That’s Life Lyrics
They told me, "Don't make a promise you can't keep
All the drugs in your system, you can't sleep
How many times you had to buy a Plan B
For a girl you never bring back home to meet your family?", man
Man, I swear it's what I dream about
Ever since my mom told me that she need me out
Always smokin' weed, causin' trouble, never clean the house
But I paid her back for everything; I guess we even now
Nothin' better than some head after a long day
That's the only thing that ever keep mine on straight
And she asked me, "Why the long face?"
How I spent three-hundred-fifty dollars on this entrée?
I drown my sorrow in that bottle
Today is full of regret, find forever in tomorrow
Man up, what's the problem?
Everything is Jazz and I'm Stockton (Haha)
[Chorus: Mac Miller]
Yeah
I know it seem a little bit strange sometimes
Yeah, yeah
Everybody live a little, everybody die
Yeah, yeah
But that's life
Whatchu gonna do?
That's life
Baby, I would spend it all witchu
Yeah, and I'm headed to the
Other side, where the grass is always greener
And your bitch is down to ride, but that ass is always meaner
See, my cash got deeper and my morals disappeared
Never thought I'd be a asshole, this my last show
Can I please get a standin' ovation?
A hunnid naked bitches in my dressin' room waitin'
We lost a lot of blood for this fucked up nation
But me, I'm gettin' high, makin' love in that spaceship
So what are the basics? Tell me your problems
You losin' your job or, even worse, you don't got one
So hard to stay sober when you feelin' fucked over so much
Always comin' up short, you like the roach of a blunt, yeah
And I could never sleep at night
Fuck payin' bills, I need a brand new lease on life
Why does doin' wrong always feel so right?
Well, I guess, fuck it, that's life
[Chorus: Mac Miller]
Yeah
I know it seem a little bit strange sometimes
Yeah, yeah
Everybody live a little, everybody die
Yeah, yeah
But that's life
Whatchu gonna do?
That's life
Baby, I would spend it all witchu
About
“That’s Life” is a collaboration between 88-Keys, Mac Miller and Sia. It was recorded without Sia in 2015 but unreleased until after Mac Miller’s death. A version was leaked online on May 19, 2019. 88-Keys played the song for Sia who decided to contribute her thoughts and voice, and the full version was released on June 20.
The song was leaked under the title “Benji The Dog,” which, according to the producer, was the name of the instrumental. Still, this title could tie into the track’s subject matter and have two potential allusions. The first is Benji, the eponymous canine star of the Benji movies. Throughout the films, Benji often appears in difficult situations to provide help. The second is the Valerie Simpson song, “Benjie,” which is sampled in the instrumental.
The first verse of the track finds Mac speaking on struggles with his mother growing up and using drugs to ease the everyday pains of life. Tying in with the theme of Benji, the second verse sees Mac offering advice to others who are also struggling, acknowleding that it’s simply, and unfortunately, how life is sometimes.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
During an interview with DJ Booth, 88-Keys, producer of the track, explained that the song was born as a product of a conversation Mac Miller and he had during a recording session, firstly about Mac’s relationship issues with his girlfriend, and secondly about Kanye West’s 2004 debut album The College Dropout. This last theme prompted 88-Keys to produce a beat reminiscent of that particular historical moment, and that’s what happened:
[Mac] was pretty fascinated by little tid-bits and stories, behind-the-scenes stuff I was telling him about College Dropout, so he was fanning out. That’s when I realized how much of a Kanye fan he was… The very first beat I pulled up was a beat that I had called “Benji The Dog,” and I played it for him, and he just kinda lost it. He just went crazy. He started writing. Once he started recording, it was: “Oh, he definitely felt the conversation that we just had.”
