Real Life Lyrics
She says that the world is a broken mess
And it's always on her mind
She cries at the news when the shots ring out
Oh, every single time
[Pre-Chorus]
And no, I cannot fix it, no, I cannot make it stop
[Chorus]
So I said, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
Oh, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
[Verse 2]
She prays on her knees as the towers fall
To a god she does not know
She's begging him to stop the mess
As the Boston bombs will blow (Ooh)
She says, "How could I ever believe in something
That would step aside and watch?"
And I got no words to say 'cause I think I lost my faith
But I fake it for the day, oh, everything will be okay
[Pre-Chorus]
But no, I cannot fix it, and I cannot make it stop
So I said, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
Oh, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
[Bridge]
I wish I had the answers
Something you could hold to
Only thing that's real to me is you
[Chorus]
"Turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
Oh, "Hey, turn your phone off, won't you look me in my eye?
Can't we live that real life, real life?"
[Outro]
Oh, hey (Real life, hey)
Real life, real life
Oh, hey
Real life, real life
Oh, hey
About
“Real Life” is a desperate cry in a world growing numb to the devastation by various acts of terrorism. Dan explains that there’s much more to experience in life and that you cannot become consumed in other’s acts of destruction.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
The last track, “Real Life,” really solidified things for me. Imagine Dragons has never bene a love song kind of band, but this record is, like, 90% about love and relationships. I went through a hard divorce this year and we announced it to the world—then we never wound up signing the papers. We have a chaotic relationship, but a stale one seems worse to me. It sounds like such a clichéd thing to say, but going through heartbreak is devastating. You whole word falls apart."
–Dan Reynolds via Apple Music
The song title was revealed during a live Twitter Q&A on 20 October 2018:
