Real Life
Lincoln Brewster Lyrics

I still see the kid in me
Despite growing older, the singer still reminisces about their childhood self.

Building castles by the sea
The singer recalls a common childhood activity, building sandcastles by the sea.

And skipping rocks across those ocean waves
Another childhood memory the singer recalls is skipping rocks by the sea.

Still building buoy rafts
The artist remembers building buoy rafts, likely as a child's creative endeavor.

And sailing on the Kachemak
The artist recalls boating on a specific body of water, the Kachemak.

And running wild across Alaskan plains
The singer remembers running free in Alaska's open, natural environment.

And all my yesterdays don't seem so long ago now
Despite time having passed, the singer feels that their childhood memories are not that far away.

And all those early years will always seem like home somehow
The artist reflects on how the memories of their early years feel most familiar and like 'home.'

And it was real life
The artist affirms that their childhood experiences were genuine and meaningful.

And it was real good
The artist considers their childhood years to have been a positive period of their life.

It was a place I took for granted 'cause I just never understood
The singer realizes that they didn't fully appreciate their childhood when it was happening.

And there was real pain
Acknowledging that childhood wasn't always easy for them, the artist notes that there was indeed pain and difficulty.

There were real tears
Along with pain, the singer remembers experiencing genuine emotions and tears during their early years.

But the way my Mama loved me somehow carried all those years
The singer reflects on how their mother's love was a guiding force throughout their childhood, and continues to be so in memory.

It was real life
The singer reiterates that their childhood was a genuine, significant part of their life.

I still see the kid in jeans
Similarly to earlier lines, the artist remembers their younger self, now adding 'jeans' as a detail from that time.

But now he's standing next to me
The artist notes how they have matured and grown since childhood but still feel connected to their past self in some way.

Never thought that I'd have boys to raise
The singer reflects on how they never anticipated becoming a parent or raising boys, but life took them in that direction.

I don't have it figured out
As a parent, the singer acknowledges that they do not yet have all of the answers or solutions figured out.

It still feels like playing house
Despite being a parent, the artist still feels somewhat inexperienced and like they are playing a role, rather than having everything completely together.

And it's something I am learning everyday
Continuing from the previous lines, the artist acknowledges that parenting is an ongoing learning experience.

And all of my today is seem like they're rushing by so fast
The artist notes that as they grow older, time seems to move more quickly.

And every time I look around I pray that it will last
Along with the rapid passage of time, the singer wishes that certain moments could be prolonged and savored more fully.

And it's real life
The artist acknowledges that their current reality as a parent is also genuine and meaningful.

And it's real good
Despite the challenges of raising children, the singer believes that their current life is a positive one.

And sometimes I take it all for granted even though I never should
The singer acknowledges that sometimes they do not fully appreciate the good aspects of their life today.

And there is real pain
Acknowledging that their current life isn't always easy, there is real pain and struggle for the singer.

And there are real tears
Just as in their childhood, the artist carries genuine emotions, including sadness and tears, in their current life.

But the way my baby loves me somehow carries all these years
Similar to the way their mother's love carried them through childhood, the artist now recognizes how their child's love brings meaning and emotional support to their current life.

And this is real life
The singer reiterates that their current reality as a parent is genuine and significant.

When I'm old and turning grey
Looking forward to their future, the singer envisions a time when they are elderly.

And my boys have moved away
In this future scenario, the artist imagines their children grown up and moved out of the family home.

When it's time for me to say goodbye
Referencing the end of their life, the artist notes that death will eventually come for them as it does for all people.

I hope I leave a legacy
Thinking about their own mortality, the artist hopes to leave something behind, some kind of lasting impact on the world or on the people closest to them.

I hope that God is proud of me
Looking to the afterlife, the singer expresses a desire to have lived a good life that is pleasing to God.

I hope that I leave something good behind
Continuing from earlier in the verse, the artist hopes that their life will have a positive impact on the world and the people in it.

And all my yesterdays are flashing right before my eyes
As the singer nears the end of their life, they experience their life flashing before their eyes in a classic near-death experience trope.

And I'm standing in God's presence when I finally realize
At the end of their life, the singer envisions meeting God and realizing certain truths that they hadn't before.

This is real life
The singer confirms that their entire life, from childhood to old age and beyond, is a genuine and significant experience.

and this is real good
Despite the pain and difficulty they've experienced, the artist truly believes that their life has been a positive, fulfilling one.

And there'll be no pain
In their imagination of the afterlife, the artist believes that they will no longer experience physical or emotional pain.

And there'll be no tears
Along with the absence of pain, the singer hopes that there will also be no more tears of sadness.

'Cause the way my Father loves me is the reason I am here
The singer believes that the love of God is the reason for their existence and ultimate purpose in life.

This is real life
The artist ends on the same affirmation they've repeated throughout the song, that their life is real and meaningful.