Lost Ring on Riverside
Sarah and the Safe Word Lyrics
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Said he was moving back to Tucson with the kids and without her
But he didn′t see the fine print on the heart that he signed
Filled a friendly vacancy at the end of her knife
There's something dark in the city that awaits you
If you′re not careful then you might take it home
Some say it's just the neighborhood, some say a point of pride
Well, his heart had room for maybe two or maybe more
The only problem was they never saw it had revolving doors
They both met each other on a chance afternoon
And surprised him with a tea that had more poison than he knew
There′s something dark in the city that awaits you
If you′re not careful then you might take it home
Some say it's just the neighborhood, some say a point of pride
It′s just another lost ring on Riverside
There's something dark in your heart that is broken
If you′re not careful, then you might let it grow
Some say it's high society, some say it′s suicide
It's just another secret kept on Riverside
There's something dark in the city that awaits you
If you′re not careful then you might take it home
Some say it′s just the neighborhood, some say a point of pride
It's just another lost ring on Riverside
The song "Lost Ring on Riverside" by Sarah and the Safe Word tells the story of a man who, in the middle of the night, wakes up his neighbors with fireworks in tow, and announces that he is moving back to Tucson with the kids and without his partner. However, he overlooked the fine print on the heart he signed and ends up filling a "friendly vacancy" at the end of her knife. The song suggests that there's a dark side to the city that he may have encountered and taken home with him. The second verse talks about the man's flaw in having a revolving heart, not loyal to one person, which eventually led to his meeting a woman who poisoned him with tea. The "lost ring" in the song symbolizes the relationship that was lost and broken, perhaps beyond repair.
The lyrics in this song offer a warning that there may always be something "dark" lurking in the shadows, whether it be within yourself or out in the city. Love can be just as dangerous as it can be fulfilling, and you never know what secrets might be kept on Riverside. There's a sense of caution and danger underlying the song, which is further emphasized through the melancholic melody and the use of strong imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
They woke the neighbors up at 3 a.m. with fireworks
Disturbance causing physical noise in the middle of the night to draw attention to oneself
Said he was moving back to Tucson with the kids and without her
Announcing their separation and one-sided proposed relocation
But he didn't see the fine print on the heart that he signed
Not understanding the emotional commitment and consequences of his actions
Filled a friendly vacancy at the end of her knife
Betrayed by someone they thought was a friend who ultimately caused harm
There's something dark in the city that awaits you
The city is full of hidden dangers and risks that can cause emotional harm
If you're not careful then you might take it home
If you're not wary and guarded, negative emotions and experiences can negatively affect you
Some say it's just the neighborhood, some say a point of pride
Some view the darkness as a characteristic of the area or a sense of belonging, while others view it with negativity
It's just another lost ring on Riverside
The loss in that area is just another similar occurrence
Well, his heart had room for maybe two or maybe more
He had the capacity to love multiple people and was non-monogamous
The only problem was they never saw it had revolving doors
The women he was involved with didn't have a clear understanding or communication about his non-monogamous lifestyle
They both met each other on a chance afternoon
They met unexpectedly, without much premeditation
And surprised him with a tea that had more poison than he knew
The women used their love and affection to manipulate and hurt him
There's something dark in your heart that is broken
The person is struggling with their own internal emotional turmoil
If you're not careful, then you might let it grow
If they don't work to address their pain and trauma, it may continue to negatively affect their life
Some say it's high society, some say it's suicide
Some see the darkness as a byproduct of living in a wealthy, privileged area, while others view it as potentially leading to self-destruction
It's just another secret kept on Riverside
The darkness is kept hidden and not often spoken about, just like any other secrets in that location
Writer(s): Sarah Rose
Contributed by Chloe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.