Friday Sessions #103: ‘I’ll turn the tide for you’ – ‘With these hands’ Tom Jones

Are you feeling emotional? Romantic? Wearing your heart on your sleeve? Well, get ready because Tom Jones is in the house this Friday. Back in 1965 this performance on the Ed Sullivan show shows the very young Mr Jones in action. To be honest, I am not the biggest fan but I can’t help but be impressed how he can walk so nonchalantly onto the set, and offer an outpouring of heart and soul with such suave and precision.

Today’s lyric: I’ll turn the tide for you

If you are not already familiar with the word ‘tide’ this commonly relates to the current in the sea or ocean. You will hear people saying that ‘the tide is IN’ (when you are standing on the beach and the water is close to you,) or ‘the tide is OUT’ (when the water is further away from you in the distance.)

When the tide turns, it basically changes. This idiom is often used in English to say that a trend, situation or event is reversed, or the course of action changes. You will notice in history that this idiom describes the turning point in wars and battles, so if we promise to turn the tide for someone we are making a very big proclamation.

Other examples:

“The investor put all his cards on the table in an effort to turn the tide of the negotiation.”

“After years of struggle and hard work, they feel the tide is finally turning.”

*Thanks to Adelaida for her collaboration and suggesting this week’s track!

Lyrics:

With these hands, I will cling to you,
I’m yours forever and a day
With these hands, I will bring to you,
A tender love as warm as May.

With this heart I will sing to you,
Long after stars have lost their glow,
And with these hands, I’ll provide for you.
Should there be a stormy sea,
I’ll turn the tide for you,
And I’ll never,
No, I’ll never let you go.