Rival Tides is a Los Angeles-based rock band that thrives on mixing aggress… Read Full Bio ↴Rival Tides is a Los Angeles-based rock band that thrives on mixing aggression with positivity. Since their formation, the group continues to pour their hearts into their music and live performances to create deeper connections with their fans.

The band is currently in the studio, recording their first full-length album with Beau Burchell (Saosin, The Bronx, Senses Fail).

Child
Rival Tides Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's always a man taking a stand against the tyranny of everything
There's always a man taking the light away from everyone that wants to see
Will it ever change? Will it ever?
Man it's all in your head
You'd be better off dead
And the caution in the sign is the same that keeps you blind
We're all children of this cancer
Do you want to live or hide?

You believe the first thing that you read
You've become predictable, forgettable
Pathetic in your rituals
No one is accountable
You've become a cannibal
Pathetic in your rituals, you've become a cannibal
And the caution in the sign is the same that keeps you blind
We're all children of this cancer
Do you want to live or hide?
When you're quick to judge everything, you can't see through another's eyes
When you take all the colors out, then you're only seeing black and white
We want justice. We want empathy. No corruption. We want everything
And the caution in the sign is the same that keeps you blind

We're all children of this cancer
Do you want to live or hide?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rival Tides's song "Child" delve into the theme of societal oppression and the consequences of blindly following the masses. The song opens with the observation that there is always someone who stands up against the tyranny and takes away the light from those who want to see. The lyrics question whether this cycle of power and control will ever change.

The chorus repeats the line "And the caution in the sign is the same that keeps you blind." This suggests that the warnings and guidelines set by society are what ultimately hinder our ability to see the truth. The lyrics then label us all as "children of this cancer," referring to the inherent corruption and toxicity present in society.

The song urges the listener to make a choice between living with awareness and facing the truth, or hiding and succumbing to the ignorance and conformity imposed by society. The lyrics highlight the dangers of believing everything we read, becoming predictable and forgettable, and losing our empathy and sense of justice.

In essence, "Child" challenges the listener to question the status quo, seek individuality, and strive for a world free from corruption and oppression.

Line by Line Meaning

There's always a man taking a stand against the tyranny of everything
There is consistently a person who opposes oppression in all aspects

There's always a man taking the light away from everyone that wants to see
There is always someone obstructing the vision of those seeking clarity

Will it ever change? Will it ever?
Will there ever be a transformation? Will it ever happen?

Man it's all in your head
It's all within your mind, man

You'd be better off dead
You would be in a more favorable situation if you were deceased

And the caution in the sign is the same that keeps you blind
The warning in the sign has a similar effect of keeping you unaware

We're all children of this cancer
All of us are offspring of this disease

Do you want to live or hide?
Are you willing to face life or seek refuge?

You believe the first thing that you read
You trust the initial information you encounter

You've become predictable, forgettable
You have become easily anticipated and easily forgotten

Pathetic in your rituals
Pathetically bound by your routines

No one is accountable
No one takes responsibility

You've become a cannibal
You have turned into a predator, consuming others

When you're quick to judge everything, you can't see through another's eyes
If you hastily criticize everything, you are unable to empathize with others

When you take all the colors out, then you're only seeing black and white
When you eliminate diversity, you are limited to simplistic viewpoints

We want justice. We want empathy. No corruption. We want everything
We desire fairness, compassion, absence of wrongdoing; we desire everything

Do you want to live or hide?
Are you willing to face life or seek refuge?

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Alexander von Hollen, Caleb Healey, Gregory Fulleman, Jason Friday, Robyn Reinstadler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS