"Life's Been Good" is a song by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh that first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1978 film FM. The original eight-minute version was released on Walsh's fourth studio album But Seriously, Folks... (1978), and an edited four-minute single version peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, remaining his biggest solo hit.
In the song, Walsh satirically reflects on the antics and excesses of the era's rock stars, with nods to drummer Keith Moon of the Who and others: "I live in hotels, tear out the walls/I have accountants pay for it all", and "My Maserati[1] does one-eighty-five/I lost my license, now I don't drive".
"Life's Been Good" has a mid-tempo, reggae-like groove marked by bedrock guitar riffs, synthesizers, and humorous lyrics. According to Billboard, the lyrics are at least partially autobiographical.[2] Walsh's ARP Odyssey synthesizer riff accompanies the lead guitar in the middle of the song. The lead guitar in the outro is accompanied by the main riff. Bill Szymczyk and Jody Boyer perform the backing vocals.[citation needed]
The pre-chorus section on the second and third verses uses a call and response pattern.
Joe Walsh: "Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through"
Call: Bill Szymczyk: "Everybody say I'm cool"
Response: Jody Boyer: "He's cool"
Joe Walsh: "They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time"
Call: Bill Szymczyk: "Everybody say, "Oh, yeah""
Response: Jody Boyer: "Oh, yeah!"
Record World said that the song "blends [Walsh's] signature guitar work with a touch of reggae" and that "the lyrics touch on a number of topics, all treated with a light irony."[3]
At the end of the LP, there is a clip of an in-joke stating "uh-oh, here comes a flock of wah wahs", recorded from inside the studio. After the music has faded away into silence, there's a 10-second gap before the inside joke. That inside joke would also be included at the end of disc one of the Eagles' box set, Selected Works: 1972–1999 (2000).[citation needed]
Made after Walsh had joined the Eagles, "Life's Been Good" was incorporated into that group's concert repertoire, appearing in shows at the time as well as reunion tours. It remains a staple of classic rock radio playlists. A live version of the song with the Eagles appears on the 1980 album Eagles Live, where some of the lyrics are changed.[citation needed]
Inspirationedit
In a 2012 concert at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California, Walsh explained that the song's lyrics are true.[4] He said that he purchased a home in Santa Barbara, California, shortly before he joined the Eagles. He then spent the next two years touring or recording albums and very little time at home. Rather, he spent most of his time living in hotels. He preferred hotel rooms with adjoining rooms. If a hotel room did not have two adjoining rooms available, he would rent two rooms next to each other. He would then make a connection to the other room by "tearing out a wall". He did not own a Maserati. He lost his wallet and his driver's license was in the wallet. His license was not taken away by the government. Walsh often rode in limousines. He does have an office with gold records on the wall and an answering machine. Walsh said he had been to parties and stayed late on many occasions. One time, he attempted to leave the party in the early morning hours. However, instead of going out the front door of the house, he walked into a closet.
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Life s Been Good is a song by American singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist Joe Walsh that first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1978 film FM The original eight minute version was released on Walsh s fourth studio album But Seriously Folks 1978 and an edited four minute single version peaked at No 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 remaining his biggest solo hit Life s Been Good Single by Joe Walshfrom the album But Seriously Folks B side Theme from Boat Weirdos ReleasedMay 1978Recorded1978GenreHard rock blues rock reggae rockLength8 56 album version w hidden track 8 04 album version w o hidden track 4 35 single version LabelAsylumSongwriter s Joe WalshProducer s Joe Walsh Bill SzymczykJoe Walsh singles chronology Rocky Mountain Way 1977 Life s Been Good 1978 All Night Long 1980 Audio Life s Been Good on YouTubeIn the song Walsh satirically reflects on the antics and excesses of the era s rock stars with nods to drummer Keith Moon of the Who and others I live in hotels tear out the walls I have accountants pay for it all and My Maserati 1 does one eighty five I lost my license now I don t drive The 1979 Rolling Stone Record Guide called it riotous and maybe the most important statement on rock stardom anyone has made in the late Seventies His later Ordinary Average Guy is written as a late life followup citation needed Contents 1 Content 2 Inspiration 3 Chart performance 3 1 Weekly charts 3 2 Year end charts 4 References 5 External linksContent edit Life s Been Good has a mid tempo reggae like groove marked by bedrock guitar riffs synthesizers and humorous lyrics According to Billboard the lyrics are at least partially autobiographical 2 Walsh s ARP Odyssey synthesizer riff accompanies the lead guitar in the middle of the song The lead guitar in the outro is accompanied by the main riff Bill Szymczyk and Jody Boyer perform the backing vocals citation needed The pre chorus section on the second and third verses uses a call and response pattern Joe Walsh Lucky I m sane after all I ve been through Call Bill Szymczyk Everybody say I m cool Response Jody Boyer He s cool Joe Walsh They say I m lazy but it takes all my time Call Bill Szymczyk Everybody say Oh yeah Response Jody Boyer Oh yeah Record World said that the song blends Walsh s signature guitar work with a touch of reggae and that the lyrics touch on a number of topics all treated with a light irony 3 At the end of the LP there is a clip of an in joke stating uh oh here comes a flock of wah wahs recorded from inside the studio After the music has faded away into silence there s a 10 second gap before the inside joke That inside joke would also be included at the end of disc one of the Eagles box set Selected Works 1972 1999 2000 citation needed Made after Walsh had joined the Eagles Life s Been Good was incorporated into that group s concert repertoire appearing in shows at the time as well as reunion tours It remains a staple of classic rock radio playlists A live version of the song with the Eagles appears on the 1980 album Eagles Live where some of the lyrics are changed citation needed Inspiration editIn a 2012 concert at the Troubadour in West Hollywood California Walsh explained that the song s lyrics are true 4 He said that he purchased a home in Santa Barbara California shortly before he joined the Eagles He then spent the next two years touring or recording albums and very little time at home Rather he spent most of his time living in hotels He preferred hotel rooms with adjoining rooms If a hotel room did not have two adjoining rooms available he would rent two rooms next to each other He would then make a connection to the other room by tearing out a wall He did not own a Maserati He lost his wallet and his driver s license was in the wallet His license was not taken away by the government Walsh often rode in limousines He does have an office with gold records on the wall and an answering machine Walsh said he had been to parties and stayed late on many occasions One time he attempted to leave the party in the early morning hours However instead of going out the front door of the house he walked into a closet Chart performance editWeekly charts edit Chart 1978 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 5 56US Billboard Hot 100 6 12US Cash Box Top 100 7 6Canadian RPM Top Singles 8 11Irish Singles Chart 9 13New Zealand Singles Chart 10 32UK Singles Chart 11 14 Year end charts edit Chart 1978 RankCanada RPM Top 200 Singles 12 94US Billboard Hot 100 13 87US Cash Box 14 72References edit Rob Maetzig March 23 2018 Life isn t that good for Joe Walsh s Maserati Stuff Top Single Picks PDF Billboard June 10 1978 p 82 Retrieved July 9 2020 Hits of the Week PDF Record World June 10 1978 p 1 Retrieved February 13 2023 Life s Been Good Spoken Word Version on YouTube Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 332 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Joe Walsh gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Singles Allmusic Retrieved January 29 2010 CASH BOX Top 100 Singles August 19 1978 Archived from the original on February 15 2015 Retrieved April 4 2017 RPM Top 100 Singles August 26 1978 PDF Search results Irishcharts ie Retrieved February 2 2010 Joe Walsh Life s Been Good Charts nz Retrieved January 29 2010 The Official Charts Company Joe Walsh Life s Been Good Official Charts Retrieved January 10 2020 Top Singles Volume 30 No 14 December 30 1978 RPM Library and Archives Canada Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved July 21 2014 Top 100 Hits of 1978 Top 100 Songs of 1978 Musicoutfitters com Retrieved April 4 2017 The CASH BOX Year End Charts 1978 Archived from the original on September 29 2018 Retrieved April 4 2017 External links edit Life s Been Good at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Life 27s Been Good amp oldid 1216832937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
