The genesis of Australian-bred, California-based hard rock outfit Sick Pupp… Read Full Bio ↴The genesis of Australian-bred, California-based hard rock outfit Sick Puppies dates back to a 1997 meeting between founding members Shimon Moore (vocals/guitar) and Emma Anzai (bass/vocals) in a suburban Sydney band room. Within ten years, the two high school friends who bonded over a mutual love for Silverchair would find mainstream commercial success on an entirely different continent. With original drummer Chris Mileski, Sick Puppies made their debut with the self-released Dog's Breakfast EP, followed two years later by their first album, Welcome to the Real World. One of the album's songs, "Nothing Really Matters" won the 2011 Triple J Unearthed competition, which showcases homegrown and undiscovered talent. A chance 2004 meeting with Australian performance artist Juan Mann would later prove to be the band's big break. Inspired by his "Free Hugs Campaign," Moore began filming the candid reactions as Mann carried his sandwich board around a street mall offering free hugs to anyone who took him up on it. After adding Sick Puppies' song "All the Same" to the video montage, Moore sent the video to Mann, who uploaded it to YouTube in 2006. By the end of that year the heartwarming video had netted ten-million views.

By this point, the band had relocated to America -- with Mileski replaced by new drummer Mark Goodwin -- and soon landed a deal with Virgin Records. Sick Puppies' sophomore LP, Dressed Up as Life, arrived in April of 2007. The exposure brought to them by the Free Hugs video helped the single "All the Same" reach number eight on Billboard's Modern Rock chart. Their second U.S. single, "My World," also reached number 20 on the Modern Rock chart and was followed by three more singles in 2008. Working with American production team Rock Mafia, Sick Puppies' delivered their third album, Tri-Polar, in 2009, which rose to number 31 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Less than a year later, they released the EP Live & Unplugged, which contained acoustic versions of songs from the album. A second companion EP, this one called Polar Opposite and also containing acoustic versions of songs from Tri-Polar, appeared in 2011. Produced again by Rock Mafia, their fourth album, Connect, fared even better, reaching number 17 on the Top 200 in the summer of 2013. In spite of their rising success, Connect would prove to be their last album with founding member Moore, who left the band in late 2014. Within days of this announcement, Anzai was approached by Texas-born singer and guitarist Bryan Scott, whose audition tape quickly landed him the job as Moore's replacement. The new lineup began writing and recording material for their fourth album, teasing with a new single, "Stick to Your Guns," in early 2016.

- compiled by Timothy Monger & David Jeffries, Rovi (from MTV artists 2016)

Riptide
Sick Puppies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You all hate your children
They're too fat to feed
You're on medication
Taking pills to sleep
I think I'm doing just fine
Compared to what you've been doing
I won't get vaccinated
Insurance costs too much

You think you're so persuasive
But I'm not giving up
Saving my life
It's not what you're doing

I, I won't justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine

I like to step on cracks
I go against the odds
You think my world is flat
Do I turn you on?
Maybe, yeah I'm wrong
But I like where I'm going
I leave when others stay
I never re-decide
I don't mind if you wait
But I don't waste my time
Crazy is just fine
'Cause I like where I'm going

I, I won't justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine

I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when it wasn't so hard
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when, I remember when

I, I didn't have to justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine

I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when it wasn't so hard

I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when, I remember when

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sick Puppies’s song ‘Riptide’ have been interpreted differently by listeners. Some see it as a call to rebel against societal norms, while others see it as a criticism of those who refuse to conform to social conventions. In the song’s opening lines, the singer accuses the audience of hating their children because they are too fat to feed, they are on medication, and they take pills to sleep. The song continues with the singer talking about how he is doing fine compared to the people who try to throw him a line, yet are drowning themselves. He firmly believes that he won't justify the way he lives his life because he is living it, feeling it, and tasting it. He feels he is not wasting his time, unlike those trying to throw him a line.

The chorus of the song is a declaration of the singer's independence and the freedom he feels from living outside the norm. He likes where he is, despite what others might think of him, and he prefers to live life on his terms. The final stanza reminisces with nostalgia about the time when it used to be easy, reiterating the singer's desire for a life free from societal pressure.

Line by Line Meaning

You all hate your children
You don't care for your children and their health.

They're too fat to feed
Your children are unhealthy and overweight.

You're on medication
You are dependent on medication to function.

Taking pills to sleep
You need medication to fall asleep.

I think I'm doing just fine
I believe I am doing well in my life.

Compared to what you've been doing
In comparison to your actions, I am satisfied with mine.

I won't get vaccinated
I will not take the vaccine.

Insurance costs too much
The cost of insurance is too high for me.

You think you're so persuasive
You believe you can convince me to change my opinions.

But I'm not giving up
I am not changing my stance.

Saving my life
I am taking my own steps to preserve my health.

It's not what you're doing
Your attempts to help me are not effective.

I, I won't justify
I will not rationalize or defend

The way I live my life
My lifestyle and choices are mine to make.

'Cause I'm the one livin' it
I am the one experiencing my life and its consequences.

Feelin' it, tastin' it
I am fully immersed in my life and its pleasures and pains.

And you're just wasting your time
Your attempts to change me are futile.

Trying to throw me a line
You are trying to give me advice, but it isn't helping.

When you're the one drowning
You are struggling, but I am not.

I like where I'm at on my back
I am happy and content with my current position and perspective.

Floating down in my own riptide
I am moving forward in my own direction, despite outside influences.

The water is fine
I am comfortable and safe in my own space.

I like to step on cracks
I enjoy taking risks and going against the norm.

I go against the odds
I make choices that are not necessarily expected or easy.

You think my world is flat
You have misconceptions or misunderstandings about my beliefs.

Do I turn you on?
Does my behavior or attitude impress or interest you?

Maybe, yeah I'm wrong
I am aware that my actions may not always be the right choice.

But I like where I'm going
Regardless of my mistakes, I am satisfied with the direction of my life.

I leave when others stay
I am not afraid to make my own choices and stand alone.

I never re-decide
I am confident and secure in my decisions.

I don't mind if you wait
I am okay with you not following me or agreeing with my choices.

But I don't waste my time
I only invest my energy into things that matter to me.

Crazy is just fine
My unorthodox choices are acceptable and fulfilling to me.

'Cause I like where I'm going
Because I am content with my choices and direction.

I remember when it used to be easy
I recall a simpler time in my life.

I remember when it wasn't so hard
I miss the ease of my past experiences.

I, I didn't have to justify
I did not have to explain or defend my choices and actions.

The way I live my life
My lifestyle was not up for debate.

'Cause I'm the one livin' it
I am the only one truly experiencing the consequences of my choices.