Real Friends

“Real Friends” is a raw and introspective song that explores themes of loneliness, disillusionment, and the deep-seated human desire for genuine connection. Lyrically, Camila Cabello expresses her frustration with superficial relationships and the feeling of isolation she experienced, particularly in Los Angeles while working on her debut album. The song is a lament for authentic friendships in a world that often feels fake and transient. She sings about being let down by people she trusts, leading to a sense of weariness and a desire to withdraw from social situations. The repeated line, "I'm just lookin' for some real friends," serves as the song's central thesis, a straightforward plea for sincerity and loyalty. The song is not directed at her former group Fifth Harmony, a speculation she has denied, but rather reflects her personal feelings of loneliness and her work-focused life at the time.

The narrator begins with a decision to withdraw from social interaction, choosing a quiet night in over superficial conversations and feigned wellness. This choice stems from a history of disappointment with a city described as a "paper town," a place of facades that has let her down repeatedly. She questions the point of her efforts and feels betrayed by people who constantly change their allegiances, leaving her confused about where she stands and lamenting her inability to see their true intentions sooner. The core of her emotional state is a deep yearning for authentic friendships. She expresses a recurring pattern of being let down by everyone she allows into her life. This cycle of trust and subsequent disappointment has made her feel the need to escape her current environment in search of something real.

The feeling of isolation is a constant companion. She finds herself conversing with the moon, a classic symbol of solitude, and feels profoundly alone even when surrounded by people. The place she lives in doesn't feel like a true home, amplifying her sense of displacement and unease. This deep-seated loneliness fuels her persistent search for genuine friends, wondering where such people might exist. The desire to leave her town is not just a passing thought but a necessary action to find the connection she craves.

In a moment of deep reflection, the narrator articulates the simplicity of her desires. She doesn't need grand conversations; she just wants to talk about insignificant things with someone who holds significant meaning to her. She longs for a bond deep enough to share dreams and inner demons, a confidant for times of confusion. She questions the beauty of her surroundings, like a picturesque moon, when there is no one to share it with, highlighting how loneliness can drain the color from life's experiences. This culminates in a fantasy of escaping to a beautiful, anonymous place where nobody knows her name, a fresh start away from the disillusionment she has faced.

"Real Friends" was one of the last songs created for Camila Cabello's debut solo album, Camila, and was written in late November 2017. The song was inspired by Cabello's feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction with the work-centric environment of Los Angeles while she was finishing the album. She found herself prioritizing her career over her social life, which led to a sense of isolation. The song was written by Cabello along with William Walsh, Louis Bell, Brian Lee, and its producer, Frank Dukes. According to producer Louis Bell, the recording session was one of the easiest for the album because Cabello connected so deeply with the song's theme, with her vocals being recorded in just one or two takes, and some parts even being freestyled. The track was recorded at Electric Feel Recording Studios in West Hollywood and was released as a promotional single on December 7, 2017, alongside "Never Be the Same," to coincide with the album's pre-order. A reimagined version of the song featuring American musician Swae Lee was later released on August 16, 2018.

The rhyme scheme in "Real Friends" is relatively straightforward, primarily following a pattern of rhyming couplets within the verses, which contributes to its direct and honest lyrical style. The chorus maintains a consistent structure, enhancing its memorability as the song's central message. The rhythm is laid-back and follows the gentle strumming of the acoustic guitar. The tempo is slow and steady, creating a contemplative and melancholic feel that aligns with the song's lyrical themes of loneliness and introspection. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is seamless, with Cabello's vocal phrasing following the relaxed cadence of the melody. This creates a conversational and intimate tone, as if she is sharing her personal thoughts directly with the listener.

"Real Friends" is characterized by its minimalist and stripped-down production, which emphasizes the emotional vulnerability of the lyrics. Musically, the song is built on an acoustic guitar foundation with a simple handclap rhythm for percussion, creating an intimate and raw atmosphere. Cabello's vocal delivery is gentle and utilizes her lower register, a departure from a more powerful soprano voice, which adds to the song's contemplative and subdued mood. The musical style incorporates elements of Latin, reggae, and tropical music, giving the pop ballad a unique flavor. The simple arrangement is a deliberate choice, reflecting the song's theme of stripping away facades to find something real; as producer Louis Bell explained, it's a reflection of saying, "'Real friends, we don't need to dress all this up.'" This musical simplicity allows the listener to focus on the lyrical content and Cabello's emotive performance.

Upon its release, "Real Friends" was met with positive reviews from music critics, who praised its acoustic sound and Cabello's vulnerable vocal performance. The song garnered significant media attention due to speculation that the lyrics were about her departure from the girl group Fifth Harmony, although Cabello has stated the song is about her experiences in Los Angeles. While it did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, it debuted at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. The song also charted in several other countries, including Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Portugal. A remixed version featuring rapper Swae Lee was released in August 2018. The cover art for the single was drawn by Cabello's younger sister, Sofia. The song remains a fan favorite for its relatable theme of seeking genuine friendship in a seemingly superficial world.

The lyrics of "Real Friends" employ several potent symbols and metaphors to convey its themes of loneliness and the search for authenticity.

• Paper Town: The phrase "This paper town has let me down too many times" is a significant metaphor. A "paper town" suggests something that appears real and substantial from a distance but is flimsy and lacks depth up close. This imagery effectively captures Cabello's disillusionment with Los Angeles, portraying it as a place of superficiality and false promises.
• The Moon: Cabello uses the moon as a confidant and a symbol of her solitude. Lines like "I stay up, talkin' to the moon" and "Tell me what's the point of a moon like this / When I'm alone again" depict her isolation. The moon, a solitary object in the night sky, mirrors her feeling of being alone even in a crowded city, and she turns to it when human connection fails.

The most prominent recurring phrase in the song is the chorus: "I'm just lookin' for some real friends / All they ever do is let me down / Every time I let somebody in / Then I find out what they're all about". This repetition drills home the central theme of the song – the frustrating and seemingly endless search for genuine friendship. It functions as the song's emotional anchor, expressing a cycle of hope and disappointment. The phrase "gotta get up out of this town" also recurs, emphasizing her feeling that her environment is the source of her loneliness and that escape is the only solution. The motif of being let down by others is a constant thread throughout the lyrics, highlighting a deep-seated sense of betrayal and disillusionment.