For as much as the world has changed since Real Friends first emerged in 2010, the band’s mission hasn’t. The Illinois quintet continue to bleed without apology and write songs that make it okay to feel everything: the ups, the downs, and anything else in between. Rather than shy away from emotion, the group run right towards it with distortion cranked and hearts opened, tightening their careful distillation of pop and punk on each subsequent release. When the band—Dave Knox (lead guitar), Kyle Fasel(bass), Eric Haines (rhythm guitar), and Brian Blake (drums) —welcomed vocalist Cody Muraro in 2020, the goal stayed the same as they crafted new music for Pure Noise Records.
Over the years, Real Friends have forged and strengthened a deep connection with fans. The group’s 2014 full-length debut, Maybe This Place Is the Same and We’re Just Changing, marked a turning point. Rock Sound named it one of the “Top 50 Albums of the Year.” 2016’s The Home Inside My Head maintained this momentum with further acclaim and sold out shows. In 2018, Composure incited applause from Music Connection, Alternative Press, Substream Magazine, New Noise, and Billboard who described it as “raw.” To date, they’ve also amassed over 100 million streams and counting. In 2021, they turned the page on a new chapter with the singles “Nervous Wreck” and “Storyteller.”
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In the fall of 2010 bassist Kyle Fasel "wasn't happy" with the music he was working on and wished to start over. Fasel called lead guitarist Dave Knox and the pair soon started talking about the goals they wished to achieve. Fasel didn't expect it to lead anywhere. Vocalist Dan Lambton, who was friends with Knox, received a call from Fasel, asking if he would like to join him and Knox. They were soon joined by drummer Aaron Schuck. The band recorded its debut EP, This Is Honesty, in the spring of 2011. Following the release of the EP, the band began playing shows around the Midwest. The group soon realized that it "didn't feel right, playing the songs they currently had. Almost forcing ourselves into sound." They had a meeting and came to the conclusion to start over. During this period of change, Fasel and Knox were playing in The Fastest Kid Alive. Shortly afterwards, Schuck was replaced by Brian Blake. Blake had emailed the band after he found out they needed a drummer.
Real Friends didn't have a permanent second guitarist, often having their friends to substitute. Eric Haines soon joined as a rhythm guitarist. Until Haines joined Fasel and Knox would typically write the songs and they didn't have "another guitarist's opinion", according to Fasel. Shortly after the release of the Everyone That Dragged You Here EP, the band's popularity increased and the audience at their shows also increased. The band later released the Put Yourself Back Together EP. Reviewing the EP for Rock Sound, Andy Biddulph said noted that he would not be "surprised" if the band was "mixing it with the big boys in a year's time". In November, the group supported The Wonder Years on their UK shows, included UK Warped Tour.
Fearless signed the band in December 2013. The band were initially hesitant to sign to a label but called Fearless "different. They made it feel more like a family." The group "still wanted full control of our band" while Fearless would help with marketing and distribution, according to Fasel. The band recorded their debut studio album in February with producer Seth Henderson. The band released its debut studio album, Maybe This Place Is the Same and We're Just Changing on July 22, 2014. The album sold over 10,300 copies, charting at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The band played on the 2014 Vans Warped Tour supporting the album's release, appearing on the Journey's Stage. More Acoustic Song EP was released for Record Store Day in April 2015. One of the tracks, an acoustic version of "Late Nights in My Car", features Kevin Jordan from This Wild Life.
Fearless Records announced that a new Real Friends record would be released on their label in 2016, through a post on their official Twitter account, which was made on December 22, 2015. Prior to the Fearless announcement, the band had made several references to the recording of a new album throughout 2015 on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Real Friends finished recording their second full-length album on the road, in February 2016. Prior to the album's announcement, the band began to play a new song entitled "Colder Quicker" during their live sets. On April 1, 2016, the band announced the title of their new album as being The Home Inside My Head, along with the album's release date, cover art and track listing. Additionally, on the same day the band released a music video for "Colder Quicker". The album was released on May 27, 2016.
On November 16, 2017 the band released a single entitled "Get By". On June 18, 2018 the band announced the new album 'Composure' set for release on July 13, 2018 to their home town fans during an RSVP Acoustic session. It was preceded two weeks prior by a single entitled "From the Outside", which was accompanied by a music video.
Style and influences
Real Friends has been described as pop punk and emo, as well as emo pop punk. Punknews reviewer said "If American Football went totally pop-punk, Real Friends would be the result." Vocalist Dan Lambton has been described as a cross between The Starting Line's Kenny Vasoli, The Wonder Years' Dan Campbell and The Dangerous Summer's AJ Perdomo. Bassist Kyle Fasel has cited American Football, Dashboard Confessional, The Early November, Jimmy Eat World, The Promise Ring, Saves the Day, The Starting Line, Spitalfield, Taking Back Sunday and Thursday as influences.
Bassist Kyle on the often used phrase "sleepy eyes and bony knees":
I think there’s something that needs to be explained on our end here. We released a new EP on June 4th titled “Put Yourself Back Together.” There are some references in the songs that mention sleepy eyes and bony knees. There have been some negative comments regarding the amount of times we mention those two things. I want to make this post to explain the detailed meanings of both of those subjects. I assure all of you out there that we would never put something in multiple songs that doesn’t have a great amount of meaning. These songs are my life summed up into some verses and choruses. These songs are my therapy, and that goes for the four other dudes in my band too. So here we go….
Sleepy eyes refers to a time in my life in 2011. I was going through a very messy break up which then lead to a love triangle and that lead me to be depressed. The girl that I was in love with since I was eighteen had found someone else that she grew to love. She told me that she still loved me as well though. This lead to lots of sleepless nights and some weight loss as well. Thirty pounds of weight loss to be exact. Listen to our song “Floorboards” for more details on that whole situation. Well anyway, this situation and some other ones over the past few years have led me to not being able to sleep at night. I had resorted to sleeping pills in 2011 when I was depressed. I also consider myself a night owl in general. I haven’t gone to bed before 2 am in years. But mainly sleepy eyes is something that I think we have all been through in life. It’s about those nights when you’re so overworked and have so much going on that you can’t fall asleep, even if you are physically tired. Not only do I write these songs for my own therapy, but I would hope that some of you could find some peace in them. So of course I’m going to reference this subject multiple times. And that is sleepy eyes.
Bony knees is a subject that pops up in a lot of our songs as well. I will keep it general at first here. I in fact do physically have bony knees. But I will surely say that there is a way deeper meaning behind these bony knees. It kind of all dates back to my depression in 2011. Like I stated before there was some weight loss, which made these knees a little more bony than before. I also found myself physically and mentally down on my knees while going through depression. Even after 2011, after I started feeling better, I would still find myself down and out on my bony knees physically and mentally. We all go through dirt in life and lot of times it makes us fall on our knees for awhile. I can easily say that dirt has put me on my knees more than I want to say. But the beautiful part about falling on your knees is getting back up. And that’s the main point of the bony knees reference. You have to get up in life and move on. We have all been there and we will all be there again. When I write bony knees in a song it reminds me of how I put all of the bullshit behind me and moved on. And that is bony knees.
I just wanted to clear this all up. I don’t want anyone to ever think that we are using this as some sort of gimmick or something. We keep things real and it will always be that way. I hope you can all now find deeper meaning and connection with sleepy eyes and bony knees.
Keep Lying To Me
Real Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
Will you think of me when you drive home?
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
Let's keep lying next to each other
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
Last night I closed my eyes
And thought about someone that wasn't you
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
And weighed my back to the floor
It isn't where you want to be
I know this isn't where you want to be
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
You tell me I'm broken
As I stare out my window at the street lights
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at three AM
And I feel whole again
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
And I know we're disconnected
The lyrics of Real Friends's song "Keep Lying To Me" depict a complex and dysfunctional relationship built on deception and loneliness. The singer pleads for their partner to stay with them until they fall asleep, seeking a temporary solace in the illusion that they can make each other feel complete. However, they also acknowledge that they are looking for something that their partner cannot provide. The line "Will you think of me when you drive home?" suggests that even in their physical presence, the emotional connection is lacking.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of self-deception and denial. The singer suggests that they should continue lying to each other, pretending that the relationship feels right when, in reality, they are disconnected. The reference to their hipbones touching emphasizes the physical aspect of their relationship, which may be the only thing holding them together.
In the second verse, the singer confesses to closing their eyes and thinking about someone else, someone who offers an escape from the weight of their current situation. This momentary relief allows them to briefly feel whole again, but they know it is not where they truly want to be.
The song ends with the singer being told that they are broken, likely by their partner. They find solace in sitting alone outside in the early hours of the morning, feeling once again whole in their solitude. The final line, "And I know we're disconnected," serves as a poignant reminder that despite their efforts to deceive themselves and each other, the true disconnection in their relationship remains.
Overall, "Keep Lying To Me" explores the longing for connection and the desperation to hold onto a failing relationship, even when it is clear that it is not fulfilling. It exposes the damaging effects of denial and the temporary relief found in self-deception.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you stay here 'til I fall asleep?
Can you stay by my side until I fall asleep, pretending that our presence can bring us a sense of completeness?
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
Together, we'll feign the belief that we have the power to fill the void inside each other.
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
I am searching for fulfillment, but I understand that it cannot be found within you.
Will you think of me when you drive home?
When you leave, will you remember me and the connection we shared?
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
I believe that being on my own is more beneficial for my well-being.
Let's keep lying next to each other
Let's continue pretending while lying side by side.
While we lie to ourselves
As we deceive ourselves with false notions and illusions.
We say that this feels right
We claim that our actions and situation are justified and fulfilling.
Our hipbones touch
Our physical closeness and intimacy are the only aspects that temporarily bridge our emotional disconnect.
And I know we're disconnected
Deep down, I am aware that we lack a genuine connection.
Last night I closed my eyes
During the previous night, I shut my eyes.
And thought about someone that wasn't you
I pondered over the idea of being with another person, someone different from you.
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
The burdens and pressures of life were momentarily relieved.
And weighed my back to the floor
At that moment, the heaviness and pain I carried pressed me down onto the ground.
It isn't where you want to be
This current situation is not where you desire to find yourself.
I know this isn't where you want to be
I am aware that this is not the ideal place for you to be.
You tell me I'm broken
You express to me that I am damaged or fractured.
As I stare out my window at the street lights
While gazing at the street lights through my window.
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at three AM
I step outdoors, finding solace in the darkness, and sit in a shadowed spot at three in the morning.
And I feel whole again
In that moment, I regain a sense of completeness and unity within myself.
And I know we're disconnected
And I am fully aware that there is a lack of genuine connection between us.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KYLE FASEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
01UofMfan
[Verse 1]
Could you stay here 'til I fall asleep?
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
Will you think of me when you drive home?
[Pre-Chorus]
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
[Verse 2]
Last night I closed my eyes
And thought about someone that wasn't you
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
And weighed my back to the floor
It isn't where you want to be
I know this isn't where you want to be
[Pre-Chorus]
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
[Bridge]
You tell me I'm broken
As I stare out my window at the street lights
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at 3am
And I feel whole again
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
And I know we're disconnected
Serena Landeros
Could you stay here 'til I fall asleep?
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
Will you think of me when you drive home?
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
Last night I closed my eyes
And thought about someone that wasn't you
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
And weighed my back to the floor
It isn't where you want to be
I know this isn't where you want to be
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
You tell me I'm broken
As I stare out my window at the street lights
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at three AM
And I feel whole again
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
And I know we're disconnected
Dvoki
Could you stay here 'til I fall asleep?
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
Will you think of me when you drive home?
[Pre-Chorus]
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
[Verse 2]
Last night I closed my eyes
And thought about someone that wasn't you
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
And weighed my back to the floor
It isn't where you want to be
I know this isn't where you want to be
[Pre-Chorus]
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
[Bridge]
You tell me I'm broken
As I stare out my window at the street lights
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at 3am
And I feel whole again
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
And I know we're disconnected
DemonRage90
Sucks that Dan left the band but I’ll still continue to support the band! Helped me a lot till this day!
01UofMfan
[Verse 1]
Could you stay here 'til I fall asleep?
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
Will you think of me when you drive home?
[Pre-Chorus]
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
[Verse 2]
Last night I closed my eyes
And thought about someone that wasn't you
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
And weighed my back to the floor
It isn't where you want to be
I know this isn't where you want to be
[Pre-Chorus]
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
[Bridge]
You tell me I'm broken
As I stare out my window at the street lights
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at 3am
And I feel whole again
[Chorus]
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
And I know we're disconnected
OSYRYS
They're perfect
This song gets me in feels but it also makes me feel that it's ok to be alone
Matty Kal Ramone
This band is just awesome.
I love them every damn day more <3
Sharp Pixel Games
I really love that guitar part at 2:03 😎
OSYRYS
Justin Rubin gets me hyped everytime
NSS
it's funny how this came out exactly where I needed it to. I relate to each song.
TrashDrawsTrash 633
been obsessed with this band for the past 3 years but it’s my first time seeing thing omg
Shelby Morris
Always one of my favs<3
Serena Landeros
Could you stay here 'til I fall asleep?
We'll pretend that we could make each other feel complete
I'm looking for something that's not inside of you
Will you think of me when you drive home?
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
Last night I closed my eyes
And thought about someone that wasn't you
The weight of the world slipped off my shoulders
And weighed my back to the floor
It isn't where you want to be
I know this isn't where you want to be
I think I'm better off when I'm alone
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
You tell me I'm broken
As I stare out my window at the street lights
I walk outside and I sit in the shade at three AM
And I feel whole again
Let's keep lying next to each other
While we lie to ourselves
We say that this feels right
Our hipbones touch
And I know we're disconnected
And I know we're disconnected