Boys Life was an indie rock/post-hardcore band from Kansas City, Missouri. … Read Full Bio ↴Boys Life was an indie rock/post-hardcore band from Kansas City, Missouri. They formed in 1993 and released two albums, a self-titled LP and "Departures and Landfalls." Other releases include a 7" single released by Synergy records. Three split 7" records with Secular Theme, Vitreous Humor, and Giants Chair. They also share a critically acclaimed split 10" with Christie Front Drive.

Featured singer/guitarist Brandon Butler who went on to form groups The Farewell Bend (with Boys Life bassist John Rejba and Giants Chair drummer Paul Ackerman) and Canyon (with Boys Life guitarist Joe Winkle). He now performs as a solo artist. The drummer John Anderson formed the bands Higher Burning Fire and White Whale.

There was an earlier Boys Life as well, from Boston in the early 80s, or Malden, if you're really making intra-128 distinctions. Best remembered for their 1982 12" on Seco Records.

Tucked In
Boys Life Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Waking up from a twenty-year-old dream
Thinking that it was all just a nightmare
Until the daylight hit my eyes
I knew the nightmare was so real
And if I can ever go to sleep again,
I'll wrap myself in a blanket of doubt
Lay my head on a pillow made of broken dreams
To go to sleep forever

Kiss my mom & dad goodnight

Dad's hairy face is angry
Me & mom know we're right

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Boys Life's Tucked In are evocative and poignant, as they describe the sense of disillusionment and despair that can come with growing up and facing the harsh realities of life. The opening line, "Waking up from a twenty-year-old dream", suggests that the singer is suddenly realizing that the hopes and wishes they had when they were younger have not come to fruition, and that their life has not turned out the way they had imagined. The idea of the dream turning into a nightmare highlights the sense of disappointment and fear that comes with this realization.

The lines "I knew the nightmare was so real" and "If I can ever go to sleep again, I'll wrap myself in a blanket of doubt" further emphasize the feeling of hopelessness that the singer is experiencing. They are overwhelmed by the bleakness of their life and can't see a way out. The lines that follow, which reference broken dreams and going to sleep forever, are particularly dark and suggest that the singer may be considering suicide as an escape.

However, the final lines of the song, which describe kissing the singer's parents goodnight and the father's angry face, offer a glimmer of hope. Despite everything, the singer still has a connection to their family and some sense of support. The mention of the father's anger also suggests that there may be tension or conflict within the family, which adds another layer of complexity to the song.

Overall, Tucked In is a powerful and moving song that explores themes of disillusionment, despair, and familial relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Waking up from a twenty-year-old dream
Suddenly realizing something I've believed for a long time isn't true

Thinking that it was all just a nightmare
Believing that the thing I realized was just a temporary adjustment to my beliefs

Until the daylight hit my eyes
Realizing the harsh reality of the situation

I knew the nightmare was so real
Acknowledging the truth of the situation I had been in denial about

And if I can ever go to sleep again,
Questioning whether I can ever regain my sense of security

I'll wrap myself in a blanket of doubt
Feeling uncertain about how to move forward

Lay my head on a pillow made of broken dreams
Feeling the weight of my past failures and disappointments

To go to sleep forever
Considering giving up completely

Kiss my mom & dad goodnight
Feeling comfort in the people who love and support me

Dad's hairy face is angry
Feeling the tension in a family relationship