Amanda, I know what you're thinking,
You and I have much to say,
And you've been making me crazy,
Trying to understand
But it's impossible at your age.

I know I said I'll always try,
But you're going to bed alone again tonight,
And you lie there in the dark and wonder why.

I did it for you, and the boys,
Because love should teach you joy,
And not the imitation,
That your momma and daddy tried to show you.
I did it for you, and for me,
And because I still believe,
There's only one thing,
You can never give up,
Never compromise on,
And that's the real thing you need in love.

You're so afraid your life is over,
And nothing I can say can change your mind.
How can anybody be so selfish,
And treat you all so cruel,
The woman screamed at me and cried.
I'll always hold you in my soul,
And I'm never going to leave you all alone
But your daddy doesn't live here anymore.

I did it for you, and the boys,
Because love should teach you joy,
And not the imitation,
That your momma and daddy tried to show you.
I did it for you, and for me,
And because I still believe,
There's only one thing,
That you can never give up,
Never compromise on,
And that's the real thing you need in love.

Everybody's got a boat upon the ocean,
Not everybody's sailing out to sea,
And is there someone there for me?
I'm ready to believe.

I did it for you, and the boys,
Because love should teach you joy,
And not the imitation,
That your momma and daddy tried to show you.
I did it for you, and for me,
And because I still believe,
There's only one thing,
That you can never give up,
Never compromise on,
And that's the real thing you need in love.


Lyrics submitted by spyglass25, edited by Tackmandu

The Real Thing Lyrics as written by Kenny Loggins David Foster

Lyrics © Gnossos Music / Milk Money Music, Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Real Thing song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

4 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think the lyrics are misquoted here. “The woman screamed and cried at me” should read “Go on and scream and cry at me.” \n(Other lyrics apps show the correct wording.) \nFYI : Amanda goes by Isabella and was 16 / 17 years old when her dad divorced her mom.

    SteelyDebon December 17, 2021   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
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.