All My Life
Kelley James Lyrics


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When I was a kid, they said shut up and listen
Follow this path stop the games and the wishing
Made me believe with their age and position
That I never could achieve what I wanted, millions
And it’s sometimes just a word that can kill a dreamer

All my life I’ve been searching for the answers thinking
All my times been a waste
I’ve been low, watched the world and these people taunt me
But now it’s my time to say
Imma do it my way
So step the fuck away

It was last month standing on a street in Chicago
Talking to a friend about my life and my last show
I was down on everything until he finally said yo
You gotta live your life like there’s really no tomorrow
And it’s sometimes just a word that can move a dreamer

Please just realize
They can’t control your life




Don’t let them lead you
Down that road

Overall Meaning

The song All My Life by Kelley James is an empowering and uplifting message against the naysayers who have told him that he couldn't achieve his goals. As a child, James was told to stop wishing and follow a path that was already laid out for him. He was made to believe that he could never achieve his dreams of becoming a millionaire. However, James is now in a position where he can prove that those who have doubted him were wrong. He expresses that it only takes a few words to kill a dreamer, but his will to succeed helped him overcome the negative influence of others.


The lyrics of All My Life come as a realization for James, as he reflects on his life and understands that time is too valuable to waste. He has faced challenges and people who have taunted him along the way, but it's time for him to take the reins of his life and make things happen his way. As he says, "Imma do it my way, So step the fuck away." The song transcends beyond James's personal experience and serves as an inspiration for anyone who has faced setbacks and people who have tried to hold them back. The song encourages listeners to take control of their lives and not let anyone lead them down a path they don't want to take.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a kid, they said shut up and listen
As a child, I was often told to be quiet and obey authority figures


Follow this path stop the games and the wishing
I was told to abandon my dreams and follow a pre-determined path


Made me believe with their age and position
These people used their authority and experience to convince me I couldn't achieve my goals


That I never could achieve what I wanted, millions
They made it seem impossible for me to achieve my dream of becoming wealthy


And it’s sometimes just a word that can kill a dreamer
A negative comment or criticism can be devastating to a person with big dreams


All my life I’ve been searching for the answers thinking
Throughout my life, I've been searching for answers and thinking deeply about my purpose


All my times been a waste
I feel like I've wasted a lot of my time not pursuing my dreams


I’ve been low, watched the world and these people taunt me
I've experienced hardship and felt like the world was against me


But now it’s my time to say
I'm ready to take control of my life


Imma do it my way
I'm going to pursue my dreams in my own unique way


So step the fuck away
I want those who doubted me to stay out of my way


It was last month standing on a street in Chicago
I had a realization while standing on a street in Chicago last month


Talking to a friend about my life and my last show
I was discussing my life and recent performance with a close friend


I was down on everything until he finally said yo
My friend's words of encouragement lifted my spirits when I was feeling low


You gotta live your life like there’s really no tomorrow
He encouraged me to live in the present and make the most of every day


And it’s sometimes just a word that can move a dreamer
A positive comment or encouragement can inspire a person to pursue their dreams


Please just realize
I want others to recognize


They can’t control your life
No one else has the right to dictate how you live your life


Don’t let them lead you
Don't allow others to control your decisions and direction


Down that road
Toward a path that doesn't align with your values or goals




Contributed by Owen K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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