I went to look for shadows but the shadows they found me
I went to swim the ocean but I drowned up in the sea
I want to love my woman but she chose him over me
I want to be somebody else I feel I won't be free
Is this me for life?

I fought to keep from crying as I lay upon the floor
And everyone I knew right then pressed me to the floor
I tried to keep on breathing but the people would not give
And all the evil in the world the people would not give
Is this me for life?

And if you left it up to me they'd all go in the sea
with the guns and the disease and the industry of weasels
Saying: sell to them the killing gem, attack to get it back



Lyrics submitted by foggy, edited by kyke110193

Life Lyrics as written by Robin Jones Richard Greentree

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Life song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

3 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation
    I went to look for shadows but the shadows they found me I went to swim the ocean but I drowned up in the sea I want to love my woman but she chose him over me I want to be somebody else I feel I won't be free Is this me for life? I fought to keep from crying as I lay upon the floor And everyone I knew right then pressed me to the floor I tried to keep on breathing but the people would not give And all the evil in the world the people would not give Is this me for life? And if you left it up to me they'd all go in the sea with the guns and the disease and the industry of weasels Saying: sell to them the killing gem, attack to get it back
    kyke110193on January 28, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i love this song.
    thetaste_ofinkon October 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    from pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/…: " Pitchfork: Yeah, there seems to be sort of an anti-corporation theme in the song "Life," when you say, "Sell to them the killing gem/ Attack to get it back." At least, that's my reading on it. Steve: That was kind of about what you say, but it was more written about... for example, in the Gulf War, the Americans and the British were fighting the Iraqis with weapons that they sold to the Iraqis. So American and British soldiers were being attacked with weapons that they sold them. Which, to me, was a ridiculous concept. So the Iraqis have got British weapons that were sold to them. I suppose it's the idea that these wars that happen-- for example, the Gulf War-- are just a case of shifting money around. The Americans and the British sold all these weapons to Saddam Hussein. And they think, how the hell can we get some more money out of him; well, let's have a war. We'll get him to use all his weapons on us, then he'll have to buy a load more. So it's just kind of that idea, but it could be any kind of big business deal. "
    Lakemanon February 20, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Blank Space
Taylor Swift
This song is Swift's response to the negative reputation the media has given her. "I can make the bad guys good for a weekend" - the bad guys are the paparazzi to Swift, but are good to the "player" since association with Swift immediately gives publicity. Any publicity is good publicity and Swift knows this. "You can tell me when it's over" - the tabloids rumor relationships are over before the couple announces it officially. With this song Swift is portraying the way she is portrayed by the media. It is a sarcastic jab at how she views herself and how her "ex-lovers" only wanted to be with her to increase their fame. I applaud the brilliance in writing about how you always write about relationships. It is expected so Swift is giving the media what they want and profiting off the attention.
Album art
Mad Hatter
Avenged Sevenfold
Matt Shadows their lead singer says the song was written as per request from the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Watching the initial trailers for the game & looking at production sketches reminded him of the 'S-Town' podcast & its main protagonist, John B. McLemore. Matt also comments specifically on the lyrics: "I decided that the lyrics would shadow McLemore's life." In 2012, antiquarian horologist John B. McLemore sent an email to the staff of the show 'This American Life' asking them to investigate an alleged murder in his hometown of Woodstock, Alabama, a place McLemore claimed to despise. After a year of exchanging emails & several months of conversation with McLemore, producer Brian Reed traveled to Woodstock to investigate. Reed investigated the crime & eventually found that no such murder took place, though he struck up a friendship with the depressed but colorful character of McLemore. He recorded conversations with McLemore & other people in Woodstock. McLemore killed himself by drinking potassium cyanide on June 22, 2015 while the podcast was still in production. In the narrative of the podcast, this occurs at the end of the second episode; subsequent episodes deal with the fallout from McLemore's death while exploring more of McLemore's life & character.
Album art
Hypnotized
River Tiber
This standout psychedelic track was produced in its entirety by River Tiber, being released to all major digital streaming platforms on December 29, 2020.
Album art
I don't want another sorry
Dax & Trippie Redd
This standalone single marks the first official collaboration between the two rappers. The track was produced by SephGotTheWaves, Stillsanexile & Trademark. It was released on December 29, 2020.
Album art
Breathe
80vii
This standout song was released to close out the year and was produced in its entirety by 80vii. The track was released via major streaming platforms on December 27, 2020.