What does Live Like You Were Dying mean?

Tim McGraw: Live Like You Were Dying Meaning

Album cover for Live Like You Were Dying album cover

Song Released: 2004


Live Like You Were Dying Lyrics

He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options
and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 19th 2006 !⃝

    This song is about his dad (Late Baseball Pitcher for the Mets and Phillies) Tug McGraw. Tug came up with the Mets' motto, "Ya Gotta Believe". This song is written about finding out that his dad had Brain cancer, and the conversations and memories that ensued. He talks about what his dad did after the diagnosis(I went skydiving, rocky mountain climbing, went 2.7 seconds on a bull Fu Man Chu), and at the very beginning, he says "I was in my early 40's, with a lotta life before me, when a moment came that stopped me on a dime. I spent most of the next days, looking at the X-rays, talking bout the options, and talking bout sweet times. Asked him when it sank in, this might really be the real end, how's it hit ya when you get that kinda news, man what did you do?". This is all about his dad's diagnosis, and how he knew his dad was dying, just not how long he had left.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 14th 2009 !⃝

    Live like you were dying means that if you knew that you were dying in a little while, what would you do for your last day? Would you just sit around and mope and dread, or would you do everything you wanted to do or forgive someone you never forgave. When you would die would you regret the life you lost? This song is a very deep and thoughtful song that not a lot of music has.

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 6th 2021 !⃝

    Im writing an explication for college on this song. The song,in fact, was not written by Tim McGraw nor was it written for his dad.. although it does refer to his father in the line about fishing.. but that was done so by the original writers.

  4. anonymous
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    Mar 13th 2020 !⃝

    This song is awesome ! And it is not only about his dad. It's about a few people that got diagnosis or wrong diagnosis... Saying they want to live to the fullest and fight. The rocky climbing came from a woman, the skydiving was a male, not all from his dad. But respect to the songwriters. You made something incredible with this. And Tim you just blow our ears ! Thank you !

  5. anonymous
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    Jan 4th 2020 !⃝

    This song is saying not if you are dying it is saying what you should be doing living life to the fullest not waiting to die not leaving issues unresolved but being your best self before you die so be your best self and live life to the fullest.

  6. anonymous
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    Nov 10th 2014 !⃝

    If you're not dying, you will never live a full life because it takes something to open your eyes to live to the fullest. So live like you are dying. Do want you want to because one day you wont be able to do anything.

  7. anonymous
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    May 31st 2014 !⃝

    Tim McGraw rocks! The song means live life like you always wanted to and have no regrets and be the best person you can be because life is too short.

  8. anonymous
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    Feb 28th 2012 !⃝

    This song wants to say if you were diying what would you like to do sky diving mountain climbing or....

  9. anonymous
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    Jan 17th 2012 !⃝

    This song is about living, not dying. It is about living to the fullest.

  10. anonymous
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    Nov 30th 2011 !⃝

    Am I the only one who thought the bull's name was blue man's shoe?


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