James Wesley - Real

James Wesley is a one of a kind southern man with a voice that leaves you wanting more. Real is not a song about love and heartache, as my grandmother tends to describe the country genre, it is a song about life. It is a song that gives testimony to the hardships that everyday people are faced with, fighting to make a living, raising a child alone, living in fear, where every day is a constant struggle to make a living and to live. This song is not a song about getting drunk or high or having a good time, it is merely giving testimony to how fake the world is becoming. In the beginning stanza, reality shows are mentioned and put down as fake. It is true that many people watch reality shows, and that they are mislead into thinking that the events of the show, the drama and the struggle, are real and the people with their emotions are not acting. This song portrays the truth that the actors on reality shows are not being real, that the real reality show is the life going on around and that the real life struggles are the ones that people are facing each and every day. The song gives a voice to the unnamed farmers and soldiers who live their lives providing for others, whether they provide food or freedom, and get no thanks or recognition. The song portrays real life in an honest and upfront way that makes me rethink many of my actions and how I do overlook a lot of those little things that make reality worth living. The song makes me cry eight times out of ten, because of the message it sends: real is not what you see on TV, real is the life you are misjudging and taking for granted every day. So before I type my favourite part of the song that I believe sends the strongest message I will say this: don't take life for granted, because your life is precious and everybody is faced with struggles and conflict in life, have faith and know that there are people going through similar predicaments and help is always there when you ask for it.
Real, like too much rain fallin' from the sky
Real, like the drought that came around here last July
It's the damn boll weevils and the market and the weeds,
the prayer they're sayin' when they plant the seeds
And the chance they take to bring us our next meal"
- James Wesley, Real.