Life For Rent
by Dido

Album: Life For Rent (2003)
Charted: 8
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Songfacts®:

  • The title track of Dido's sophomore album, this was released as its second single with some success reaching the Top 10 in the UK, Ireland and Italy.
  • According to Dido, the meaning of "Life For Rent" is "that my life isn't really my own, I only rented it for a while, but if I don't manage to buy it, to own it, then nothing of what I think is mine is really mine."
  • The song was used to soundtrack pivotal moments in US TV series Smallville ("Unsafe" - 2005) and Nikita ("Free" - 2011).
  • Life For Rent was the top selling album in 2003 in the UK with over 2 million sales.
  • Dido recalled the story of the song to Canada.com: "I wrote 'Life For Rent' in America," she said. "I had basically run away from England at that point, for various reasons — I was being chased around a lot by the press and also I had just ended this relationship and stuff — and wrote pretty much the whole album while I was in America. This song was one of the first songs I wrote there and it still resonates with me. There's a line in there that says I want to live by the sea — well I still do and I still don't."
  • Sophie Muller, who would also direct Pink's "Trouble" video the same year, helmed the clip which follows Dido singing throughout a house.

Comments: 6

  • Ryan from New York CityBeautiful song. Voice of ah angel...
  • Innocentokure from NigeriaAmazing and meaningful
    Ok
  • Victor Okon from NigeriaI really love this song i love playing it everyday cuz to me it a heart warming song
  • Unwana from NigeriaI love this song so much, most especially the melody & dido's amazing voice. But the lyrics are confusing
  • Odo Stephen Odee from Nigeria Is like dido even sang this song for me.
  • David Lord Fitila from OdogunyanBest music on my mind.
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