Riptide

by Vance Joy
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Sing this song instead — backing track for “Riptide”
Backing track + lyrics — toggle the vocal, change the key, practice singing over piano.

Other arrangements of Riptide

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Lyrics

(Am)I was scared of den tists and the dark.

this (Am)I was scared of (G)pret ty girls and (C)start ing con ver sa tions.

All (Am)cow my friends are turn ing green;

you’re the (Am)ma gi cian’s as sist ant in their dream.

Ah (Am)ooh.

Ah (Am)oh,

and they (C)come un stuck.

(Am)La dy, (G)run ning down to the (C)rip tide, tak en a way to the (Am)dark side, (G)I wan na be your (C)left hand man.

I (Am)love you (G)when you’re sing ing that (C)song, and I got a lump in my (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words wrong.

(Am)There’s this mov ie that I think you’ll like:

this (Am)guy de cides to (G)quit his job, and (C)heads to New York Cit y.

This (Am)cow boy’s run ning from him self,

you’re and (Am)she’s been liv ing on the high est shelf.

Ah (Am)ooh.

Ah (Am)oh,

and they (C)come un stuck.

(Am)La dy, (G)run ning down to the (C)rip tide, tak en a way to the (Am)dark side, (G)I wan na be your (C)left hand man.

I (Am)love you (G)when you’re sing ing that (C)song, and I got a lump in my (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words wrong.

wrong.

(Am)I just wan na, I just wan na know

(C)if you’re gon na, if you’re gon na stay.

(Am)I just got ta, I just got ta know;

(C)I can’t have it, I can’t have it (F)an y oth er way.

I (Am)swear she’s des tined for the (C)screen;

(Am)clos est thing to (G)Mi chelle Pfeif fer (C)that you’ve ev er seen, oh.

(Am)La dy, (G)run ning down to the (C)rip tide, tak en a way to the (Am)dark side, (G)I wan na be your (C)left hand man.

I (Am)love you (G)when you’re sing ing that (C)song, and I got a lump in my (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words wrong.

Oh, (Am)la dy, (G)run ning down to the (C)rip tide, tak en a way to the (Am)dark side, (G)I wan na be your (C)left hand man.

I (Am)love you (G)when you’re sing ing that (C)song, and I got a lump in my (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words wrong.

Oh, (Am)la dy, (G)run ning down to the (C)rip tide, tak en a way to the (Am)dark side, (G)I wan na be your (C)left hand man.

I (Am)love you (G)when you’re sing ing that (C)song, and I got a lump in my (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words wrong.

Oh, (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words (C)wrong, and I got a lump in my (Am)throat ’cause (G)you’re gon na sing the words wrong.

Riptide — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

98 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Riptide" by Vance Joy: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of C, 120 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a great way to build confidence with a five-chord pop pattern that sits comfortably in the key of C — your right hand will cycle through Am, C, F, Fmaj7, and G, and since F and Fmaj7 share almost the same shape, you really only need to internalize four distinct chord grips.

Your left hand plays block bass notes, so keep it steady and grounded on the root of each chord without overcomplicating things.

At 120 BPM the tempo is upbeat, so start at about 80 BPM hands-separately, locking in the right-hand chord changes before you layer the left hand underneath.

The trickiest moment is the Am-to-G transition — your fingers will want to rush it, so loop just that two-chord switch until it feels automatic.

Watch your timing on the move from F to Fmaj7 as well; it's a small voice-leading shift, but at speed it's easy to blur.

Once you can play the whole progression cleanly at tempo, focus on keeping a light, bouncy touch to match the playful energy of the song.

This is the piece that will lock your I–IV–V–vi muscle memory into place for dozens of pop songs ahead.

About “Riptide”

What key is "Riptide" by Vance Joy played in?
Riptide is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Riptide"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Riptide" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Riptide"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Riptide"?
"Riptide" was originally performed by Vance Joy. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Riptide"?
This arrangement uses 5 chords: Am, C, F, Fmaj7, G.
What other songs by Vance Joy can I play here?
Try "MESS IS MINE", "LAY IT ON ME", "SATURDAY SUN". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Riptide" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Riptide" by Vance Joy. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Riptide" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in C, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Riptide" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.