The band has released six albums since their formation: "Real Estate" (2009), "Days" (2011), "Atlas" (2014), "In Mind" (2017), "The Main Thing" (2020), and "Daniel" (2024).
Three Blocks
Real Estate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dirty sidewalks
Waiting for me
Outside the door
Walking slowly
On those three blocks
Things won't be like
Ooh oh
Endless
Under
And the springtime
Spent by the sea
All those people
All around me
Were they strangers
Or was it me
Figure out what
I Want to be
All of that time
Around in me
The lyrics to Real Estate's "Three Blocks" paint a picture of nostalgia and longing for a past that cannot be recovered. The mention of "Monday morning, dirty sidewalks, waiting for me/Outside the door" indicate a sense of foreboding and monotony--a feeling that is further emphasized when the lyrics state that the singer is "walking slowly/On those three blocks/Things won't be like/They were before." This sense of inevitability is also underscored by the phrase "all of that time/Around in me," which conveys a sense of regret for what has been lost.
However, the song is not entirely melancholic. There is a hint of hope in the line "figure out what/I want to be," suggesting that the singer is not helpless in the face of their own nostalgia. There is also a sense of communal experience, as the lyrics mention "all those people/All around me/Were they strangers/or was it me?" The song thus contemplates the ways in which we are shaped by our environments and those around us, and the sense of disorientation that can come from trying to make sense of it all.
Overall, "Three Blocks" is a poignant exploration of the human experience, with lyrics that are open to interpretation and that resonate with listeners in different ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday morning
The start of a new week and another day to experience what's ahead.
Dirty sidewalks
The streets and pathways have been stained and littered with waste and refuse, showing the effects of daily life.
Waiting for me
The city is always there, waiting to present its different events, people and scenarios as the world continues to move forward.
Outside the door
The environment, full of life, is waiting specifically outside the door of one's home space.
Walking slowly
Taking one's time to observe and take in all surroundings before reacting or responding to it.
On those three blocks
These particular blocks have special significance or meaning to the singer. There's something more to these blocks than what is seen with the eyes.
Things won't be like
There is a change happening in the environment, and everything might be different compared to the past, for better or worse.
They were before
The changes being experienced may be confusing, but they happened as a result of time and progress.
Ooh oh
An emotional response or feeling that cannot be expressed through words alone.
Endless
Seemingly never-ending and too vast to comprehend.
Under
Beneath the surface or out of sight, where things may be hidden or unseen.
And the springtime
Referring to a specific season, which may represent birth or renewal, a chance for something new to begin.
Spent by the sea
Time spent in a place of emotional significance or where the singer was able to meditate and find clarity.
All those people
A crowd of people the singer may or may not recognize, asking for attention, connection, or interaction.
All around me
A change in the environment, the singer's emotions, or the people present.
Were they strangers
Uncertainty and confusion about a person you don't know completely yet, but who's present in your life.
Or was it me
Uncertainty and confusion about oneself: one's role, place, character, or motivation.
Figure out what
To find a solution or a resolution to a problem poorly understood or defined.
I Want to be
A question about one's identity, direction, and purpose in life.
All of that time
A period in which the artist was not clear about the future, but now is of some influence in everything.
Around in me
The values, emotions, behaviors, and experiences of the individual and their influence on life.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Geoffrey Bilodeau Gravel
Monday morning
Dirty sidewalks
Waiting for me outside the door
Walking slowly
Up those three blocks
Things won't be like they were before
Endless autumn
Under pine trees
And a springtime spent by the sea
All those people
All around me
Were they strangers or was it me?
Figured out where I want to be
All in the time allotted me
Figured out where I want to be
All in the time allotted me
...
Simply beautiful
ihatelinmanuelmiranda95
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME FOR ALL TIMES.
Geoffrey Bilodeau Gravel
Monday morning
Dirty sidewalks
Waiting for me outside the door
Walking slowly
Up those three blocks
Things won't be like they were before
Endless autumn
Under pine trees
And a springtime spent by the sea
All those people
All around me
Were they strangers or was it me?
Figured out where I want to be
All in the time allotted me
Figured out where I want to be
All in the time allotted me
...
Simply beautiful
Some guy on the Internet
How this seems to be one of their least popular tracks from this album I'll never understand. I don't get people.
Timothy O
Some guy on the Internet
This seems like a perfect track to be used in a film scene. If done right this track would blast in popularity.
Steve Deweese
Agreed. Might be my favorite RE song. It's prefect!
Some guy on the Internet
This song is a masterpiece.
Miguel Posada
They relax me so much.
Geovany Sigarán
This was recommended on my apple music and I listened to it on the last day of high school
Camilo Jimenez
i friking love this song, i listen this every morning
Some guy on the Internet
52k views? That's it? Fuck this world. This is too amazing.