Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous
Good Charlotte Lyrics

Always see it on T.V.
We constantly see and consume the lives of the rich and famous on television.

Or read in the magazines
We also read about their lifestyles and struggles in magazines.

Celebrities they want sympathy
Famous people often seek pity and understanding from the public.

All they do is piss and moan
Despite their wealth, celebrities frequently complain and gripe about their lives.

Inside the Rolling Stone
Even in reputable publications like Rolling Stone Magazine, famous people express their discontent.

Talkin' about how hard life can be
They speak about the difficulties of their lives, despite their abundance of wealth and privilege.

I'd like to see them spend a week
The singer wishes famous people would experience a different, more humble lifestyle.

Livin' life out on the street
They suggest living homeless for a week to truly empathize with those who struggle every day.

I don't think they would survive
The artist believes that famous people would struggle to live outside of their luxurious lifestyle.

But they could spend a day or two
Alternatively, the famous could briefly immerse themselves in someone else's shoes.

Walking in someone else's shoes
They can gain empathy and perspective by experiencing life from another's viewpoint.

I think they'd stumble and they'd fall
The fame and fortune the rich enjoy has sheltered them from the real world to the point of appearing unable to cope with it.

They would fall (fall)
Even for a day, the public may feel less resentful of the rich's complaints if they see that it is not an easy lifestyle to adjust to.

Lifestyles of the rich and the famous
The singer is specifically identifying wealthy celebrities.

They're always complainin'
Despite their blessings, rich and famous people complain about the mundanity of their lifestyles and cling to the idea that they are unsatisfied.

If money is such a problem
The artist points out that the rich's typical complaint is that money is a problem, which seems unwarranted.

Well they got mansions
Rich and famous people have major assets that the average person would only dream of possessing.

Think we should rob them
The singer proposes sarcastically that, since money is tight for regular individuals, they should resort to stealing from the wealthy.

Well did you know when you were famous you could kill your wife
The singer is highlighting the unfair legal advantages wealthy and famous individuals have even during criminal investigations.

And there's no such thing as 25 to life
Famous people that have committed grievous crimes are given leniency from the justice system, and may not serve as much jail time (if any) than a person of lesser fame would for the same crime.

As long as you've got the cash, to pay for Cochran
Money, seemingly above all else, is the primary means for famous and wealthy individuals to get out of legal troubles.

And did you know if you were caught and you were smokin' crack
The artist proposes another example of legal favoritism of celebrities, this time relating to drug use. Famous individuals may get more respite or sympathy for taking illegal narcotics than the average person.

McDonalds wouldn't even want to take you back
Major corporations may decline to associate with a celebrity if they were caught doing something wrong, but could still make a legal comeback depending on their wealth and status.

You could always just run for mayor of DC
If all else fails, running for civic office may become the only option for once-famous celebrities seeking a sense of authority or continuing relevance in the public sphere.

They're always complainin'
The repetition of the phrase re-emphasizes the idea that celebrities of certain financial and social strata have incessantly negative viewpoints on life despite their luxurious lifestyle.

You got so many problems
It may seem counterintuitive to the public, but wealthy individuals come with many excess anxieties that they are vocal about.

Think I could solve them
The singer ironically reaches out and volunteers their time to fix some of the rich's perceived problems.

We'll take the clothes, cash, cars, and homes, just stop complainin'
The artist threatens to steal significant and valuable belongings from the wealthy, justifying it as an action of retaliation towards their constant complaints.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous
The artist is making an overall commentary of a particular societal subset: rich and famous people.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous
The repetition of the phrase at the end emphasizes the point made earlier in the song.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous
The last few mentions are used to further drill down the notion of excessively rich and celebrity-laden lifestyles.