The Real Thing
Badlees Lyrics

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They met up in Rockport
Where the moon rose early
And the days were short
And the miles between were
Still too many to mention

The Blue Ridge rides at starfall
Oh, the epic scope of it all

Those days before
The double-edged blade of contention

Sometimes passion's
Like a cigarette
Burning clean out 'fore
It really takes wing
But you always fly high
For a little while
When you think you've
Got the real thing

He moved in for the long haul
The '81 Hog, the guitar and all
They got an apartment,
A conversation piece

But the big spark dimmed substantial
You know it's always financials
That give the portrait of happiness
It's nasty crease

Sometimes passion's
Like a cigarette
Burning clean out 'fore
It really takes wing
But you always fly high
For a little while
When you think you've
Got the real thing

Sometimes they'd find common ground
Some days he'd run to where
He couldn't be found
A ride in the pines can truly inspire
The need for a soul to come clean
From a waning desire

He laid there deciding
What side of a man
Should come out of hiding
While she laid there,
The key to his conventions

She had brought some changes
But how could he pretend
With all these empty pages
And the miles to go,
Still too many to mention

Sometimes passion's
Like a cigarette
Burning clean out 'fore
It really takes wing
But you always fly high
For a little while
When you think you've
Got the real thing

Do you think you got the real thing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Badlees' song "The Real Thing" tells the story of a couple who meet up in Rockport, where they seem to have fallen in passionate love under the beautiful moonlit nights and scenic landscapes. Their newfound love feels like the real thing, where they move in together and try to make it work. However, the relationship starts to lose its spark, and they are faced with financial problems, which eventually leads to the downfall of their love affair. The couple tries to make changes, but the distance between them is too far, and the passion that they once shared fades like a cigarette that burns out before it takes flight.

The song is a beautiful and poignant tale of a couple's youthful love, which slowly fades away with the harsh realities of life. The verses reveal the sadness of a couple who once shared a passionate love but are now struggling to keep their love alive amid obstacles. The chorus talks about how sometimes, love is like a cigarette that burns out before it takes flight, but the couple remains hopeful, trying to fly high for a little while, believing that they have the real thing.

Line by Line Meaning

They met up in Rockport
They had their first encounter in Rockport

Where the moon rose early
Rockport is a place where the moon rises early

And the days were short
Days in Rockport are shorter than usual

And the miles between were still too many to mention
They were far apart and the distance was significant

The Blue Ridge rides at starfall
They reminisce about riding in the Blue Ridge Mountains at sunset

Oh, the epic scope of it all
The memories of their experiences leave a lasting impression

Those days before the double-edged blade of contention
Their relationship was pure and free of conflict

Sometimes passion's like a cigarette
Passion can be intense but short-lived like a cigarette that quickly burns out

Burning clean out 'fore it really takes wing
Passion can end before it fully takes off

But you always fly high for a little while
When the passion is strong, it gives you a high feeling for a short time

When you think you've got the real thing
When you feel a strong connection, you believe it's the real thing

He moved in for the long haul
He committed to the relationship for the long term

The '81 Hog, the guitar, and all
He brought his Harley Davidson motorcycle and guitar to their new life together

They got an apartment, a conversation piece
Their apartment was a unique and interesting place to live

But the big spark dimmed substantial
The intense attraction between them faded away

You know it's always financials
Financial problems can be a major cause of relationship issues

That give the portrait of happiness its nasty crease
Even though things may seem happy, financial stress can add a negative wrinkle to it all

Sometimes they'd find common ground
They would find things they agreed on

Some days he'd run to where he couldn't be found
Sometimes he needed space and alone time to clear his head

A ride in the pines can truly inspire the need for a soul to come clean
Being in nature can inspire someone to confront their innermost feelings and emotions

From a waning desire
Their passion for each other was slowly decreasing

He laid there deciding what side of a man should come out of hiding
He was trying to figure out how to be true to himself and express himself honestly

While she laid there, the key to his conventions
She was important to him and had an influence on his behavior

She had brought some changes
She made some positive changes in his life

But how could he pretend with all these empty pages
He couldn't fake his feelings when there was so much lacking in the relationship

And the miles to go, still too many to mention
Their distance from each other was still a problem

Do you think you got the real thing?
Are you sure you have found true love and a lasting connection?

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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