Song Meaning
These lyrics plunge into the heart of an intense internal conflict, where a "wavering heart" battles powerful "fear and desire." The speaker feels an overwhelming pull, caught between the warmth of passion and the danger it represents. It's a snapshot of being on the precipice, teetering between what is known and the allure of the unknown.
The central tension revolves around the high stakes involved in yielding to this powerful urge. The narrator contemplates whether to "Lose what I have to test new water," suggesting a significant sacrifice for a potentially risky experience. Their mind is "awash 'round the thoughts of her," indicating an obsession that consumes their waking hours and even their sleep, making it impossible to "stay awake" against the tide of temptation.
The craft here is particularly striking due to the interplay of two distinct voices. Anne Slinn's lines convey the raw, vulnerable internal struggle, while Bob Fay's interjections act as a counterpoint, perhaps a cautionary inner voice or even the insidious whisper of temptation itself. Fay's repeated warning, "So hard for you to stem the tide," directly contrasts Slinn's feeling of "Drifting off" and being carried "Out with the tide," illustrating the relentless nature of the pull. This dual perspective externalizes a deeply personal battle, making it feel more immediate and urgent.
Ultimately, these lyrics hit hard because they capture the universal experience of facing an irresistible force that threatens to upend one's life. The vivid imagery of "flames growing higher" alongside the relentless "Temptation tide" creates a visceral sense of being swept away. The final lines, "Tide's going out, here I am to stay," leave the listener with a poignant ambiguity: has the narrator resisted, or have they been irrevocably changed by the experience, now simply existing in its aftermath?
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