|
|
|
 |
Get PDF of this song
(Chords and Lyrics)
© Project Freeman Music (15th & 22nd November 2005)
Got to get up cos I got to go to school
Cos I got to fit In and I got to learn the rules
Cos I got to study hard cos I got to get the grades
Cos I got to get a job cos I got to get the pay
And I got to keep busy if I’m gonna get paid
Cos I got to flash some money if I’m gonna get laid
And I got to drive the car and I got to wear the gear
Cos I got to look cool while I’m living in fear
And I got to have more and I got to have it quick
Cos I got to look the part if it's me she's gonna pick
Cos I got to get married and I got to buy a pad
Cos I don't need my Mummy, and I don't need my Dad
So I got to pay the mortgage and I got to pay the bills
So I got to do this fuckIn job that’s makIn me ill
And I got to watch the tele cos I got to see the pain
And I got to feed my belly while they’re washIn my brain
And I got to have the Hollywood on D.V.D
Cos I got to see the way they tell me how my life could be
But wait...
Then slowly it dawns on me
That things look so different when I switch off my TV
Cos the Ads and their colours and pictures
Take hold, replacing my mentors
And soaps, replacing real teachers
And politicians, spinning benefits and features
Sell dreams like evangelist preachers
And we... are susceptible creatures
So I’m switchIn off the tele and I’m turnIn onto real
And I’m listenIn to my little voice and how I really feel
And I’m payIn off the mortgage cos I’m sellIn off the pad
And I’m gettIn rid of all the stuff that’s drivIn me mad
And I’m switchIn off the Ads and I’m switchIn off the News
Cos I don’t need their stuff or their mainstream point of views
And I’m playIn my music without the MTV
Cos I don’t need a sponsor sellIn fuckIn “cool” to me
And I’m packIn in the job and I’m gettIn on a plane
Before the Corporation drives me fuckIn Insane
And I’m eatIn when I’m hungry and I’m sleepIn when I’m tired
Cos I don’t have to worry that I’m gonna get fired
And I’m laughIn and I’m chillIn and I’m loving every day
Cos I ain’t got the bullshit gettIn in my way
So I don’t need the busy cos I don’t need the pay
Cos I don’t need the fuckIn stuff and thought that I should say
That Life
Gets better every day
When you Live It
Your Own Way
Yeah Life
Gets better every day
When you're LivIn
Your Own Way
I started writing the words for this one the day I sold my house (which also happens to be my brother's birthday and later turned out to have cosmic significance for my 'Badger' story - but That's Another Story!) So that day was a big step on the 'Road To Redemption', my plan to simplify my life and opt-out of the system as much as possible.
'Sell The House' was the 3rd Big Step on the journey, following 1.Quit The Job and 2.Go Travelling. It was after Step 2 while I was travelling that I'd had my amazing 'Your Call' encounter which led to Step 3 and this song.
Maybe like a lot of us, I don't remember ever really choosing to 'Opt In' to the whole modern, western, capitalist way of life, it just kind of happens over time due to childhood conditioning and dealing with original wounds I guess... Then one day, as Talking Heads put it in their song 'Once In A Lifetime', "...you may ask yourself, "What is that beautiful house?", and you may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?"..." and you're not really sure how you got there, but you find yourself with a big house and an even bigger mortgage, all this stuff, bills to pay and work commitments etc but you just want to see where that highway goes to!
So that day of the house sale I was thinking about all that, and I imagined a typical life in the system and started to summarise it in verse, with some personal references, and later I finished the words and put them to music inspired by a riff that my son Thom came up with, once we'd moved to our new place. The new place turned out to be a bridge to Step 4. Live On A Houseboat (see the 'Badger' link above), Step 5. Get A Camper Van and Step 6. Hit The Road!
I like the play on words with this one too, opting out, Opt In/Out
- o X o -
 |
|
© Project Freeman Music (2005 Gregorian)