Love In The Real World
Sherrié Austin Lyrics

There's a picture of a happy couple
This line describes a snapshot of a couple that appears happy and content

In a frame on a mantle in a house
The couple's picture is proudly displayed in the home, possibly indicating a stable and committed relationship

Piece by piece they put their world together
The couple has worked hard to build a life together, slowly and deliberately

Some kids a mortage and a pair of wedding vows
Their life together consists of responsibilities such as raising children and paying off a mortgage, along with the commitment of marriage

She's a mother and a working woman
The woman in the picture is a mother and also maintains a career, highlighting her multitasking abilities

He sweats 9 to 5 with big dreams in his head
The man is dedicated to his job, working hard every day while also having aspirations and goals for the future

There's too much month at the end of the money
Despite their hard work, there are times when they struggle financially and have more expenses than income

Wolf's at the door and the bankbook's in the red
This line further emphasizes their financial struggles, indicating that they may be facing debt or other financial hardships

I guess every fairy tale has a monster underneath the bed
This line highlights the idea that no relationship is perfect, including those that may appear to be fairy tale romances

Whatever happened to the Prince and Cinderella
This line questions the expectations we have of relationships formed from childhood fairytales

That wide-eyed boy and girl
The reference to a 'wide-eyed boy and girl' indicates young love, brimming with optimism and hope

What happens after happy- ever-after
This line questions what happens to a relationship once the initial 'happily ever after' phase has ended

Love in the real world
The phrase 'love in the real world' refers to the perception of relationships after the honeymoon phase - flawed, imperfect, but still real and true

She leaves him notes on the refrigerator
To maintain connection, partners may resort to leaving notes or messages for each other, especially when busy or unable to communicate at the moment

He phones in messages to say he's working late
With modern technology and a busy lifestyle, communication may often be limited to quick phone calls or messages

So hard to find a tender moment together
This line highlights the challenges of making time for one another in a busy and hectic life

So many modern ways to miscommunicate
This portrays the idea that with advanced technology and varying communication methods, it is easy to misunderstand or misinterpret messages

Guess every honey moon has and experation date
Just like the honeymoon phase of a relationship, the excitement and spark may eventually fade away

That old photograph
This line refers back to the happy couple from the beginning of the song, who were seen in the photograph

May be faded and worn
Over time, memories and souvenirs from the early stages of a relationship may become worn or out-of-date

But when illusions die
Once one lets go of the idealized perception of love, they can move forward and grow in the relationship

True love will cary on
The beauty and strength of true love will always endure despite the real-world obstacles and hardships

They're graduatin' from happy-ever-after
The couple has transitioned from the honeymoon phase to a deeper, more realistic form of love

To love in the real world
This highlights the idea of finding comfort and stability in the imperfections of love and relationships

What happens after happy-ever-after
This line repeats from earlier, continuing to ask about the changes and struggles that accompany a mature relationship

Love in the real world
This is repeated once again to emphasize the message of the song - the importance of embracing and working through the imperfect aspects of love and relationships