This song explores the desire to pack up, move abroad, and reinvent oneself. Packed with self-loathing and a sense of longing, the lyrics of this song contrast with the infectiously upbeat and catchy instrumentals.
[Verse 1]
Oh, here I go again
I wake up every morning to this Groundhog Day
Thinking about the list of things that I've done wrong
Can't even count, it goes on too long
I try to change my ways
I feel like I'm the villain in some crappy play
The book has long been written, but I'd rather be
Just about anyone else but me, I hope you see
[Pre-Chorus 1]
It doesn't mean I'm not a fighter
It's just that I wanna be a little lighter
Spent so long fixing things I've done
I've got holes in all my pockets
Even those holes, they've got pockets
Hiding things that'll never see the sun
[Chorus]
I'm taking off, going to Rio
I'm getting lost to find an alter-ego
It could be Paris or Berlin, I don't care what state I'm in
Gonna leave it all behind
Maybe I'll be myself when I'm somebody else
This is not an invitation, I'm going to Rio
This is not a conversation, say goodbye to me-oh
[Verse 2]
Maybe in ten years time
You'll receive a letter from some random guy
You'll like him so much better
But then you will see, he's not a stranger it's only me
I can only be myself as somebody else
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Cause you got sun, I got bad weather
Anything you can lose I can lose better
Do my best with what life gave to me
I've got holes in all my pockets
Even those holes, they've got pockets
Hiding things that I sure want to leave
[Chorus]
I'm taking off, going to Rio
I'm getting lost to find an alter-ego
It could be Paris or Berlin, I don't care what state I'm in
Gonna leave it all behind
Maybe I'll be myself when I'm somebody else
This is not an invitation, I'm going to Rio
This is not a conversation, say goodbye to me-oh
[Bridge]
Give me a peanut and I'll turn blue
I can't even eat the things you do
Bake you a cake and I burn it up twice
I roll thirteen on a pair of dice
Give me a peanut and I'll turn blue
I can't even eat the things you do
Bake you a cake and I burn it up twice
I roll thirteen on a pair of dice
[Chorus]
I'm taking off, going to Rio
I'm getting lost to find an alter-ego
It could be Paris or Berlin, I don't care what state I'm in
Gonna leave it all behind
Maybe I'll be myself when I'm somebody else
This is not an invitation, I'm going to Rio
This is not a conversation, say goodbye to me-oh
This is not an invitation, I'm going to Rio
This is not a conversation, say goodbye to me-oh
Rio was written by MIKA & Nina Woodford & Jarrad Kritzstein & Clay “Krucial” Perry III.
Rio was produced by MIKA & Greg Wells.