{title: Riptide}
{artist: Vance Joy}
{album: God Loves You When You're Dancing EP (2013)}
{key: A}
{tempo: 105}
{difficulty: beginner}
{tags: hearthside,singalong}
{video: youtube:uJ_1HMAGb4k}
{credit: Vance Joy - 'Riptide' (Official Video, 2013). (c) Atlantic Records.}

{c: Vance Joy's breakout single. Originally written on ukulele.}
{c: Lyrics copyright the artist. Chord skeleton below.}
{c: For full lyrics: the official music video.}

{c: ===== KEY & CAPO =====}
{c: Original recording is in A♭. Most guitarists play in A (no capo) or Am (capo 1, sounds A♭).}
{c: Sounds great on ukulele in C or A (the song was written on uke).}

{c: ===== STRUCTURE =====}
{c: Verse → Pre-Chorus → Chorus → Verse → Pre-Chorus → Chorus → Bridge → Final Chorus}

{c: ===== VERSE PROGRESSION (in A — guitar key) =====}
[Am]________ [G]________ [C]________
[Am]________ [G]________ [C]________

{c: Three chords, looped. That's the whole verse.}

{c: ===== PRE-CHORUS / CHORUS PROGRESSION =====}
{c: Same three chords. The song is essentially Am-G-C the whole way through.}
[Am]________ [G]________ [C]________
[Am]________ [G]________ [C]________

{c: ===== BRIDGE =====}
{c: The famous "I just wanna…" section. Same three chords, slightly different rhythm.}
[Am]________ [G]________ [C]________

{c: ===== HOW THE FAMILY BAND PLAYS IT =====}
{c: Verse: light strum or fingerpick. One voice solo. The lyrics scan as conversational, almost spoken.}
{c: Chorus: full strum, both voices on the "lady, running down" hook, fiddle drones an open string.}
{c: Bridge: drop dynamics, lots of vocal harmony stacking. This is the moment.}
{c: Kid: easy bodhrán pattern. Once he has G and C down on guitar, this could be his FIRST full song to play and sing.}

{c: ===== WHY IT WORKS FOR YOU =====}
{c: Three chords. THREE. The kid can play this on guitar in six months. The lyrics scan as harmless nonsense but actually work as a couple's song. Easy entry point into the Hearthside chapter for anyone in the family.}