Released: June 5, 2001

Songwriter: Kerry “Krucial” Brothers Taneisha Smith Alicia Keys

Producer: Kerry “Krucial” Brothers Alicia Keys

[Intro]
Ooh, ah-ah-ah
Ah (Ayy), ah (Oh)

[Verse 1]
Every day I realize
That this might be the last day of my life
Walking down the street, I find, yeah
I'm coming closer and closer to losing my mind

[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause when it rains, it pours
Isn't life worth more?
I don't even know what I'm hustling for (Hustling for)
You gotta do what you gotta do
Just to make it through
All the hard times that's gonna face you (Mm-mm)

[Chorus]
This is the life (This is the life)
Striving to survive (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
This is the life (This is the life)
Striving to survive (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
This is the life

[Verse 2]
Living will always be a struggle
Looking for someone true to love you
Looking back, I see all the horrors
This madness makes me wanna hide

[Pre-Chorus]
I watch slowly
Internally, I'm dying
Pillowcase is wet from all my crying (Crying)
There ain't nothing more to be here for
Take me away, I can't live that life no more

[Chorus]
This is the life (This is the life)
Striving to survive (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(If you look into my eyes)
This is the life (This is the life; my life)
Striving to survive (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Hustling, oh)
This is the life (Can you see what I'm seeing?)
Striving to survive (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Gotta keep moving, moving)
This is the life (This is my life)
Struggling to survive (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Da-da-da-da) Da-da-da-da-da

[Bridge]
Tryna get over (This is the life)
Tryna get over (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I am just trying, tryna get over (This is the life)
Tryna get over, tryna get over (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(This is the life)
Trying to get over (This is the life)
Gonna get over (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

[Outro]
This is the life
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (This is the life)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (This is the life)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (This is the life)

Alicia Keys

Gifted with one of the finest voices of the early 21st century and exceptional talent, the famed Alicia Keys is a recognized, award-winning R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. She was born on January 25, 1981 in New York.

Her debut album Songs in A Minor launched her career as she became the best-selling new artist of 2001. Her follow-up album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003) and her album for the MTV Unplugged series in 2005 further cemented her at the top of the pop and R&B game. Her biggest hits are powerful ballads like “Fallin',” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and “No One.”

On January 15, 2019 Pop/R&B legend and 15-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys was announced as the host of the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. This will be the first time Keys has been the master of ceremonies for Music’s Biggest Night.