens to post shows around this side of the world, I will go in a heartbeat.
@rustymcgee5886
Alex Ebert sounds great! Cant wait for the next Magnetic zeros album.
@gabebernal2873
Been a fan since the beginning! Glad you are getting the recognition you deserve <3 Favorite song from the album!
@picnicking5884
This is such an excellent song, with such a clever video to go with it. I wish more people watched it so they could appreciate the effort that's gone into it. KEEP MAKING MUSIC RAC!
@Showmaann
lll totally see RAC acting in a movie. He has quite a chill face.
@Fredsusername
That ending. That Song. RAC just a gem.
@krzyzoms
This is such a good song