Real World

Well, I wonder what it's like to be a rainmaker I wonder what it's like to know that I made the rain I'd store it in boxes with little yellow tags on every one And you can come and see them when I'm done When I'm done I wonder what it's like to be a superhero I wonder where I'd go if I could fly around downtown, yeah From some other planet, I'd get this funky high on the yellow sun Boy, I bet my friends will all be stunned They're stunned Yeah Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here? If I was someone else, would this all fall apart? Strange, where were you, when we started this gig I wish the real world, would just stop hasslin' me And you, and you, then me Well, I wonder what it's like to be the head honcho I wonder what I'd do if they all did just what I said (just what I said) Well, I'd shout out an order I think we're out of this, man, get me some Boy, don't make me wanna change my tone My tone Yeah Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here? If I was someone else, would this all fall apart? Strange, where were you, when we started this gig I wish the real world, would just stop hasslin' me Please don't change, please don't break 'Cause the only thing that seems to work at all is you Please don't change, at all from me To you, and you, to me, hey, hey Yeah Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here? If I was someone else, would this all just fall apart? Strange, where were you, when we started this gig I wish the real world, would just stop hasslin' me I wish the real world, would just stop hasslin' me I wish the real world, would just stop hasslin' me (whoa and me, whoa and me) And you, and me (whoa and me, whoa)

"Real World" dives into the fantasies we often indulge in—wondering what it would be like to have extraordinary powers, influence, or abilities. It is a song about escapism, a desire to break free from the mundane or difficult aspects of life. Yet, it's also an acknowledgement that escaping reality is not as simple as we might like to believe. The song opens with imaginative scenarios: what would it be like to control the rain or fly like a superhero? These daydreams serve as a coping mechanism, a way to temporarily escape from the 'real world' that keeps "hasslin'" the narrator. "Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here? / If I was someone else, would this all fall apart?" These lines express a moment of introspection, questioning not just the world around the narrator but also his own identity and role in that world. The song ponders the existential concern of whether our circumstances and relationships are conditional on us being a certain way. "Please don't change, please don't break" signifies a plea for stability and continuity in a world that seems to be overwhelming. These lines capture a universal sentiment—the desire for something or someone reliable when everything else seems so chaotic. The repeated line, "I wish the real world, would just stop hasslin' me," encapsulates the essence of the song—it's a wish for a break from the stress, difficulties, and complexities of real life. In summary, "Real World" is a relatable anthem for anyone who's felt overwhelmed by life's challenges and responsibilities. It delves into the common human desire to escape and to find something or someone that makes dealing with the 'real world' a little easier. Like many of Matchbox Twenty's songs, it captures complex emotions in a way that resonates with a wide audience.

About

"Real World" is a track from Matchbox Twenty's debut album, "Yourself or Someone Like You," released in 1996. The album was a commercial success and introduced the world to the band's unique blend of post-grunge and alternative rock. Written by lead vocalist Rob Thomas, "Real World" is among the standout tracks that helped catapult the band into mainstream popularity.

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