Real Life Lyrics
Twenty eight dollars in a fake silk purse and a leather skirt to wear
Shane came from Dublin town from the old world so green
Counterfeit ticket in to JFK in the land of his dreams
Even tough they only met that day they were lovers by dark
Laid out on the morning skies he puts a ring on her hand
He said listen babe we gotta take what's ours do it or die
Real life's the only life what's it all about
Quit dreaming this is real life baby
23rd victim of a gangland war takes his last breath
Outside the sister cried she said the whole world's so mean
Heavyweight killer in the ring, turns killing machine
Real life's the only life what's it all about
Quit dreaming this is real life baby
They way you move, you're in control
The way you talk, the way you dress
Your hands, your touch, your sweet caress.
All my love, you're the best,
Every little thing that I possess,
It's all emotion when you take control,
I can feel wild horses running in my soul.
Oh my love, all I see
The stars, the sun, the energy,
If this going to kill us then let it go,
Quit dreaming this is real life baby
Sixteen men from a dying earth take their last dream.
Quit dreaming this is cheap life baby
Real life's the only life what's it all about
Quit dreaming this is cheap life baby
Your eyes, your lips, the shape of your mouth,
It's a sweet life baby
All my love, you're my all
The way you move, the way you go
I'm all emotion when you take control
I can feel wild horses running in my soul.
All my love, you're all I see
The stars, the sun, the energy,
The way you move, you're in control
Quit dreaming this is real life baby
It's interesting how the length of each verse is half as long as the one before it, and how the second line of each verse starts with a number: 28, 23, and 16. I wonder if there's any deeper meaning to it other that it sounds good...
Well anyway, the song tells three stories. The first verse deals with two people, possibly quite poor, realizing they have to make the best of what they have. The seconds verse is about events on a larger scale, concerning gang wars, violence and death. It's not quite as positive as the first verse. Finally, the third verse seems to be describing the end of the world, with the last survivors fleeing, fulfilling their dreams of traveling to the stars.
The chorus is warning us that we need to stop seeing things how we want to see them, and open our eyes to how this could be happening for all we know, and we just chose not to see it.
Lastly, the bridge seems to be their to add a spark of hope to an otherwise bleak and kind of depressing song.
I’m very surprised there is no indication of who wrote these lyrics, obviously Kerr, and no copyright attribution. I INSIST on those two things to reprint my lyrics. The song was written in 1991.
I like HonestMan’s comments about the descending numbers and shrinking verses, I’d not spotted that. I think those numbers matter.
The lyrics have a Springsteen quality about them ala ATLANTIC CITY don’t they? I don’t think this is three stories. I think this is one story in three acts with a narrative rather like a David Lynch film such as WILD AT HEART. Note that WILD AT HEART was released in 1990 so there may have been some inspiration there.
[Edit: wild at heart thought]
one of the best Simple Minds songs, if I may say so!
one of the best Simple Minds songs, if I may say so!
beautifull song it almost like a deep dream a collidoscope of memorys,visions,dreams.it stirs emotins everytime i hear wild horses running in my soul my boyfriend played it to me the first night we where together and i fell in love with him and the song everytime we drive along and hear it he holds my hand i get a shiver down my sighn so i looked up the words,
This song sounds apocalyptic to me. Kind of scary in a way.
I read up on the song, and it's about dreams that are eventually broken.
Sounds apocolyptic in a way, doesn't it? But it's about broken dreams or something, is it?
all the album is about borken dream and relationship. Jim Kerr was just coming out of his relationship with Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders. The pick of the album for me is in the song: Banging on the Doors, which reflects very well his feeling then.
in addition to what's been said above about relationships etc I consider this song to be Simple Minds "Sign o The Times". They'd done a cover of the Prince song a couple of years before this and I think they are attempting something similar here.
in addition to what's been said above about relationships etc I consider this song to be Simple Minds "Sign o The Times". They'd done a cover of the Prince song a couple of years before this and I think they are attempting something similar here.
Some of the references of this song are a mistery for me. "23rd victim of a gangland war takes his last breath" and "Sixteen men from a dying earth take their last dream"
Can anybody bring me an explanation? Thanks