Born and Raised
John Mayer Lyrics
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I can't retrace how I got here
I cheat and lie to check my fates
It's slightly harder than last year
Then all at once it gets hard to take
It gets hard to fake what I won't be
'Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised
I still have dreams, they're not the same
They don't fly as high as they used to
I saw my friend, he's in my head
And he said, "You don't remember me, do you?"
Then all at once it gets hard to take
It gets hard to fake what I won't be
'Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised
And it's such a waste to grow up lonely
I still got time, I still got faith
I call on both of my brothers
I got a mom, I got a dad
But they do not have each other
So line on up, take your place
And show your face to the morning
'Cause one of these days you'll be born and raised
And it all comes on without warning
John Mayer's Born and Raised is centered on a protagonist who is no longer young but doesn't feel any sense of belongingness in his current situation. The song invokes the lamentations of a person lost in time and place, forcing him to take a pause and look back at his journey. The lyrics feature the themes of disconnection, loneliness, and the inevitability of aging.
The opening line of the song, "Now and then I pace my place, I can't retrace how I got here," is an indication of being stagnant and lacking the direction to move forward. The next line goes, "I cheat and lie to check my fates, it's slightly harder than last year." This shows that the character is caught in a rut and trying hard to find his place in the world. He lies to himself regularly and checks his fate to find out where he stands in life.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes that he cannot fake his way through life anymore. It gets harder to take the setbacks, and he understands that he won't be what he thought he would be now. The idea of being "born and raised" reflects the inevitability of age that comes with knowledge and experience. Towards the end, the song calls on everyone to take their place and show their faces to the morning as the unpredictability of life's turns will come without warning.
Line by Line Meaning
Now and then I pace my place
Occasionally, I wander aimlessly around my surroundings
I can't retrace how I got here
I can't remember how I ended up where I am now
I cheat and lie to check my fates
I use dishonest and deceptive means to test my destiny
It's slightly harder than last year
It's somewhat more challenging than it was a year ago
Then all at once it gets hard to take
Suddenly, it becomes difficult to cope
It gets hard to fake what I won't be
It becomes tough to pretend to be someone I am not
'Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised
Because, sooner or later, I will mature and fully develop
And it's such a waste to grow up lonely
It's such a shame to experience loneliness through life
I still have dreams, they're not the same
I still have aspirations, but they have evolved over time
They don't fly as high as they used to
They are not as ambitious as they previously were
I saw my friend, he's in my head
In my mind, I encountered my friend
And he said, "You don't remember me, do you?"
And he uttered, "You don't recollect who I am, do you?"
I still got time, I still got faith
I still have time and confidence in the future
I call on both of my brothers
I request aid from my two siblings
I got a mom, I got a dad
I have a mother and a father
But they do not have each other
However, my parents are not together
So line on up, take your place
So align yourself, assume your position
And show your face to the morning
And display your countenance to the early hours
'Cause one of these days you'll be born and raised
Because, eventually, you'll mature and fully develop
And it all comes on without warning
And it all happens unexpectedly
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOHN MAYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind