[Verse 1]
Two trains and a bus to get home
Sleeping on each other's shoulders
Three clicks and the magic is gone
Our big dreams have turned us into
Hopeless romantics, anxiety magnets
These streets are pulling at my memories
Pulling out my teeth
[Chorus]
Don't it ever make you feel sad?
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Are you like me, do you lie awake thinking
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Ah, ooh, ah, ooh
[Verse 2]
It's the job of the young to collect doubts
Afraid of our parents
And preparing to freak them out
You were my lifetime lover ghost back then
[Chorus]
Don't it ever make you feel sad?
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Are you like me, do you lie awake thinking
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Ah, ooh, ah, ooh
[Bridge]
You said you were fine
You said you were fine
You said you were fine
You said you were fine
Ah, ooh, ah, ooh
Ah, ooh, ah, ooh
[Chorus]
And don't it ever make you feel sad?
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Are you like me, do you lie awake thinking
Ooh, is this the real thing?
And don't it ever make you feel sad?
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Are you like me, do you lie awake thinking?
Ooh, is this the real thing?
Real Thing was written by Hannah Joy.
Real Thing was produced by Tim Fitz.
Middle Kids released Real Thing on Thu Mar 28 2019.
In an [interview with Stereogum], Hannah Joy shares the concept behind the song as feeling inadequate in the expectations of one’s life:
[…] quiet, persistent voice in the stillness that constantly checks to see if you truly think you’ve found the thing you’re looking for.