Nash the Slash was born of silent film. The name comes from a killer butler encountered by Laurel and Hardy in their first film, Do Detectives Think (1927). Nash the musician has gone on to create the music scores for such recent cult films as Roadkill and Highway 61, both directed by Bruce McDonald.
Between experiments with film and music, Nash the Slash became a familiar name to music fans through his association with the pop electronic group FM. Having co-written the hit songs Phasors on Stun and Just Like You, Nash established his credibility as a versatile artist. His talents have been recognized with a U-KNOW (later called CASBY) award for best instrumental artist as well as a Juno nomination for best new male vocalist. Nash's profile was raised on the international stage when he toured the world with the likes of Gary Numan and Iggy Pop. Other high-profile shows include opening for The Who at C.N.E. Stadium in Toronto to a crowd of 70,000 people and opening for The Tubes at a sold-out Maple Leaf Gardens.
CaligariNosferatu Nash has recently recorded new music for the silent film classics The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919), The Lost World (1925), and most recently his highly successful soundtrack to Nosferatu (1922), which he performed at the SKIF Music Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. Nash continues to do unique film scores for other silent film classics, such as the original Phantom of the Opera.
Nash has released numerous solo albums, the best known being Children of the Night with the hit single Dead Man's Curve. Other albums include Decomposing, the first record playable at any speed (reviewed in Playboy Magazine, 1982); and American Bandages, a collection of all-American classics such as We're an American Band, Who Do You Love, and Psychotic Reaction.
It's My Life
Nash The Slash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the good things have been taken
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I'll wear sable someday
Hear what I say
I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent sweatin' rent
I'm breakin' loose, it ain't no use
Holdin' me down, stick around
But baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' the rye
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
When I, openly lie
And leave only money
Believe me honey, that money
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
No complaints
So girl go out
Hand it out
And baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) don't push me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
The lyrics to Nash The Slash's song "It's My Life" are a declaration of absolute independence and control over one's own destiny. The opening lines paint a bleak picture of a world where opportunities are scarce and everything has already been taken. However, through sheer force of will, the singer declares that there are always ways to make certain things pay. The ultimate goal is to wear sable, a luxurious fur coat, symbolizing success and prosperity.
The chorus is a defiant proclamation that this is the singer's life, and they will do what they want with it. The verses contain hints of possibly shady tactics to achieve one's goals, such as lying and taking all you can get without regrets. The reference to women and their fortunes may imply a willingness to exploit others for personal gain. The final line of the chorus promises that someday the singer will treat their partner well, but until then, they will continue to pursue their own ambitions without anyone holding them down.
Overall, the song is a statement of rebellion and individualism. It acknowledges a harsh reality where success is hard to come by but rejects the idea of playing by someone else's rules to achieve it. The singer is determined to live life on their own terms, even if it means making difficult choices and risking other people's trust and well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a hard world to get a break in
The world can be tough to succeed in
All the good things have been taken
The desirable things have already been claimed
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
There are methods to make certain things profitable
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I'll wear sable some day
Despite wearing shabby clothes today, I'll don luxurious ones someday
Hear what I say
Listen to me
I'm gonna ride the serpent
I'm going to take a risk
No more time spent sweatin' rent
I won't struggle to afford rent anymore
Hear my command
Listen to and follow my orders
I'm breakin' loose, it ain't no use
Holdin' me down, stick around
I'm freeing myself, so don't bother trying to hold me back
But baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
Hey, just a reminder that it's my life and I'll do as I please. Disagree with me or hurt me, but I'll treat you well in the future
There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' the rye
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
When I, openly lie
And leave only money
Believe me honey, that money
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
No complaints
So girl go out
Hand it out
There will be wealthy ladies who desire to mother a destitute child. Will you weep when I'm drinking excessively? I'll take all I can without remorse, even if I need to lie. Money will be the only thing left. You better believe I'm not a saint and I won't complain. So go out and spread it around, honey
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) Don't push me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
This is my life and my mind, so don't force me to do anything I don't want to do. I can do whatever I desire and you can't command me. It's my life after all
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl D'Errico, Roger Atkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind