Ripples
beabadoobee Lyrics


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Please don't make me hide
I've been puttin' up a fight
What's the use of it now
When I get pulled down anyways?
I've been hidin' my expression
You can't blame the reflections
And the ripples on the ground
I might as well have drowned

So I'm keepin' busy
Work twice as hard as you
Want you to believe me
That I can pick and choose
Said you'd let me drive your car
As long as I'm with you
Then you'd wait 'til we get far
And tell me that you'll be gone soon

Feels too late right now
I've been holding back
'Cause I'm afraid that I'm too loud
Six feet underground
I feel alone again
Stuck between my friends
I guess I'll figure my way through them
Not sure how I'd do it
But I'm sure now
The people would listen
As the water glistens
Then I see my reflection
So much clearer

So I'm keepin' busy
Work twice as hard as you
Want you to believe me
That I can pick and choose
Said you'd let me drive your car
As long as I'm with you




Then you'd wait 'til we get far
And tell me that you'll be gone soon

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ripples" by beabadoobee showcase feelings of anxiety, frustration, and loneliness. The opening lines, "Please don't make me hide, I've been puttin' up a fight, What's the use of it now? When I get pulled down," suggest that the singer has been trying to conceal their emotions, but they feel like it's pointless because they always end up feeling helpless. They feel invisible, as if their emotions aren't being acknowledged by anyone. Even though they have been struggling to express themselves, they feel like nobody is really listening or understanding them. The "ripples on the ground" may be a metaphor for the way every action has a consequence, and they feel like they're lost in the middle of all of it.


The second verse of the song, "So I'm keepin' busy, Work twice as hard as you, Want you to believe me, That I can pick and choose," shows that the singer is trying to prove themselves to someone. They want to be seen as capable and in control, but they feel like they're constantly being held back. The line "Said you'd let me drive your car, As long as I'm with you," may be suggestive of a toxic relationship dynamic where the other person is controlling and manipulative. The singer is trying to hold on to something that is slowly slipping away, as indicated by the line "And tell me that you'll be gone soon." The references to feeling "six feet underground" and "alone again" are particularly poignant, as they highlight the pervasive sense of isolation that pervades the entire song.


Overall, "Ripples" is an introspective and poignant reflection on the experience of feeling alone and unheard. The lyrics are particularly powerful because they are so relatable, and speak to the experiences of anyone who has ever struggled to express themselves or been in a toxic relationship. There is a sense of quiet desperation that imbues the entire song, making it an emotional and affecting track that will resonate with listeners regardless of their individual experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

Please don't make me hide
I don't want to hide or keep things bottled up


I've been puttin' up a fight
I've been resisting, but it's getting harder


What's the use of it now?
I'm starting to question the point of my resistance


When I get pulled down
Despite my efforts, I still feel weighed down


Anyways, I've been hidin' my expressions
I've been concealing my true feelings and emotions


You can't blame the reflections
It's not just me, but everything around me that's adding to the difficulty


And the ripples on the ground
The effects of my struggles are being felt by others as well


I might as well have drowned
Sometimes it feels like giving up would have been easier


So I'm keepin' busy
I'm staying active to take my mind off things


Work twice as hard as you
I'm pushing myself harder than usual


Want you to believe me
I need your trust and support right now


That I can pick and choose
I want to have some control over my life and decisions


Said you'd let me drive your car
You promised to give me some freedom and independence


As long as I'm with you
But there are still conditions attached to your offer


Then you'd wait 'til we get far
You'll only let me go so far before pulling me back


And tell me that you'll be gone soon
Your support is only temporary and I'll be on my own again


Feels too late right now
I feel like I've missed my chance to make things right


I've been holding back
I haven't been fully honest with myself or others


'Cause I'm afraid that I'm too loud
I'm scared to speak my mind or make myself heard


Six feet underground
I feel buried and trapped by my anxieties


I feel alone again
Despite being surrounded by people, I still feel isolated


Stuck between my friends
My relationships are becoming strained as I struggle to cope


I guess I'll figure my way through them
I'll have to find a way to navigate the challenges ahead


Not sure how I'd do it
I don't have all the answers yet


But I'm sure now
Despite my doubts, I'm confident that I'll find a way forward


The people will listen
I believe that others will hear me out and understand


As the water glistens
In moments of clarity, I can see a way forward


Then I see my reflection
I'm starting to understand myself better


So much clearer
As my perspective shifts, things are becoming more understandable




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beatrice Ilejay Laus, Jacob Bugden

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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