City Life
Raghav Meattle Lyrics
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Well that’s not me, it’s hard to be
I’d hate to be mistaken for someone not needy,
Well that’s just me, it’s hard to see
I close my eyes in dust bowls called city life
I wonder why we live here and why we haven’t left
I wonder why I can’t see the sky and all the stars
While we all chase the love
We all chase the cars
We all chase the good life
With broken hearts
I can sing to the clouds, sing to the rain
It won’t mean a thing in these packed trains
I close my eyes to begging kids and their cries
I wonder why I can’t see the stone that I’ve become
I close my eyes to honey bees and butterflies
I wonder why they fell trees and how they aim to breathe
While we all chase the love
We all chase the cars
We all chase the good life
With broken hearts
I claim to be this person, not selfish not greedy
Well that’s not me, it’s hard to be
Raghav Meattle's song "City Life" is an introspective exploration of life in a city, as the title suggests. The opening lines of the song discuss how the singer "claims" to be this person who is selfless and ungreedy, but I'st hard to be that person in the city. He hates to be mistaken for someone not in need, as he is constantly struggling in the confines of city life.
The song then goes on to describe how the singer closes his eyes amidst the dust bowls and narrow lanes of the city, questioning why people live here and why they haven't left. He can't see the stars because of the polluted city air. In the next few lines, the singer compares himself to others who are all chasing the love, the cars, and the good life while carrying around broken hearts. He then reflects upon how futile it is to sing and contemplate the clouds and the rain amidst the packed trains of the city.
The song then goes on to describe the singer's indifference to the suffering of beggar children and how he wonders why he can't see the stone that he has become. The final lines of the song come full circle with the initial lines stating that the singer is not actually the selfless and ungreedy person he claims to be, as it is hard to be that person in the city.
Line by Line Meaning
I claim to be this person, not selfish not greedy
I try to project myself as someone who is selfless and altruistic
Well that’s not me, it’s hard to be
But in reality, I struggle to live up to that image
I’d hate to be mistaken for someone not needy
I don't want to appear as someone who is not looking for help or support
Well that’s just me, it’s hard to see
However, that's just who I am and it may not be immediately apparent
I close my eyes in dust bowls called city life
I ignore the harsh realities of living in urban areas with high levels of pollution and hustle-bustle
I wonder why we live here and why we haven’t left
I question the rationale behind choosing to settle in such an unfavorable environment instead of seeking alternatives
I close my eyes in narrow lanes and pig sty
I shut myself off from the unpleasant sights and smells of cramped alleys and unhygienic surroundings
I wonder why I can’t see the sky and all the stars
I lament the loss of connection with nature and celestial beauty due to the urban setting
While we all chase the love
Amidst this chaos, we still seek meaningful connections with others
We all chase the cars
We aspire to acquire material possessions as a symbol of success and status
We all chase the good life
We strive to achieve a comfortable and fulfilling existence
With broken hearts
Despite our efforts, we often experience emotional pain and disappointment
I can sing to the clouds, sing to the rain
I find solace in expressing my emotions through music and creative pursuits
It won’t mean a thing in these packed trains
However, in the midst of overcrowding and chaos, my personal expression may go unnoticed or unappreciated
I close my eyes to begging kids and their cries
I choose to avert my gaze from the distressing sight of impoverished children and their suffering
I wonder why I can’t see the stone that I’ve become
I question my own desensitization and lack of empathy towards those in need
I close my eyes to honey bees and butterflies
I overlook the small but crucial role that nature and biodiversity play in our lives
I wonder why they fell trees and how they aim to breathe
I ponder about the adverse effects of human activity on the environment and its future implications
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Raghav Meattle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kanishksinghthakur3279
lyrics
I claim to be this person,
Not selfish not greedy well that's not me,
it's hard to be I'd hate to be mistaken for someone not Needy, well that's just me, it's hard to see
I close my eyes in dust bowls called city life
I wonder why we live here and why we haven't left
I close my eyes in narrow lanes and pigsty I
I claim to be this person,
Wonder why I can't see the sky and all the stars
While we all chase the love
We all chase the cars
We all chase the good life with broken Hearts
I can sing to the clouds, sing to the rain
It won't mean a thing in these packed trains
I close my eyes to begging kids and their cries
I Wonder why I can't see the stone that I've become
I close my eyes to honey bees and butterflies
I Wonder why they fell trees and how they aim to breathe
While we all chase the love We all chase the cars
We all chase the good life with broken hearts
I can sing to the clouds, sing to the rain
It won't mean a thing in these packed trains
I claim to be this person, Not selfish not greedy well that's not me, it's hard to be.
@saikulkarni7867
Hey Raghav,
There is place near my house,10mins away, it's mixture of hill, greenery, flowers, sunsets where i had proposed this girl 8 years ago when i was in school, haha. And guess what she had said yes!,but Cut to 2021 we went separate ways, things did not get well for me, so much drama, so many hardship, so many problems, so many troubles, I've seen, faced and went through them, have cried, laughed, cried again. Basically seen the life punching me down, and then again picking myslef up. Everytime.
So, after all these years, i went again to the same place, where i had proposed her. Listening to this song. Remembering all the things that I've been through, and still going through, and how we forget ourselves while going through Life. Those little things, this song is like a nostalgia for me, it's like warm blanket of happiness that covers me through the thoughts of whatever happened to me, has passed, and whatever is happening will pass too. I shed few tears listening this song, remembering all the day of hardships and how it has shaped me into.
And guess what happened? One day while strolling while Playing this song, i met her after 8 years. Same place, we laughed, we hugged, we heard this song aloud. Remembering those days. There is no love left now, but these memories, has made us friends again. We talked and talked, i guess this is what life really is. Accepting the timing and carrying on.
This are just few emotions, of what i go through when i listen to this song.
Thank you @Raghavmeattle ♥️
Cheers to the most underrated song ever made. Hope someday, will walk with someone i love, holding hands, and listening to this art. :)
@harshisingh4525
So for the first time I went on a long drive with my family and my parents can't understand english much but still when I played this song in the car my dad went like..from where did you found this song...I can't understand but it sounds nostalgic and then I started explaining this song to my dad and since then he started listening to you too...he always try to sing this as it is and he google the lyrics first for knowing the meaning of this song...and those moments are the happiest for me..
Thanks raghav for these heavenly songs..♡
@RaghavMeattle
Best! Lots of love to you and the family <3
@mumkichux
wanna hear once more? :)
@heysnayy
Beautiful 💜
@Subodh0811
Guys, She’s my girlfriend :)
@harshisingh4525
@@Subodh0811 I am, proudly. ❤
@RaghavMeattle
Didn't think something like this would ever happen when I wrote the song. In many ways, this lockdown has made us stop and think about things that matter, which is so hard to do usually! Hope you can relate to it in such troubled times. stay safe x
@priyankas4261
I want to learn playing guitar like you ☺ literally you're awesome guy
@ratnakar22
i came here because of your unc Chandrashekhar [Tibbs we call him all his JNU friends] . but this is great stuff. the melody goes so well with the lyrics. i am impressed and delighted.
@sheelaaghera9131
I don't live in Mumbai, I live somewhere else, but I've been to Mumbai for 4 days and this song has the exact lyrics for the way I'd describe Mumbai. It was a great song, and remember you can still try to not be selfish and greedy. I just know that even with all the bad things with Mumbai, some loving people still exist:)