That's life, that's what all the people say
You're riding high in April
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life, and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine ol' world it keeps spinning around

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a p*** and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself, flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life
I tell ya, I can't deny it
I thought of quitting baby
But my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a p*** and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself laying flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life
That's life and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out
But my heart won't buy it
But if there's nothing shakin' come this here july
I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die

Overall Meaning

The song “That's Life” by James Brown is a powerful anthem about resilience and optimism in the face of adversity. The lyrics describe the ups and downs of life, with Brown acknowledging that sometimes things will go well, and other times they will not. Despite the setbacks, however, Brown remains determined to keep moving forward, knowing that he has the strength and ability to overcome any obstacle.

The opening lines of the song, “That's life, that's what all the people say / You're riding high in April / Shot down in May” set the tone for the rest of the song. Brown is acknowledging the unpredictable nature of life and the fact that no one can be guaranteed success all the time. Yet, he refuses to be defeated by setbacks and instead chooses to find strength in himself, his experiences and his ability to persevere. “But I don't let it, let it get me down / 'Cause this fine ol' world it keeps spinning around” -- showcases that despite whatever may happen in one's life, they must keep perspective and keep moving.

Furthermore, Brown sings about how he has experienced success and failure in his life. He has been “a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a p***** and a king” - showcasing the vastness of his experiences. Despite these experiences, Brown knows that he must continue to work hard and persevere in order to achieve his goals. This sentiment is encapsulated in the lyrics, “Each time I find myself, flat on my face / I pick myself up and get back in the race.” This line speaks to Brown's resilience and his refusal to be defeated by adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

That's life, that's what all the people say
Life has its ups and downs and this is well known by everyone

You're riding high in April
Sometimes we find ourselves succeeding and everything is great

Shot down in May
Other times, things don't go our way and we feel like we have been knocked down

But I know I'm gonna change that tune
Despite the bad times, I know that everything will eventually turn around for the better

When I'm back on top, back on top in June
I'm confident that I will overcome my struggles and find success again

I said that's life, and as funny as it may seem
Even though life can be challenging, it's important to maintain a sense of humor and not take it too seriously

Some people get their kicks
Some people enjoy tearing down others' dreams and aspirations

Stompin' on a dream
They want to see others fail or not reach their full potential

But I don't let it, let it get me down
I don't allow these negative people to bring me down with them

'Cause this fine ol' world it keeps spinning around
Life goes on despite the challenges we face

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
I have experienced a wide variety of roles and circumstances in my life

A poet, a p*** and a king
I have experienced both highs and lows, as well as a range of emotions

I've been up and down and over and out
I have gone through many difficult situations but I have always managed to persevere

And I know one thing
One thing that I know for sure

Each time I find myself, flat on my face
Each time I experience failure or defeat

I pick myself up and get back in the race
I always find a way to bounce back and try again

I tell ya, I can't deny it
I am being honest when I say

I thought of quitting baby
There have been moments when I considered giving up

But my heart just ain't gonna buy it
But deep down, I know that quitting is not an option

And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
If I did not believe that success was achievable through perseverance

I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly
I would give up and move on to something else

Many times I thought of cutting out
There have been many times when I considered giving up

But my heart won't buy it
But my inner drive and determination prevents me from giving up

But if there's nothing shakin' come this here july
If things do not improve in the near future

I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die
I feel like I will have exhausted all my options and see no point in continuing to try

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