Sam Riggs wears a legacy of honest country, makes good rock, writes lyrics … Read Full Bio ↴Sam Riggs wears a legacy of honest country, makes good rock, writes lyrics that matter and straps on a stage presence second to none.” -- Ray Wylie Hubbard

Receiving a hand up in this business of music from the likes of Ray Wylie Hubbard is no small accomplishment, and that mentorship – and sometimes harsh instruction – was not lost on Sam Riggs, who has had the fortunate opportunity to meander through Wylie’s cerebral countryside over the last few years. At the time of their meeting, Riggs was already a commercially-viable songwriter with an impressive root system, having sprung from his family’s musical genes; but he was still feeding off the unripe fruits of his youth. Through the songwriting school of Hubbard, he learned the time-honored virtue of patience and the aptitude for turning the rough and tumble falls to the ground into a steady, recovered gait.

“He opened my eyes to songwriting, and I could see the idiot I had been and the idiot I was going to be, and he helped me to navigate that. He taught me what it really is to be a songwriter.”

Those rough and tumble falls steadily began upon Riggs’ relocation in 2007 from his home base in Florida to Austin, Texas, after some friends brought him a CD from the prominent Texas-based band, Reckless Kelly. Their unprocessed lyrics and raw production hit Riggs squarely between the eyes, like hammer on nail, driving him to plant his personal flag in a place where he could be his own artist. His inception was less than spectacular, as he struggled to imprint himself on the hearts of Texas Music fans while also drawing heavy influence from commercial radio. With hard stares and indifferent responses, Riggs diligently worked to strip down the polish and bring out the more natural shine – a task that resulted from the truth that, as Riggs so accurately put it, “You can’t bullshit a Texan.” The experience was both a breath of fresh air and a simultaneous smack in the face, and it ultimately cultivated the signature collection that is his debut record release, OUTRUN THE SUN.

“The only thing that matters is how you interpret this life. I wanted this to be reflection of my intent and an echo of my soul as songwriter and artist.”

Following the release of the 2012 EP, Lighthouse, OUTRUN THE SUN is a perfectly ripened delicacy that will be available for the picking on October 29, 2013, on Nashville-based Vision Entertainment. Produced by Erik Herbst (Eli Young Band, Bowling For Soup, Josh Abbott Band), the debut album of Sam Riggs & The Night People signals a lyrical comprehension that reaches far beyond Sam’s years, and musical compositions that are both brave and progressive. The driving will in “Longshot”; the matter of abuse in “The Change”; and the love-provoked courage in “Lighthouse” are just a few of the towering giants included in this release.

The record is fully backed by a live show that comes out swinging and keeps the energy high. Having opened for acts that include Chris Knight; Joe Diffie; Kevin Fowler; Pat Green; the Eli Young Band; the Randy Rogers Band; and, of course, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sam Riggs & The Night People have become well-educated in the art of working a crowd. Riggs himself never fails to dazzle with his “musical chair” performances that never restrict him to one location on the stage. Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, fiddle, and even drums are all part of the magic that he hypnotically spins on a nightly basis.

“Your audience is like a dreamer, and the last thing you want to do is wake a dreamer. We try to draw them in with our music and keep them entranced in that dream.”

Until My Heart Stops Beating
Sam Riggs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fire in the sky, midnight in your eyes
Last breath from a half-smoked cigarette
Out on the edge of town with no one else around
Watch the stars dance around your silhouette
Handprints on the glass, hearts racing fast
Hypnotized by your jet-black Revlon lips
Don't wanna rush, just take it slow
'Cause you're my only hope

I rise and fall with the rhythm of your fingerprints
Woah, fire and smoke show
I'll never let go
Pull me back like the first time baby
Every touch just gets me high
Head is spinning but I'm still breathing
I'm gonna love you, gonna love you
'Til my heart stops beating
No, I'll never quit
It's as permanent as the tattoos on my skin, girl
Every time I kiss your lips, we were born for this
I fall for you again and again, girl
Woah, fire and smoke show
I'll never let go
Pull me back like the first time baby
Every touch just gets me high
Head is spinning but I'm still breathing
I'm gonna love you, gonna love you
'Til my heart stops beating
Woah, fire and smoke show
I'll never let go
Woah, fire and smoke show
I'll never let you go
Pull me back like the first time baby
Every touch just gets me high
Head is spinning but I'm still breathing
I'm gonna love you, gonna love you
'Til my heart stops beating
Every touch just gets me high
Head is spinning but I'm still breathing

I'm gonna love you, gonna love you
'Til my heart stops beating

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sam Riggs's song "Until My Heart Stops Beating" describe a moment in time where the singer is with his love interest out on the edge of town, experiencing a magical moment together. The imagery in the song is vivid, with the "fire in the sky" and "midnight in your eyes" adding to the intensity of the moment. The two are alone, with "no one else around," gazing at the stars and enjoying each other's company. There is a sense of urgency in the desire to savor the moment, as the singer knows that his love interest is his "only hope." The two share a physical connection, with "handprints on the glass" and "hearts racing fast," showcasing the passion that they share.

The choruses of the song emphasize the depth of the connection between the two. The singer asserts that he will "never let go" of his love interest, even as "head is spinning but [he's] still breathing." He is committed to her despite any obstacles and compares this love to the "permanent" tattoos on his skin. Every touch that they share "just gets [him] high," and he pledges to love her "til [his] heart stops beating." There is a sense of nostalgia as well, as the singer references the "first time" that they were together and yearns to feel that same intensity again.

Line by Line Meaning

Fire in the sky, midnight in your eyes
The intense passion between the singer and their loved one, who has beautiful and captivating eyes

Last breath from a half-smoked cigarette
Setting the scene as the two individuals are alone on the edge of town, distance from anyone else, and the loved one is smoking, perhaps as a moment of calm before the fire and excitement begin.

Out on the edge of town with no one else around
The singer and their love are alone, embodying the sense of freedom, vulnerability, and intimacy in being alone together.

Watch the stars dance around your silhouette
The artist is savoring the moment with their love and watching the way the stars shine around their body as they move, symbolizing the power of their love.

Handprints on the glass, hearts racing fast
The passion and intensity of the moment is palpable, and both individuals are fully engaged in the experience.

Hypnotized by your jet-black Revlon lips
The singer is captivated by their love's beauty and the fullness of their lips, which are painted with jet-black lipstick from the popular makeup brand Revlon.

Don't wanna rush, just take it slow
The singer wants to cherish every moment with their love, not rushing into anything but rather savoring the experience.

'Cause you're my only hope
The artist views their love as their one hope in life and is fully committed to them, despite any obstacles that may arise.

I rise and fall with the rhythm of your fingerprints
The artist is wholly in sync with their love and seems to feel their heartbeat, indicated by the rhythm of their fingerprints.

Woah, fire, and smoke show
The intense flare of passion, like fireworks or stage pyrotechnics, creating a spectacle or show that defies explanation.

I'll never let go
The singer is dedicated to their relationship with their love, and they will not back down or let go of this devotion.

Pull me back like the first time baby
The artist recounts how the two first met and fell in love and is asking their partner to pull them back into that moment so that they can relive it repeatedly.

Every touch just gets me high
The physical touch of their love seems to generate a euphoric high or sensation for the singer.

Head is spinning but I'm still breathing
The excitement and passion of their love are overwhelming for the singer, but they are still fully present and breathing/existing in this powerful moment.

I'm gonna love you, gonna love you
The singer is freely expressing their love and commitment to their partner, highlighting the depth and earnestness of their emotions.

'Til my heart stops beating
The love between the two individuals is so strong that it will persist until the artist's life comes to an end.

No, I'll never quit
The artist is committed to their love no matter what happens, and they will never give up on their relationship.

It's as permanent as the tattoos on my skin, girl
The singer compares the permanence of their commitment to their love to the permanence of their tattoos, emphasizing the unchanging nature of their devotion to their partner.

Every time I kiss your lips, we were born for this
The singer believes that their relationship and love are predestined and that every time they kiss their love's lips, they are fulfilling that destiny.

I fall for you again and again, girl
The artist is overcome with emotion and love for their partner, falling in love over and over again, showing the never-ending passion they feel when they are together.

Writer(s): Chris Locke, Andy Sheridan, Matthew Mcginn, Samuel Riggs

Contributed by Matthew E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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