Real – English Lyrics

• By: NF
• Album: Therapy Session

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the introspective world of NF with "Real," a track that showcases his lyrical prowess and commitment to authenticity. Explore the themes of self-perception and purpose, and discover why NF's music resonates with listeners seeking genuine and relatable content. Learn about NF's background, musical style, and the story behind this powerful song.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
real /riːəl/ B2	adjective - genuine; authentic noun - reality; the real thing
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A2	noun - organized sound; art of arranging sounds
rapper /ˈræpər/ B1	noun - a person who performs rap music
hospital /ˈhɒspɪtl/ A2	noun - a medical institution for treating sick or injured people
medicine /ˈmɛdəsɪn/ B1	noun - substances used for treatment or prevention of disease
brain /breɪn/ A2	noun - the organ in the head that controls thought and movement
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the center of emotion
hell /hɛl/ B1	noun - a place of torment after death; a state of extreme difficulty
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B1	noun - the place where the blessed live after death; a state of great happiness
ladder /ˈlædər/ B1	noun - a set of steps or rungs for climbing
grenade /ɡrəˈnɑːd/ B2	noun - an explosive weapon thrown by hand
intense /ɪnˈtɛns/ C1	adjective - very strong, extreme, or concentrated
frustrated /frʌsˈtreɪtɪd/ B2	adjective - feeling upset because of inability to achieve something
negative /ˈnɛɡətɪv/ B1	adjective - expressing denial, refusal, or a lack of positivity
raw /rɔː/ B2	adjective - not cooked; in a natural, unprocessed state; blunt or uncensored
problem /ˈprɒbləm/ B1	noun - a difficulty or question that needs a solution
level /ˈlɛvəl/ B2	noun - a particular height, rank, or degree adjective - flat; even; not slanted
zone /zoʊn/ B2	noun - an area or region distinguished by some characteristic
exist /ɪɡˈzɪst/ B2	verb - to have actual being; to live or be present

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm in hip hop's hospital bed

  ➔ Possessive 's

  ➔ The 's indicates possession; the hospital bed *belongs to* hip hop, metaphorically representing NF's struggles within the music industry. The phrase uses a noun acting as an adjective to modify another noun.

• Ima come in the session and cut off they legs

  ➔ Contraction + Object Pronoun + Modal Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ "Ima" is a colloquial contraction of "I am going to". "They" functions as an object pronoun referring to rappers. The sentence uses a modal verb ("come") to express intention and an infinitive ("cut off") to describe the action.

• You ain't never been on my level

  ➔ Double Negative + Past Perfect

  ➔ The phrase uses a double negative ("ain't never") which is common in informal English to emphasize the negative. "Been" is used as an auxiliary verb with "on my level" implying a state of being that has not existed in the past. It's a colloquial way of saying 'have never been'.

• They told me that I'm never leaving

  ➔ Reported Speech + Future in the Past

  ➔ This is an example of reported speech. The original statement was likely "I am never leaving". The use of "told me that" introduces the reported speech. "I'm never leaving" represents a future action as perceived in the past, hence the 'future in the past' tense.

• Don't call me a sellout that's somethin' I've never been

  ➔ Imperative + Present Perfect

  ➔ "Don't call me" is an imperative sentence giving a direct command. "That's somethin' I've never been" uses the present perfect tense ("have been") to emphasize that the speaker has *never* been a sellout, highlighting a continuous state from the past until now.