Losing Side of Twenty-Five
American Aquarium Lyrics

All my friends are growing up
My peers are progressing with their lives

Changing pretty girls last names
Getting married, creating families

I'm still finding my way
I'm still trying to figure out what I want out of life

Rolling down the highway
Traveling, wandering

Playing a much younger mans game
Not ready to settle down, still living like a young man

Every night we're drinking
Frequently drinking in a social setting

In dive bars and dance halls
Socializing in less fancy or upscale environments

They're all at that age
My peers are at an age where they're building families and lives

Where they're all having babies
Reproducing, expanding their family

And picking out the nursery coloured walls
Designing a nursery for their baby

They all ask me how I'm doing
People inquire about my well-being

I just smile and realize
I pretend to be okay and accept my situation as is

That although it was kind to me
Even though life has been good to me in certain ways

My youth is all behind me
My youth is gone, I'm not a young person anymore

Now I'm on the losing side
I'm not as successful as my peers

The losing side of twenty five
I'm not as accomplished as my peers and feeling like a failure

Mom and dad did the best they could
My parents tried their hardest to raise me well

To raise me the right way
To help me become a successful, good person

And I'll lean more their own
I follow in their steps and take their advice

And I started writing songs
Began pursuing my musical aspirations

Thinking I had something to say
Believing my music was meaningful or impactful

So every week at the food line
Receiving food assistance

All the other parents boast
Fellow parents brag about their children's accomplishments

About there kids graduating
Discussing their kids' recent academic achievements and milestones

Getting higher educations
Achieving a higher education, such as a college degree

In the big city jobs that they chose
Working in lucrative jobs in big cities they chose to reside in

My parents asked me how I'm doing
My parents ask about my well-being

I hang my head and close my eyes
I feel ashamed and embarrassed by my lack of success

They say don't throw your life away
Parents advise me to not waste my life

Go and get a job that pays
Parents suggest I get a job with regular pay and benefits

We love you and we know that you tried
My parents still love and support me despite my lack of achievement

Yeah I might never have a mansion
I won't necessarily have a large, expensive home

Hell I might never own me a home
I may never own a home

But I got a couple of songs
I may not have material wealth, but I have music

And some boys that I call friends
Close friends who may not have success either

And a pretty girl that I can call my own
I have a significant other I care for

Yeah I might never be a millionaire
I won't necessarily become wealthy

That's alright by me
I'm okay with that

Cus' I've done the things I wanted to
I've accomplished things that were important to me

And said the things I needed to
I've confidently expressed myself

And seen the things I wanted to see
I've experienced things I've found meaningful

When they all ask me how I'm doing
People inquire about my well-being

I just smile and realize
I pretend to be okay and accept my situation as is

There are different roads to happiness
Happiness is achieved in different ways

I took a different path I guess
I've chosen a different - possibly less traditional - path

Came out on the other side just fine
I'm doing okay and content with where I'm at