What's the meaning?

I love the song "Waiting for my Real Life to Begin" by Colin Hay (see playlist). The first time I heard it was on my favorite TV show, Scrubs. A woman, who had just died, was singing it as she was on her way to Heaven. Instinct told me the song was about a man whose death was inevitable and he was preparing his loved ones for when the time came. But the more I listened to it (and trust me, I'm addicted), the more fuzzy its meaning became.

I went online to see if there were any posts on the subject, and I actually found a few. Some people thought the song was about ambition - you can't sit back and wait for your life to begin, you have to just go out and live it. Others, like me at first, thought it had to do with dying.

So, what do you think? Here are the lyrics - follow along with the song if you'd like. Whatever Hay's real reason behind the words, it's a beautiful song nonetheless, and this artist is clearly underappreciated in this country.

Waiting for my Real Life to Begin

Colin Hay

Any minute now my ship is coming in

I'll keep checking the horizon

And I'll stand on the bow

And feel the waves come crashing

Come crashing down, down, down on me

And you said,"Be still, my love

Open up your heart

Let the light shine in"

Don't you understand?

I already have a plan

I'm waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today suddenly nothing happened

But in my dreams I slew the dragon

And down this beaten path

And up this cobbled lane

I'm walking in my own footsteps once again

And you say,"Just be here now

Forget about the past

Your mask is wearing thin"

Let me throw one more dice

I know that I can win

I'm waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now my ship is coming in

I'll keep checking the horizon

And I'll check my machine

There's sure to be that call

It's gonna happen soon, soon, oh so very soon

It's just that times are lean

And you say,"Be still, my love

Open up your heart

Let the light shine in"

Don't you understand?

I already have a plan

I'm waiting for my real life to begin

On a clear day

I can see, see for a long way

On a clear day

I can see, see a very long way