What Do You Do with a B.A. in English / It Sucks to Be Me
John Tartaglia Lyrics
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Four years of college and plenty of knowledge
Have earned me this useless degree
I can't pay the bills yet 'cause I have no skills yet
The world is a big scary place
But somehow I can't shake the feeling I might make
A difference to the human race
Morning, Brian
How's life?
Disappointing
What's the matter?
The catering company laid me off
Oh, I'm sorry!
Me too! I mean, look at me!
I'm ten years out of college
And I always thought, oh
What? No, it sounds stupid
Aw, come on!
When I was little I thought I would be
What? A big comedian on late night TV
But now I'm thirty-two and as you can see I'm not
Nope! Oh well, it sucks to be me
No, it sucks to be me
No, it sucks to be broke and unemployed
And turning thirty-three, it sucks to be me
You think your life sucks?
I think so
Your problems aren't so bad!
I'm kinda pretty and pretty damn smart
You are!
Thanks! I like romantic things like music and art
And as you know I have a gigantic heart
So why don't I have a boyfriend?
Fuck! It sucks to be me
Me too
It sucks to be me
It sucks to be me, it sucks to be Brian
And Kate
To not have a job!
To not have a date!
It sucks to be me
Hey, Rod, Nicky, can you settle something for us?
Do you have a second?
Ah, certainly
Whose life sucks more? Brian's or mine?
Ours! We live together
We're as close as people can get
We've been the best of buddies
Ever since the day we met
So he knows lots of ways to make me really upset
Oh every day is an aggravation
Come on, that's an exaggeration!
You leave your clothes out
You put your feet on my chair, oh yeah?
You do such anal things like ironing your underwear
You make that very small apartment we share a hell
So do you, that's why I'm in hell too!
It sucks to be me!
No, it sucks to be me!
It sucks to be me!
It sucks to be me!
Is there anybody here it doesn't suck to be?
It sucks to be me!
Why you all so happy?
Because our lives suck!
Your lives suck? I hearing you correctly?
Ha! I coming to this country for opportunities
Tried to work in Korean deli but I am Japanese
But with hard work I earn two master's degrees in social work!
And now I a therapist! But I have no clients!
And I have an unemployed fiance!
And we have lots of bills to pay!
It suck to be me! It suck to be me!
I say it sucka sucka sucka sucka sucka sucka
Sucka sucka sucka sucka suck!
It suck to be me
Excuse me?
Hey there
Sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for a place to live
Why you looking the way out here?
Well, I started at Avenue A
But so far everything is out of my price range
But this neighborhood looks a lot cheaper!
Oh, and look a 'for rent' sign!
You need to talk to the superintendent
Let me go him
Great, thanks!
Yo, Gary!
I'm comin' I'm comin'
Oh my God! It's Gary Coleman!
Yes I am! I'm Gary Coleman, from TV's different Strokes
I made a lotta money that got stolen by my folks!
Now I'm broke and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes
But I'm here the superintendent! On Avenue Q
It sucks to be you
You win!
It sucks to be you
I feel better now!
Try having people stopping you to ask you
What you talkin' 'bout, Willis? It gets old
It sucks to be you on Avenue Q
(Sucks to be me)
On Avenue Q
(Sucks to be you)
On Avenue Q
(Sucks to be us)
But not when we're together
We're together here on Avenue Q!
We live on Avenue Q! Our friends do too!
'Til our dreams come true
We live on Avenue Q!
This is real life!
We live on Avenue Q
You're gonna love it
We live on Avenue Q!
Here's your keys!
Welcome to Avenue Q!
The song "What Do You Do with a B.A. in English" is a commentary on post-college life, highlighting the struggles and disappointments that often come with finding a career and a sense of purpose. The opening lines reflect the uncertainty that many recent graduates feel: "What is my life going to be? / Four years of college and plenty of knowledge / Have earned me this useless degree." The singer is frustrated that despite their education, they still lack the skills and experience needed to get a job and pay the bills. The rest of the song includes several characters who are also struggling, whether it's with unemployment, loneliness, or simply living with roommates who drive them crazy.
One of the key messages of the song is that everyone's life can feel like it "sucks" at times, but that there is comfort in knowing that you're not alone. The characters on Avenue Q are all facing different challenges, but they find solace in their shared experiences and the camaraderie that comes from living in a community like theirs. By the end of the song, the characters have come together, singing about the joys and struggles of life on Avenue Q.
Line by Line Meaning
What is my life going to be?
I am uncertain about what my future will hold.
Four years of college and plenty of knowledge
Have earned me this useless degree
Despite obtaining a college degree, I feel the degree is useless.
I can't pay the bills yet 'cause I have no skills yet
I am struggling to pay my bills due to the lack of skills and experience needed to secure a job.
The world is a big scary place
But somehow I can't shake the feeling I might make
A difference to the human race
The world is overwhelming, but I still hold onto the belief that I can make a positive impact.
Morning, Brian
Hi, Kate Monster
How's life?
Disappointing
What's the matter?
The catering company laid me off
Oh, I'm sorry!
Me too! I mean, look at me!
In a conversation with Brian, Kate Monster reveals that she has been laid off and is struggling to find a job, leading to feelings of disappointment and difficulty making ends meet.
I'm ten years out of college
And I always thought, oh
What? No, it sounds stupid
Aw, come on!
Kate Monster reflects on the past ten years since college, admitting that her childhood dream of becoming a Late Night TV comedian seems foolish now.
Nope! Oh well, it sucks to be me
No, it sucks to be me
Kate Monster and Brian commiserate about their respective struggles and acknowledge that it is difficult to be in their situation.
I'm kinda pretty and pretty damn smart
You are!
Kate Monster asserts that although things are not currently going well, she is intelligent and attractive.
So why don't I have a boyfriend?
Fuck! It sucks to be me
Despite her positive qualities, Kate Monster laments that she is single and having a difficult time finding a partner.
Your problems aren't so bad!
I'm kinda pretty and pretty damn smart
In comparison to the hardships experienced by Kate Monster, the problems faced by Brian seem trivial.
Whose life sucks more? Brian's or mine?
Ours! We live together
Rod and Nicky, who live together on Avenue Q, believe that their lives are more difficult than both Brian and Kate Monster's.
It suck to be me! It sucka sucka sucka sucka sucka sucka
Sucka sucka sucka sucka suck!
It suck to be me
Rod and Nicky join Kate Monster and Brian in singing about how difficult their lives are and how much they suck.
Why you looking the way out here?
Well, I started at Avenue A
But so far everything is out of my price range
A new character enters the scene and explains the difficulty they have finding affordable housing. They have traveled to Avenue Q in search of a place to live.
Yes I am! I'm Gary Coleman, from TV's different Strokes
I made a lotta money that got stolen by my folks!
Now I'm broke and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes
Gary Coleman, a real-life actor and former child star, makes an appearance on Avenue Q and reveals that his parents stole the money he earned from acting, leading to his current financial struggles and being the subject of ridicule.
But I'm here the superintendent! On Avenue Q
It sucks to be you
Despite his own personal struggles, Gary Coleman can still take pleasure in telling others that it sucks to be them.
We live on Avenue Q! Our friends do too!
'Til our dreams come true
We live on Avenue Q!
The final lines of the song serve as a reminder that everyone on Avenue Q is in the same difficult situation and together they will continue to support each other while working towards their dreams.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: BOBBY LOPEZ, JEFF MARX, ROBERT JOSEPH LOPEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind