Vance Joy has described the "riptide" as a metaphor for being suddenly pulled into a relationship or a new lifestyle without fully thinking it through—much like a swimmer caught in an actual ocean current.
: The "Riptide Mentality" suggests that when external forces conspire against you, the best course of action is often to stop fighting. By conserving energy and letting the current take you, you can eventually swim parallel to the "shore" and escape when the force dissipates. "Riptide" Perspectives Riptide
“The chorus ties into this. A riptide suddenly swallows you beneath the water before you can react. He's fallen into this relationship without thinking.” Reddit · r/LyricInterpretations · 8 years ago Vance Joy has described the "riptide" as a
: This idiom suggests someone who is delicate, refined, or being kept "safe" and secluded from the world. "Riptide" Perspectives “The chorus ties into this
: This often symbolizes a girl (or person) embracing a new, potentially dangerous or overwhelming direction in life.
The Riptide Mentality, Lesser Goals, & More | The Curiosity Chronicle
Beyond the music, "riptide" is often used as a metaphor for dealing with intense external forces or emotional distress.