She has released a collection of EPs ("Lice", "Patched Up", "Loveworm", "Space Cadet"), her debut full-length album "Fake It Flowers" in 2020, her sophomore album "Beatopia" in 2022, and her hit singles "Glue Song" and "the way things go" in 2023. Along with her EPs, albums, and singles, she's released songs featuring popular artists like Laufey, Clairo, Cavetown, PinkPantheress, and Luna Li. Her sound has evolved over the years, drawing influence from 90s alternative rock and space rock.
Ripples
beabadoobee Lyrics
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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
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