Real Life – English Lyrics

• By: The Weeknd
• Album: Beauty Behind The Madness

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into The Weeknd's 'Real Life' to experience the vocabulary of self-sabotage and vulnerability in a high-stakes, celebrity world. The song's intense lyrics, like 'Tell 'em this boy wasn't meant for loving,' are rich in emotional phrasing and offer a raw look into the struggle between a destructive lifestyle and the desire for genuine connection. Its blend of dark R&B and orchestral pop makes it a fascinating track for language learners who want to understand the modern poetic expression of loneliness and fame.

[English]

Tell 'em this boy wasn't meant for lovin', uh

Tell 'em this heart doesn't stay to one

I'll be the same, never changed for nothin'

It's all I know, never learned much more

Mama called me destructive, oh yeah

Said it'd ruin me one day, one day, yeah

'Cause every woman that loved me, oh yeah

Seemed to push them away

That's real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

Real life

Ooh, mama talking that real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

That real life, real life, real life, real life

I know you don't really understand it

I'm not allowed to regret my choice

I heard that love is a risk worth taking

I wouldn't know, never been that boy

Mama called me destructive, oh yeah

Said it'd ruin me one day, one day, yeah

'Cause every woman that loved me, oh yeah

Seemed to push them away

That's real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

Real life

Ooh, mama talking that real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

That real life, real life, real life, real life

Heaven only lets a few in, Heaven only lets a few in

It's too late for me to choose it, It's too late for me to choose it

Don't waste precious tears on me, i'm not worth the misery

I'm better off when I'm alone

That's real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

Real life

Ooh, mama talking that real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

That real life, real life, real life, real life

That's real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

Real life

Ooh, mama talking that real life, ooh, mama, oh, oh-ooh-oh

Yeah, yeah, real life, real life, real life, real life

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
destructive dɪˈstrʌktɪv B1	adjective - causing damage or destruction
ruin ˈruːɪn A2	verb - to destroy or severely damage something noun - the state of being destroyed or in disrepair
push pʊʃ A1	verb - to exert force on something to move it away
regret rɪˈɡrɛt A2	verb - to feel sad or sorry about something that has happened noun - a feeling of sadness or remorse about something that has happened
risk rɪsk A2	noun - the possibility of suffering harm or loss verb - to expose to danger or harm
worth wɜːrθ A1	adjective - having a value that justifies a given action
precious ˈprɛʃəs A2	adjective - of great value; not to be wasted
misery ˈmɪzəri A2	noun - a state of extreme unhappiness
alone əˈloʊn A1	adjective - without others; solitary
heaven ˈhɛvən A1	noun - the place thought to be inhabited by God and the souls of the righteous after death
choose tʃuːz A1	verb - to select something from a number of possibilities
waste weɪst A1	verb - to use or expend thoughtlessly noun - a useless or worthless thing
better ˈbɛtər A1	adjective - of a higher quality or more favorable
off ɔːf A1	adverb - away from a position or location
love lʌv A1	noun - a deep affection or emotional attachment verb - to have a deep affection for someone

Key Grammar Structures

• Tell 'em this boy wasn't meant for lovin', uh

  ➔ Contraction ('em for 'them')

  ➔ The word 'em is a contraction of 'them', commonly used in informal speech and lyrics.

• I'll be the same, never changed for nothin'

  ➔ Double negative ('never changed for nothin')

  ➔ The phrase uses a double negative ('never' and 'nothin') which is common in colloquial or poetic language.

• Mama called me destructive, oh yeah

  ➔ Past tense ('called')

  ➔ The verb 'called' is in the past tense, indicating a completed action in the past.

• That's real life, oh, oh-ooh-oh

  ➔ Contraction ('That's for 'That is')

  ➔ 'That's' is a contraction of 'That is', used for emphasis or informal tone.

• I wouldn't know, never been that boy

  ➔ Conditional structure ('wouldn't know')

  ➔ The phrase 'wouldn't know' is a conditional structure, indicating a hypothetical situation.

• Heaven only lets a few in

  ➔ Third person singular ('lets')

  ➔ The verb 'lets' is in the third person singular form, agreeing with the subject 'Heaven'.

• Don't waste precious tears on me

  ➔ Negative imperative ('Don't waste')

  ➔ The phrase 'Don't waste' is a negative imperative, giving a direct command not to perform an action.

• I'm better off when I'm alone

  ➔ Comparative adjective ('better off')

  ➔ 'Better off' is a comparative adjective, indicating a state of being in a more favorable condition.