Tides
The xx Lyrics
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And I can't stop you leaving
I can see it in your eyes
Some things that lost their meaning
Devote to me
Alone with me
Say with me
You leave with the tide
And I can't stop you leaving
I can see it in your eyes
Some things that lost their meaning
Fade out of view
I wouldn't do that to you
I wouldn't just leave us alone
When we could be close, close, close
Hold me close when you could leave us alone
Why would you just leave us alone
When we have been close, close
You leave with the tide
And I can't stop you leaving
I can see it in your eyes
Some things that lost their meaning
You leave with the tide
And I can't stop you leaving
I can see it in your eyes
Some things that lost their meaning
The xx's song "Tides" is a melancholy reflection on the challenges of maintaining a relationship that is slowly slipping away. The lyrics are characterized by a sense of resignation, as the singer acknowledges that their partner is leaving them, and that their attempts to hold on to the relationship are futile. The repeated refrain of "You leave with the tide, and I can't stop you leaving" emphasizes the inevitability of the situation, as the tide is a natural force beyond anyone's control.
The singer clearly sees that their partner has lost interest in them, as they can see it in their eyes. The things that were once meaningful to them seem to have faded away, leaving the singer feeling disconnected and powerless. However, despite this, the singer still holds on to hope, begging their partner to "hold me close" and asking why they would "just leave us alone" when they could be "close, close, close."
Overall, "Tides" is a poignant and emotional exploration of the complexities of relationships and the feelings of loss and abandonment that can arise as they start to fall apart.
Line by Line Meaning
You leave with the tide
The person being addressed leaves consistently and almost as if in tune with the movement of the ocean.
And I can't stop you leaving
The singer realizes that they lack the power to stop the person from leaving.
I can see it in your eyes
The singer can read their departing lover's eyes and interpret their true intention.
Some things that lost their meaning
The significance of some important things in their relationship is now unclear and ambiguous.
Devote to me
The artist is pleading with their partner to commit and prioritize their relationship.
Alone with me
The singer is asking to be with their partner in isolation and intimacy.
Say with me
The singer is requesting comfort and assurance from their partner.
"Why would you ever want to leave?"
The artist wants clarification about why their partner would want to end the relationship.
Fade out of view
The artist fears that they will lose sight of their partner and their love will diminish.
I wouldn't do that to you
The artist is reassuring their partner that they would never allow their love to fade away.
I wouldn't just leave us alone
The singer wouldn't abandon their relationship and allow the distance to separate them.
When we could be close, close, close
The artist recognizes the potential for closeness but feels they're missing out.
Hold me close when you could leave us alone
The singer is asking for their partner's affection and company despite the option to leave.
Why would you just leave us alone
The singer is questioning their partner's motives for wanting to sever the relationship.
When we have been close, close
The singer is recalling a time when they were emotionally closer with their partner.
You leave with the tide
The song concludes with a repetition of the first line, emphasizing the recurring nature of their partner's departure.
And I can't stop you leaving
The artist is accepting that they're powerless in preventing their partner from leaving.
I can see it in your eyes
The singer can still sense their partner's desire and intention to depart.
Some things that lost their meaning
The meaning behind certain significant aspects of their relationship is still ambiguous and unclear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Romy Anna Madley Croft, James Thomas Smith, Oliver David Sim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind