Freeman found his first guitar atop a dumpster, although his parents and grandparents bought the 12-year-old Freeman a new six-string and a book of chords the following Christmas. Freeman’s first song came two years later, an ode called “Some Day.” Freeman contends that he is completely self-taught as a musician. During high school, Freeman worked at the legendary Linford Manor, a recording studio north of Oxford in Great Linford, where he says he taught himself to play piano. Freeman calls Bruce Springsteen, to whom he’s sometimes compared, and the Beatles his influences.
Freeman moved first to London. He became a guitar player for James Blunt. Weary of London, Freeman then moved to Santa Monica, California, in the United States. Six months after emigrating, Freeman released an EP.
Freeman’s music came to attention of Michael King, founder of King World, who invited Freeman to play a benefit concert. Contacts made from the benefit brought Freeman’s EP to the attention of Clive Davis, who signed Freeman to Arista Records after a bidding war.
Freeman’s EP You and I was released on the Arista label on 12 November 2008. The four songs on that album are the title track, “Tightrope,” “That’s How It Is” and “Earthquakes”. His EP "That’s How It Is was released on 1 August 2009. It was produced by Howard Benson (Daughtry, Flyleaf, Motörhead, My Chemical Romance) and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge (U2, Leona Lewis, Snow Patrol).
Freeman’s song “That’s How It Is” was featured near the close of an episode of the Fox Network show Past Life called “Soul Music” (S01E03), first broadcast on 18 February 2010. His Song "Tightrope" was also featured on the Season Finale of Make It or Break It. His six-song EP Tightrope was released on 2 March 2010.
That's How It Is
Paul Freeman Lyrics
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The beginning is always further away than the end
You can hide behind all that's breaking lead
But love reveals everything you'll ever have
Time will always come for you
That's how it is, how it is, that's just how it is
And I will try to comfort you
So you can take these hands and take this face
But you'll be wrong if you think that everyone will be replaced
We all break plans and make mistakes
But they never seem to matter much at the end of the day
Time will always come for you
That's how it is, how it is, that's just how it is
And I will try to comfort you
That's how it is, how it is, that's just how it is
It's easier to compromise when everything has gone
And it's hard to make amends when all the damages are done
And to everyone I've ever hurt, I'm sorry
But I was wrong
A farewell kiss will never mean goodbye
'Cause it holds on to the promises I made with these eyes
I'll leave you everything that's mine
If you say that you need me in the next life (in the next life, in the next life)
Time will always come for you
That's how it is, how it is, that's just how it is
And I will try to comfort you
That's how it is, how it is, that's how it is, that's just how it is
Time will always come for you
That's how it is, how it is
Time will always come for you
That's how it is
The lyrics of Paul Freeman's song That's How It Is speak of the inevitability of time and how it affects relationships. The opening lines, "I can't help if you don't understand, the beginning is always further away than the end" suggest that the singer is having difficulty conveying something to someone else. The next line, "You can hide behind all that's breaking lead, but love reveals everything you'll ever have" implies that the person is trying to avoid something, most likely the passage of time and the changes it brings to the relationship.
The chorus, "Time will always come for you, that's how it is, how it is, that's just how it is, and I will try to comfort you" explicitly addresses the passage of time and how it inevitably brings change. The repetition of "that's how it is" emphasizes the inevitability of time, while the promise to try to comfort suggests that the singer is aware that change is difficult to handle.
The second verse further emphasizes this theme, with lines like "It's easier to compromise when everything has gone, and it's hard to make amends when all the damages are done". It seems that the singer is reflecting on mistakes they have made in the past and how they are now unable to make things right. The final lines, "a farewell kiss will never mean goodbye, 'cause it holds onto the promises I made with these eyes, I'll leave you everything that's mine, if you say that you need me in the next life" suggest a desire for continuity, even beyond death.
Overall, "That's How It Is" is a contemplative and introspective song about the inevitability of change and the difficulty of handling it. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the theme of time and the inevitability of its passage, while the verses explore the ways in which people try and fail to accommodate it within their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't help if you don't understand
I am unable to assist you if you are unable to comprehend
The beginning is always further away than the end
Starting a task requires more time and effort than completing it
You can hide behind all that's breaking lead
You may conceal yourself from the chaos and destruction that surrounds you
But love reveals everything you'll ever have
Intimate relationships expose you to all possible emotions and experiences
That's how it is, how it is, that's just how it is
The world operates in a particular manner and we must accept it
And I will try to comfort you
I will endeavor to console you
So you can take these hands and take this face
You may accept my gestures of affection
But you'll be wrong if you think that everyone will be replaced
Do not assume that someone new will be able to replace those you have lost
We all break plans and make mistakes
It is common to deviate from our intended course of action and err
But they never seem to matter much at the end of the day
In the grand scheme of things, our failures and errors have minimal effect
It's easier to compromise when everything has gone
Negotiation is more achievable once the worst has occurred
And it's hard to make amends when all the damages are done
Reconciliation becomes difficult once damage is severe and permanent
And to everyone I've ever hurt, I'm sorry
I deeply regret causing any emotional or physical pain to those affected by my actions
But I was wrong
My behavior or decisions were incorrect
A farewell kiss will never mean goodbye
The last kiss shared between two people may not signify the end of their relationship
'Cause it holds on to the promises I made with these eyes
It represents my commitment and loyalty to honor my commitments
I'll leave you everything that's mine
I bequeath all that I own to you
If you say that you need me in the next life (in the next life, in the next life)
Provided you express the desire to have my presence in a future life
Time will always come for you
You cannot escape the consequences of time
Contributed by Ian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.