Real Life

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 18 Oct 2001 10:21 am

This is the latest single by Jeff Carson (I almost mistook him for Garth Brooks the first few times I heard this song).

Does anybody have the album? If so, who wrote the song? I love this song, absolutely brilliant lyrics, and great melody.

The last verse is especially awesome -- one of those "surprise endings" (at least to me) -- I assumed that the woman was about to die.

The very first line is utterly brilliant, too. Where DO these songwriters come up with this stuff?

(In case you hadn't figured it out yet, I love songs that rip your heart out).

Verse1:
I was young, he was old, we both were the same age
Everyday playing fetch, shakin’ hands, he’d lick my face
And I was unaware the day would come
And when he died was the first time I knew what real pain was

Chorus:
And I never was the same again
From that moment on real life began

Verse2:
Senior high, girlfriends, football games, graduation
Summer break, spent my time filling out applications
A few superficial years went by, they were all a blur
And in the most unlikely situation there you were

Yeah

Chorus:
And I never was the same again
From that moment on real life began
With you

Verse3:
By your side, scared to death, felt the pain you were fightin’
Placed my palm on your head, spoke your name, just keep tryin’
And then you closed your eyes and took one last breath
And when it was over you looked up laid our baby across your breast

Repeat Chorus

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 18 Oct 2001 11:33 am

That song was written by Jim Janoski and Joe Neil Thrasher, Jr. They both write for Major Bob Music in Nashville. An interesting note (being as you mentioned Garth's name); the publishing company is owned by Bob Doyle, one of Garth's long time managers and very instrumental in his success.

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 18 Oct 2001 1:08 pm

That song was written by Jim Janoski and Joe Neil Thrasher, Jr.

Thanks. The names don't really ring a bell with me.

They both write for Major Bob Music in Nashville.

Interestingly enough, I've actually heard of Major Bob music.

I'm puzzled about the way you phrased that. Are you saying that Major Bob Music employs them as writers? I wasn't aware that was a common practice. I thought most writers were pretty much free-lance.

An interesting note (being as you mentioned Garth's name); the publishing company is owned by Bob Doyle, one of Garth's long time managers and very instrumental in his success.

The song sounds like something Garth would sing, and Jeff's voice sounded remarkably similar to Garth on that particular song, at least to me.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 18 Oct 2001 4:22 pm

I love this song! I don't get the Garth connection though. Anyway, well written and nice melody! Theresa

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 18 Oct 2001 5:31 pm

I don't get the Garth connection though

Maybe it's just me. It sounds like some of his earlier songs.

It doesn't help that the only song I associate with Jeff Carson is "The Car" (another great song). Until some recent commercials, I would've had no idea that he sings "Holding on to Something" (or something like that) -- I guess because I don't care for that song.

Do you know who played the steel on "Real Life" ?

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 19 Oct 2001 12:03 pm

Not all songwriters are free agents. Many are under some type of exclusive agreement with publishers. Their compensation falls under a very wide range of considerations. I do not know if these two writers are under any type of exclusivity with MBM, that just happens to be the publisher for 100% of this song.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Oct 2001 8:06 am

Sorry, I don't "get" the song. The first line...sounds like they're talking about a dog. Then the 2nd verse...what's all the school and going to college stuff got to do with the old dead dog? (If the dog was old when he was young, by the time he got to college...he wouldn't be around, would he?) Then the "unlikely situation" seems to be the pregnancy of a dog (the same dog? The old MALE dog?) Then..."closed your eyes and took one last breath" (did the dog die?) Then..."when it was over you looked up laid our baby across your breast." (how can the dead dog look up? Also, dogs don't lay their babies (puppies?) anywhere when they've been born...they just sorta lick them off and nuzzle them around. Sorry I really don't understand, and appreciate all this as much as you do.

Maybe I'll hear the song soon, and understand it better. Til then, I'll take "Ol' Shep".

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 20 Oct 2001 8:58 am

Donny, I think you're being facetious, or maybe even a little playfully jocular. If the author was a genius and went to MIT at a pre-teen age, then of course, the dog would still be alive for the second verse!!

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 20 Oct 2001 7:38 pm

Donny, I think you're being facetious, or maybe even a little playfully jocular.

I sure hope so.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Oct 2001 6:51 am

A good video would certainly clear this up for me.

But, as a writer, I found the imagery of the dog dying in the first verse to be unnecessary (if the dog isn't being referred to later). The "theme" in the first verse is definitely emotional pain, but the rest of the words and story don't have much to do with emotional pain.

The subjects in the song seem to be (in this order)....dying, emotional pain, going to school and learning, and then birth of a baby. Kinda disjointed, but maybe I'm over-analyzing.

erik · Post by **erik** » 21 Oct 2001 3:00 pm

I just analyzed the verses to see what the fuss is about. I understood the entire theme from the first read through:

He reminisced about his first experience with "real life" - his love and friendship of his dog and it's eventual death(very common). I don't get the part where he says he didn't realize that one day the dog would be gone. What are his parents doing?<----rhetorical.

Next he reminisced about the fun he had in school(very common). Then when one get's out of school they are hit with "real life" - you know having to support yourself and stuff.

Next he is with his wife on her deathbed... again he is faced with "real life" - or the grim side of it, as the term "real life is commonly used to describe negative. The last verse is purposely left neutral (an old writer's trick), so that the song can be interpreted by either sex.

My conclusion: Although the song is not completely analogous in theme, it is well thought out in it's symbolism. It appears to grab all the common experiences of the average person, thereby being widely acceptable. If the story is not true the writing style is borderline pand.... :X[This message was edited by erik on 21 October 2001 at 04:26 PM.]

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 21 Oct 2001 7:36 pm

The "theme" of the song is the same as the title -- "Real Life".

The first verse is when his dog dies (he's a boy at the time). This is the first time he's ever experienced the pain of death of someone/something close to him. Part of "real life".

The second verse is the first time he falls in love (or the first time he meets his "true love") -- possibly both, I suppose. Again, part of "real life".

The third verse is the first time he experiences the joy of a new life, his own child being born. Once again, a part of "real life".

(While the third verse starts off sounding like he's at his wife's deathbed, it seems clear that she didn't die in child-birth, since she "layed our baby across your breast").

_____

The first and third verses both have what I guess I'd call "misdirection". The first verse was probably unintentional, and the last probably intentional. But that's just guess on my part.

When I first heard the fist line of the first verse, I assumed it was going to be abou a boy and his "young at heart" grand-dad.

The first line of the third verse certainly made me think he was a his wife's bedside. Even the next line did. And certainly the next line, with the "one last breath" phrase. That's why I think this verse might have intentionally been written to sound like a death-bed scene.

Maybe it's just me, but I like lyrics that do that. Another example of this is "The Visit" by Chad Brock. If you want, I'll post the lyrics. Until the last few lines, you'll think the song is about somebody who's just met a lover who's gonna replace his wife or girlfriend. And, in way, that's true, I guess. But not in the "cheating way" that you're led to believe.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 22 Oct 2001 9:09 am

Sorry....I like Jeff Carson but I found this song to be just plain cheesy. I don't think a dogs death is an experience that is life altering. I like dogs (prefer cats), so I'm not being anti-animal. If the song were reworked without the canine demise, I would find it much more acceptable

Remember Thrasher/Shiver? Great duo. BTW, my good friend Granger Smith, writes with Neil quite a bit. He is signed to Sony-Tree.

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Oct 2001 6:19 pm

From the posted words, you have to assume an awful lot. The song never mentions husband, or wife, or marriage...heck, it don't even mention love! (I am glad I wasn't the only one who found it a little confusing...dog and all!) I will respect anyone's feeling that it's a great song (Guthrie's "City of New Orleans" affects me like that). But in my own opinion, it leaves something to be desired.