Live Like a Rock Star? I’ll Pass.

I like Cake. They are a great band for seemingly any mood or occasion. Today on my way to work, I heard an older song by this great band that I had never heard before. As I listened intently to the lyrics, I heard a great money story that spans attitudes from different age perspectives. It really made me reflect on my early life spending habits (especially the first verse) and realize how much my outlook has changed toward money over the past 10-15 years.

Rock n’ Roll Lifestyle by Cake:

Well, your CD collection looks shiny and costly.
How much did you pay for your bad Moto Guzi?
And how much did you spend on your black leather jacket?
Is it you or your parents in this income tax bracket?

Now tickets to concerts and drinking at clubs,
Sometimes for music that you haven’t even heard of.
And how much did you pay for your rock’n’roll t-shirt
That proves you were there,
That you heard of them first?

How do you afford your rock’n’roll lifestyle?
How do you afford your rock’n’roll lifestyle?
How do you afford your rock’n’roll lifestyle?
Ah, tell me.

How much did you pay for the chunk of his guitar,
The one he ruthlessly smashed at the end of the show?
And how much will he pay for a brand new guitar,
One which he’ll ruthlessly smash at the end of another show?
And how long will the workers keep building him new ones?
As long as their soda cans are red, white, and blue ones.
And how long will the workers keep building him new ones?
As long as their soda cans are red, white, and blue ones.

Aging black leather and hospital bills,
Tattoo removal and dozens of pills.
Your liver pays dearly now for youthful magic moments,
But rock on completely with some brand new components.

How do you afford your rock’n’roll lifestyle?
How do you afford your rock’n’roll lifestyle?
How do you afford your rock’n’roll lifestyle?

Excess ain’t rebellion.
You’re drinking what they’re selling.
Your self-destruction doesn’t hurt them.
Your chaos won’t convert them.
They’re so happy to rebuild it.
You’ll never really kill it.
Yeah, excess ain’t rebellion.
You’re drinking what they’re selling.
Excess ain’t rebellion.
You’re drinking,
You’re drinking,
You’re drinking what they’re selling.

Sure, sometimes I miss my reckless and care-free younger days. This song just proves that it is not worth the physical, mental and fiscal toll that comes along with it. If you live like there is no tomorrow, maybe there will be no tomorrow. Take it from these guys, I’m pretty sure these lyrics are inspired through experience.

Tagged as: cake, live like a rock star, rich