Ripple Effect
Scott Helman Lyrics

I'm just as mean as my mother
The singer identifies a similarity between themselves and their mother's unkind behavior

You're just as angry as your dad
The singer identifies a similarity between their listener and their father's angry behavior

The clenched fist of a real long list of the things we never had
The singer suggests that the anger and meanness in their parents' personalities are a result of not having certain things, which then caused a ripple effect of similar behavior in their generation

This is not really about you
The artist acknowledges that their listener is not solely responsible for their behavior, but part of a larger cycle

And it's not really about me
The artist acknowledges that they too are not solely responsible for their behavior, but part of a larger cycle

We're just drowning in the ripple effect of our parents' history
The singer uses the metaphor of drowning to describe the overwhelming and suffocating impact of their parents' past behaviors and circumstances on their own lives

So, please can we try something new?
The singer makes a request for their listener to join them in breaking free from the cycle of their parents' behavior

'Cause I wanna heal all the wounds
The artist wants to repair the emotional damage caused by their family history

It seems like the least I can do
The artist recognizes that repairing the emotional damage is the minimum they can do for their listener

For you
The artist expresses their intentions to help their listener through their shared history

I wanna take you in a caravan
The singer wants to go on an adventure with their listener

To the edge of the ocean
The artist wants to go to a specific location where the water meets the land

Where the trees make a canopy and the moonlight is golden
The singer describes the picturesque and serene environment they want to share with their listener

We could make this a beautiful life
The singer wants to create a positive and beautiful existence for themselves and their listener

Come on let me show you
The singer invites their listener to join them in this journey

In a rented caravan (ooh)
The artist describes the mode of transportation they will be using

Not a lot of people make it
The artist acknowledges that breaking free from their family history is difficult and uncommon

And they're lucky if they do
The singer notes that those who succeed in breaking free are fortunate

It's a shot in the darkness
The singer is uncertain about the outcome of their journey and recognizes that it is risky and uncertain

But I'll take it for you
The artist commits to taking the risk and facing the uncertainty for their listener

Maybe we could make a new memory
The artist wants to create a positive and lasting experience with their listener

One that makes your belly laugh
The artist wants to create a joyful and lighthearted memory with their listener

Don't want to cry for the rest of my life
The singer wants to move away from the sadness and pain associated with their family history

If we're faking artifacts
The artist wants to avoid pretending to have a happy and idyllic life while still living with the pain of their past experiences

Just let me do something good
The singer wants to take positive action to improve their and their listener's life

We can dive in the water and we won't forget
The singer suggests that they and their listener can create a profound and meaningful memory together

But we can play in the waves of the ripple effect
The singer acknowledges that they and their listener cannot completely escape the impact of their family history but can navigate it differently and positively