"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

[Chorus]
I want to run through the halls of my high school
I want to scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits and
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

[Chorus]

I am invincible
I am invincible
I am invincible
As long as I'm alive

[Chorus]

I just can't wait til my ten year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 03:51

"No Such Thing" as written by John Mayer, Clay Cook

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


No Such Thing song meanings
Add your thoughts

141 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    Link(s):This is the best lyrical interpretation of a John Mayer song (or any song, for that matter) that I've ever seen:

    youtube.com/…

    It's a video that's highly engaging, educational, funny, and controversial. The discussion about "the real world" and what John Mayer means by that lyrics is particularly powerful.

    Be sure to check it out!
    Flagged TheRealWorldon December 17, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:My aunt KT used to play this for me when I was little. Now that I have started high school, I get what he's talking about. High school is hard, and you're always looking to impress somebody in some way. And in high school, they give you all this crap about how after high school or college, that you have to live a correct life, and you should start now. (Like to stay in the lines). And he wants to run through his high school acting out now that he's an adult, and he's having fun still, and he's not staying in the lines, he's living his life, and is being invincible because he's "alive".
    Flag toews19on November 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I see this song as the PERFECT graduation song! :)
    Flag Sambro2on June 12, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:@easyteezyy81866
    THAT IS EXACTLY THE STORY OF MY LIFE. MY DAD KEEPS ON URGING ME TO TAKE UP STUDYING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AS THAT'S WHERE THE JOBS ARE AND ALL AND WELL, I AM CRAZY ABOUT THE PC A BIT, but damn guitar is where my heart is. Where my life, the purpose is. And I made a mistake. I've started dreaming. And once someone dreams, it's nearly impossible to quit. Damn, I need a counsellor. A friend. Why am I brooding here? I dont know. *sigh*
    Flag dreamsnblueson April 19, 2010   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation:Have you ever felt this soothing feeling while listening to music, or a romantic feeling that is just so good inside, or while doing something you're really passionate about? That's what this song is about. The world we see is made up of big fake lies and materialistic things but the satisfaction of intellectual fulfillment is ALWAYS greater. And when we do get that feeling, we know that's what the world is. Not the world that we're living. If we just try to get a glimpse of that world, and believe that this world we see is really not all of the constituent, we'd see the real world.
    And also its about how the people who are limited to the world they see believe in getting the better jobs and money and all. But only the person who affords to take the risk and step out of the line, can reach where no stereotype could. They get all the good degrees and everything, and read all the books but never get the intellectual part of the story.
    Only the people who know that this is not the real world could take the risk and step outside because of the simple belief that its not the real world after all.
    Awesome work John Mayer. You got it right again.
    Flag dreamsnblueson April 19, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This tune is fine, but sometimes Cerberus happens to be guarding the front door and you first need to throw him 3 boxes of dog biscuits on your way in.
    Flag Arachidamiaon February 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I downloaded a pretty awesome version of this song live where John sings a slight story about his mother pressuring him into what he's going to do.. and it turns into no such thing it's called every little thing. i'm sure there's a link for that too.. but some people, i'm sure, didn't know that and I thought I'd share it with the world so that way they can go to Every Little Thing She Does' page.
    .. here's the lyrics:)

    freshman year momma asked
    "whatta ya wanna do when you get out of here?"
    i said "well jean, i'm only 13
    but i think i'd like to play my guitar
    be a star."

    well she said "thats not it, you got time to go
    good sense will kick in any time you know
    i'm not worried
    i'm not worried"

    well sophomore year she asked the same old thing
    my answer had remained unchanged
    i saw her, fidget with her thumbs
    she said "you like computers, john, you like computers don't you?
    yeah, i always see you with a computer, you like computers.
    maybe you can do something with computers..
    yeah, wouldn't that be nice"

    junior year, it's a little more intense
    she says, "what do you want to do with your life"
    "i'm not on the fence, i know exactly what i aim to be
    and i'm only 17"
    she said "well, all i ask is that you pay attention in class
    so if you happen to change your mind in time
    you can still go somewhere reputable
    and do us proud"

    so i went downstairs
    and i played guitar aloud

    yeah senior year
    same old question
    she said, "what do you wanna do"
    i said "play my guitar and sing"
    she said "there's no such thing"
    she said "there's no such thing"
    --------------------------
    i love you mom
    --------------------------

    "welcome to the real world"
    she said to me condescendingly
    "take a seat, take your life
    plot it out in black and white"

    well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
    and the drama queens
    I'd like to think the best of me
    is still hiding up my sleeve

    they love to tell you "stay inside the lines"
    oh but something's better on the other side

    I want to run through the halls of my high school
    I want to scream at the top of my lungs
    I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
    just a lie you've got to rise above

    so the good boys and girls take the so-called right track
    faded hats grabbing credits, maybe transfers
    they listen to fish, but they can't find the answers
    all of our parents, they're getting older
    I wonder if they've wished for anything better
    while in their memories, tiny tragedies

    they love to tell you "stay inside the lines"
    but well, something's better on the other side

    I want to run through the halls of my high school
    I want to scream at the top of my lungs
    I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
    just a lie you've got to rise above

    I am invincible
    you are invincible
    yeah you
    we am invincible
    as long as we're alive
    yeah we're alive

    do I have to tell you stories
    of a thousand things since we first met
    theres a big enough umbrella
    but it's always me that ends up getting wet

    I want to run through the halls of my high school
    I want to scream at the top of my lungs
    I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
    just a lie you've got to rise above

    I just can't wait for my ten year reunion
    I'm gonna bust down the double doors
    and when I stand on these tables before you
    you will know what all this time was for

    ...thought it was prettty cool and i'd share it with you:)
    Flag easyteezyy81866on February 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Dis song iz soo fukin good cuz it talkz about runnin threw halls in yer highschool!!! John Mayer makes the rape goblins in my mind turn to dust when he singz dis hot track!!! All u faggotz who hate on minorities and gays ought to 2 Be sprayed 8==D----420!!!4evA
    Flag Assmilkon January 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:What I'd like to do
    " I want to run through the halls of my high school
    I want to scream at the top of my lungs'
    Flag Inahzi13on December 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:one of his best songs!!!!!!
    Flag 8anos1925on November 14, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain