Jefferson Starship's song "Ride The Tiger" is a metaphorical exploration of cultural differences and the desire to bridge those gaps. The tiger represents the unknown or the other side of things, and the lyrics express a desire to explore and understand those differences. The opening lines express a desire for adventure and excitement, and a willingness to take risks - to "ride the tiger" - in order to gain knowledge and experience. The verses that follow contrast the ways that different cultures might see the same thing. A tear, for example, might represent different things to someone from the Western world (salt, carbon, water) than it would to someone from China (sadness, sorrow, or love). The chorus repeats the desire to "ride the tiger," evoking a sense of both danger and exhilaration. The lines "Black wants out of the streets / Yellow wants the country / Red wants the country back / And white wants out of this world" suggest different cultural aspirations and struggles, highlighting the complexities of identity and belonging. The song ends with an invitation to embrace the transformative potential of the future: "Look to the summer of seventy-five / All the world is gonna come alive / Do you want to ride the tiger?" Overall, "Ride The Tiger" is a powerful expression of the human desire to connect with others, to learn from different perspectives and to explore what lies beyond the familiar.
