Born in Evanston, Illinois and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, David heard music, melodies and stories in his head as a child. Like most kids he played the usual childhood games and got into the usual childhood trouble, but the music in his mind always called him. As an adolescent he began teaching himself various instruments. After experimenting with drums, piano and other instruments and demonstrating an ability to learn them in a short period of time, David became focused on the guitar which continues to be his primary instrument although he often plays other instruments on his recordings.
Drawn to the blues after hearing songs by Son House, Robert Johnson and others and growing up at a time when Parliament/Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, Prince and other musicians were stretching the boundaries of popular music David understood that music could not and should not be limited by our often narrow views of what it should be. He started researching other musical innovators and seriously studied Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and others. He also began reading philosophy, sacred texts and art and music theory. Through his teen years he shaped himself into the artist as intellectual, the musician as muse for society. As he transitioned into a young man, another innovation was taking place, the emergence of Hip Hop.
Like many young people of his generation, David was drawn to Hip Hop music, but in an unusual way. He immediately wanted to combine elements of Hip Hop with Soul, Jazz, Blues and Rock. The result was Follow for Now the ground-breaking band he founded with a group of friends in Atlanta. The sound combined all the influences that had been shaping David's musical vision. As the main songwriter, lead guitarist and lead vocalist the band gave David a vehicle to showcase his talent and unique perspective. While the band had a short life, it didn't take long for others to notice his talent and he has been tapped to write, play or produce for numerous artists from Dave Matthews to jazz singer Cassandra Wilson, from Widespread Panic to Santana, from Dionne Farris to John Mayer.
But now it is quiet. After traveling the world for several years and performing as a member of several bands, David retreated to his hometown Atlanta to write the songs that will become classics. They are love songs in the purest way because they are songs about love between two people and between all people. They are songs about life and death and most of all truth. They are songs that David has written for himself and for others and they are played and performed as a man on a quest would present them.
While David Ryan Harris is widely known amongst musicians and others in the music industry and he has a devoted and growing fan base amongst those who have heard him, this is just the beginning. Like a secret that can no longer be contained, the voice, the songs, the truth that David Ryan Harris presents is pushing its way into the lives of more and more people. Word is passing from mouth to mouth. His shows are becoming conversations for weeks after a performance. The proof of his quest is his music and it is here now for us to experience.
So Real
David Ryan Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On your couch..
And remember the smell
And the fabric
Of your simple city dress..
Oh... That was so real
Oh... That was so real
We walked around
'til the moon got full
Like a plate..
And the wind blew an invocation
And I fell asleep
At the gate..
And I never stepped on the cracks 'cause I thought I'd hurt my mother
And I couldn't awake from the nightmare
That sucked me in
And pulled me under
Pulled me under
Oh... That was so real
Oh... That was so real
Oh... That was so real
I love you..
But I'm afraid to love you
I Love you
But I'm afraid to love - you...
I'm afraid...
Oh... That was so real (x6)
So real that I can taste it
So real that I can touch it...
[Jeff Buckley cover}
These lyrics from David Ryan Harris's song So Real are an ode to a past love that the singer is longing for. The first verse sets the scene of the singer wanting to be near their love, but only in a platonic sense - they ask to sleep on their couch. They reminisce about the memories they shared together, specifically remembering the small details like the scent and texture of their love's clothes. The repetition of "that was so real" throughout the song emphasizes the vividness of the memories and how much they meant to the singer.
In the second verse, the singer references walking around until the moon was full, a romantic image that speaks to the intimacy of their relationship. However, this is juxtaposed with a childhood fear of not stepping on cracks in the pavement, as it would supposedly harm their mother. This fear has followed the singer into their adult life, where they feel like they are trapped in a nightmare that they can't escape from.
The final line "I love you, but I'm afraid to love you" perfectly encapsulates the theme of the song - a fear of vulnerability and the potential for heartbreak. The repetition of "so real" in the final chorus drives home the idea that while the love may be scary, it was undeniably passionate and intense.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, let me sleep tonight
On your couch..
The singer is requesting their lover to allow them to stay the night and sleep on their sofa.
And remember the smell
And the fabric
Of your simple city dress..
The singer is reminiscing about their lover's clothing and the way it smelled and felt.
Oh... That was so real
Oh... That was so real
Oh... That was so real
The singer is expressing how vivid and genuine their memory of the moment is.
We walked around
'til the moon got full
Like a plate..
The artist and their lover spent a lot of time together until late at night when the moon was full.
And the wind blew an invocation
And I fell asleep
At the gate..
The artist was lulled to sleep by the sounds of the wind while waiting at the gate.
And I never stepped on the cracks 'cause I thought I'd hurt my mother
And I couldn't awake from the nightmare
That sucked me in
And pulled me under
Pulled me under
The singer's childhood fears and anxieties are haunting them, and they can't seem to shake them off.
I love you..
But I'm afraid to love you
The singer is confessing their love for their partner but is scared of being vulnerable and opening up.
Oh... That was so real (x6)
The artist reiterates how intense and authentic their memory of the moment feels.
So real that I can taste it
So real that I can touch it...
The artist's recollection of the moment is so vivid that it feels like they are reliving it again.
Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.