After the obligatory member changes of most school-age bands, a solid line-up emerged and the band began playing various small club gigs and recording rudimentary but energetic basement demos. Those early shows and recordings, and a growing fan base in their home town, bolstered their confidence and prompted a move to Canada's biggest metropolis, Toronto.
Once in "the Big Smoke", the band recorded their debut self titled EP. The disk landed them steadily improving club shows in their new home, opening slots for touring acts, and a prestigious festival show in Thunder Bay, opening for Vince Neil of Motley Crue. Shortly after this concert, the band parted ways with their lead guitarist, cementing their current line-up of Tim Shaw (vocals, rhythm guitar), Boris Novak (bass), Jeff Johnson (drums) and Andrew Roudny (lead guitar).
After accepting the new guitarist into the fold, the band's sound began to evolve away from their roots as brit-pop aficionados and veered to a more riff-laden guitar rock. The four members began each using their separate but compatible influences to create The Ryde’s signature sound.
Having found his voice singing against U2, The Verve and Incubus records, Shaw accepted his own band's quickened pace with an increased emphasis on syllabic attack and soaring choruses. Novak brought the heavy metal energy of Metallica and Tool. Johnson maintained the intricate drum sound of Incubus and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and added a straight ahead drive to his repertoire of complex patterns. Roudny rounded out the new sound with intense, highly technical guitar parts and a pop-metal accessibility.
Their driving songs, celebratory live performances and enthusiastic fan base have made them a regular Saturday night headliner at the world famous Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto's most prestigious live music venue for up-and-coming acts.
A rigorous writing schedule has set them up with ample material for their 2008 full length studio album "Take Aim". They have caught the ear of 30 Seconds To Mars engineer Andre Doucette, who engineered and produced the album.
Tell Me What It Is
The Ryde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She sleeps with one eye open
She sleeps with one eye closed
She resurrects a feeling
I just couldn?t hold
She walks and talks with action
She made a move but nothing ever happened
Why did I try ?-
To hold
The holy hands
PRE-CHORUS
And all you need
Is a friend like me ?-
CHORUS
Tell me what it is that you hide
Tell me the story all about your life
Take my hand, hold it tight
Cause I?m losing the fight
To keep me calm tonight
VERSE 2
So she placed a hand on my chest
It gave my heartbeat a rest
Now I know everything?s gonna end alright
She has a warm safe destination
A quiet place amongst a foolish nation
Should I explore it
Or do I ignore it
Why did I try
To hold
The holy hands
PRE-CHORUS
And all you need
Is a friend like me
CHORUS x2
Tell me what it is that you hide
Tell me the story all about your life
Take my hand, hold it tight
Cause I?m losing the fight
To keep me calm ?-
Tell me what it is that you hide
Tell me the story all about your life
Take my hand, hold it tight
Cause I?m losing the fight
To keep me calm tonight
The song "Tell Me What It Is" by The Ryde explores the theme of trust and vulnerability in a relationship. The first verse describes a woman who is guarded and closed off, unable to fully let the singer in. She "sleeps with one eye open" and "resurrects a feeling" that he couldn't hold, suggesting that there was once a connection between them that has since faded. The singer questions whether he should have pursued this connection, wondering if she is the "angel" he ignored.
In the second verse, the woman touches the singer's chest and gives his heart a rest, indicating that she has the power to bring him peace and comfort. She has a "warm safe destination" but the singer is unsure if he should explore it or ignore it. The pre-chorus reassures her that he is a trustworthy friend, someone she can confide in, while the chorus begs her to reveal her secrets and story, to take his hand and hold it tight, because he is "losing the fight to keep me calm tonight."
Overall, the lyrics depict a complex relationship in which one person is hesitant to trust and the other is trying to prove themselves as trustworthy. The singer wants to understand the woman's past and experiences, to be the person she can rely on, but acknowledges that it's not an easy journey. The song ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the listener wondering if the woman will finally let her guard down and share her true self with the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
She sleeps with one eye open
She is cautious and aware of her surroundings even when she's asleep
She sleeps with one eye closed
But she's also vulnerable and trusts that nothing bad will happen
She resurrects a feeling
She brings back an emotion that I can't seem to feel anymore
I just couldn?t hold
I couldn't grasp or understand it
She walks and talks with action
She's not just words, she takes action too
She made a move but nothing ever happened
She tried to initiate something, but it didn't work out
Is this the angel I ignore?
Is she the person I dismiss or overlook, despite her worth?
Why did I try ?-
To hold
The holy hands
Why did I attempt to be with someone who may be too pure or good for me?
And all you need
Is a friend like me ?-
All you really need is someone like me who cares about you and wants to help
Tell me what it is that you hide
I want to know the secrets or emotions that you keep hidden from others
Tell me the story all about your life
I want to understand your past experiences that have influenced who you are today
Take my hand, hold it tight
Let me support and comfort you when things get tough
Cause I?m losing the fight
To keep me calm tonight
I'm struggling to stay calm and together myself, and your honesty would help me deal with that
So she placed a hand on my chest
She offered me physical comfort and reassurance
It gave my heartbeat a rest
It eased my anxiety and made me feel calm and secure
Now I know everything?s gonna end alright
Her actions and care make me feel confident that everything will work out in the end
She has a warm safe destination
She has a comforting and secure place to go
A quiet place amongst a foolish nation
She has found a place of peace and serenity amidst the chaos and drama of the world
Should I explore it
Or do I ignore it
Should I investigate this comforting place she's found or pretend it doesn't exist?
Tell me what it is that you hide
Again, I want to know what secrets or emotions you're keeping to yourself
Tell me the story all about your life
Again, I want to understand how your past has shaped you
Take my hand, hold it tight
Again, I want to offer you support and comfort
Cause I?m losing the fight
To keep me calm ?-
I'm struggling to stay centered and present myself
Tell me what it is that you hide
One more time, I want to encourage you to share your secrets so we can both feel emotionally connected
Tell me the story all about your life
One more time, I want to understand your experiences and emotions so we can relate to each other
Take my hand, hold it tight
One more time, I want to offer my support and care
Cause I?m losing the fight
To keep me calm tonight
One more time, I'm struggling to stay present and centered but I believe our connection will help me feel more at peace
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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