B-Side Guys

Ocean Tisdall learned about Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh—the dog who sat by his owner’s grave for 14 years after John Gray’s death—and recognized himself in the story. That image anchors “Jealous,” the third and most emotionally charged chapter in the Irish alt-pop artist’s breakup series. The line “I was a dog on a leash, you know I would’ve stayed / stayed sat on your grave” captures heartbreak as mourning, as losing a piece of yourself and not leaving even when the other person has.

Written in April with producer Prentice, the track documents the specific torment of watching someone move on easily while you remain paralyzed. Tisdall contrasts their ability to eat, sleep, go out normally with his own inability to function, the realization of how unaffected they are hitting like betrayal. The production stays stripped-back and intimate, evoking the classic ache of Adele’s “Someone Like You” and Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” through piercing lyrics and honest delivery.

What elevates the track beyond typical breakup fare is Tisdall’s willingness to examine jealousy without shame. He acknowledges it’s an emotion we’re taught to hide—that it makes us seem bitter or small—but frames it as pointing toward unfulfilled needs rather than character failure. The jealousy isn’t just about them moving on but about wishing he could be equally cruel, recognizing he’s still too soft while they checked out months ago with mouths fully closed, clutching at reasons to go.

The bridge captures the specific helplessness of waiting by the phone while someone plays with your life like they own it, scared you won’t move on or grow, knowing only that you’re jealous. Following “Making It Easy” (about letting go with grace), “Jealous” explores what comes after grace runs out—the quiet torment of loving someone enough to let them go while every part of you wishes they’d stayed.

Drawing comparisons to Lewis Capaldi, Cian Ducrot, and Tom Odell, Tisdall spent the past year reconnecting with his passion for storytelling through a deeply personal acoustic project. “Jealous” proves he’s found his voice: soulful vocals, minimalist soundscape, masterful storytelling that lingers long after the last note fades.