title: It's Only Life
text: # It's Only Life
  
  "It's Only Life" is a song performed by The Shins, issued as the second single from their album Port of Morrow. The song was written by the band's lead singer James Mercer.
  
  ## Critical reception
  
  The song has received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Brendan of MusicUnderFire praised Mercer's skills in writing the song and further stated that the song "smashes [the previous single] to pieces". Matt from A Heart is a Spade considered the song a "heart-on-sleeve" track and called its accompanying video "sentimental". Conversely, Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound gave the song a negative review, stating that the song is "the sort of sappy fluff whose plasticity poisons a genre".
  
  ## Music video
  
  The official music video for the song was directed by Hiro Murai.
  
  ## Live performances
  
  The band has performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live.
  
  