I Need A Life

Born Ruffians

I'm looking down
So come help me up
& Stumbling around
Trying to fill my cup
It's half empty
Been that way all my life
So come pour some in
& Take me out tonight

The sun is shining but we stay inside
Oh but we go out at night
We stay in looking for a better life
Oh but we go out at night
We put up curtains, block out the light
Oh but we go out at night
& We stay in bed until we feel all right
Oh but we go out at night

I need meaning
I need a mission
I need a path
I need conviction
I need a life I've never had
I need much more good & much less bad

The sun is shining but we stay inside
Oh but we go out at night
We stay in looking for a better life
Oh but we go out at night
We put up curtains, block out the light
Oh but we go out at night
& We stay in bed until we feel all right
Oh but we go out at night

I found meaning
I found a mission
I found a lord
I found religion
I found something I never had
I'm not sure what but it's not half bad
& I'm glad
I'm so, so glad
Those party habits are gone & dead
I'm turning in my old sinful ways
For a dull new life so I can pray, pray, pray

The sun is shining but we stay inside
Oh but we go out at night
We stay in looking for a better life
Oh but we go out at night
We put up curtains, block out the light
Oh but we go out at night
& We stay in bed until we feel all right
Oh but we go out at night

I need a life
I've never had
I need so much more good, lord
& much less bad


Lyrics submitted by fortune500b

I Need A Life song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment
    I think the narrator feels like he needs something to believe in. It sounds like he's tired of partying all night and sleeping all day. And just wants to be self-actualized- whether that's being defined by a religion or a belief system or having a goal; because he wants to proceed with life and make something of himself. that's my BASIC interpretation of it :D
    GameOnon December 14, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    They're young and brilliant songwriters.
    Clap Your Handson April 04, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    i dont know if this song is as transparent as it seems. it does seem that he is saying that he found god and a purpose in life but the line "I'm turning in my old sinful ways For a dull new life so I can pray, pray, pray" makes me think that it might all be sarcastic, especially when you look at some of their other lyrics about searching for a purpose in life.
    ThingsIHaventToldUon November 02, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I halfway agree with SinkFloridaSink. But the final lyrics of the song seem to say something different to me. After he finds his God and prays and what else, the chorus comes back. This implies, to me, that he thought he found what religion was right for him, but then reverted back to his old sinful ways. He partied and lived his old life again. But then the final verse: I need a life I've never had I need so much more good, lord & much less bad So this is his thought pattern AFTER he partied again and lost touch with his found God and religion. I think the most important lyric here is "I need so much more good, lord." This shows he still is leaning on God. Even though he dropped the pursuit of religion, the previous search left him with a belief that he still has. A belief that SOME God presence exists. This is why I think thevan is incorrect. I don't think he's being sarcastic about it. He's battling with the desire to be young and enjoy life as young people do, while still yearning for a higher order. this is all imho.
    Etiolateon March 07, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I agree that this song is being sarcastic and criticizing religion. First, because of the lyrics "I'm turning in my old sinful ways/For a dull new life so I can pray, pray, pray," which are saying religion is boring. Also, another song from this album, "Kurt Vonnegut" uses a quotation from the book Cat's Cradle, which is a satire of religion and Kurt Vonnegut criticizes religion in his other books too. It would be weird if one song on the album referenced a book that is anti religion, and then this song was supporting religion, so it's more likely that this song is also being critical.
    katscradleon April 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I can't believe nobody else has commented on here. I loved the song the first time I heard it.
    yalferson June 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    awesome. at the beginning the narrorator is looking for meaning in his life, and by the end he found God.
    allstarz029on August 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this song describes my current situation almost too well.... <3 these guys
    krollisasexyhoeon November 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i also agree with ThingsIHaventToldU, i sense the sarcasm in this song as well
    krollisasexyhoeon November 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I also agree with ThingsIHaventToldU. It seems like at the beginning he is looking for something to steer him the right way, and he finds religion which he thinks is the answer to his problems. However, after a while, he realizes how his life has become so incredibly boring and he wants to go back to his old way of life, which is why: I need a life I've never had I need so much more good, lord & much less bad comes back in.
    SinkFloridaSinkon November 04, 2008   Link

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