In 1991, Praga Khan met Oliver Adams and along with Jade 4U, formed the production team MNO (comprised of the first letter of their forenames). Shortly after, they produced a series of popular British rave hits. The most popular, "Injected With A Poison", which hit the #16 spot in the UK and #1 in Japan.
While taking a break from his several side projects, Praga Khan released his first studio album, "Conquers Your Love", in 1996. Several albums followed a little while later; Pragamatic in 1998, Twenty First Century Skin in 1999, Mutant Funk in 2000, Mixed Up in 2001 and Freakazoidz in 2002.
A lucky break also happened when Paul Verhoeven, during the shooting of Basic Instinct, walked into "The Limelight" disco in New York, looking for a song for his movie. When the track "Rave the Rhythm" was played, he stepped up to the DJ and asked who that was. The song was included on the soundtrack, after which a whole bunch of other movies followed including Sliver, Virtuosity, Strange Days, Bad Lieutenant and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Praga Khan also worked on the soundtrack for the first Mortal Kombat game and the first movie's popular "Techno Syndrome" (the de facto Mortal Kombat theme) under the moniker "The Immortals"; thus also responsible for the camp classic line from the Sub-Zero theme, "Chinese ninja warrior, with your heart so cold..."
Contribution to the theatrical scene was made with his musical collaborations in The Next Dimension (2005) and Code Red.
Lust For Life
Praga Khan Lyrics
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with the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another strip tease.
Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion'
I've been hurting since I've bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah, something called love.
Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before.
I have a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life.
I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a GTO
Wear a uniform
All on a government loan.
I'm worth a million in prizes
Yeah, I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With liquor and drugs
With liquor and drugs.
Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
Well, I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause of a lust for life (lust for life, oooo)
I got a lust for life (oooo)
Got a lust for life (oooo)
Oh, a lust for life (oooo)
Oh, a lust for life (oooo)
A lust for life (oooo)
I got a lust for life (oooo)
Got a lust for life.
Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
Well, I've a lust for life
'Cause I've a lust for life.
Here comes Johnny yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another strip tease.
Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion'
Your skin starts itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Love, love, love
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens.
Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before
And I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause I've a lust for life (lust for life)
Got a lust for life
Yeah, a lust for life
I got a lust for life
A lust for life
Got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life
The lyrics to Praga Khan's song Lust for Life are about the singer's addiction to drugs, alcohol and pleasure. Here comes Johnny yen again, with the liquor and drugs, and the flesh machine, he's gonna do another strip tease. The singer is seemingly impressed by Johnny's lifestyle and questions him about the lotion he's using, believing it would help deal with his emotional pain from buying into the idea of love. He then compares love to hypnotizing chickens, highlighting his disillusionment with the concept.
The second verse starts with the singer asserting his sense of self-importance, claiming to be worth a million in prizes due to his 'torture film', possession of a GTO, wearing a uniform and all on a government loan. He then expresses his desire to move away from his current lifestyle of sleeping on the sidewalk, beating his brain with liquor and drugs. He asserts his lust for life as his reason for wanting to move on and not just exist. The song ends with the singer repeating this lust for life with increasing intensity.
The song is a commentary on the excesses of modern-day living and the societal pressure to be successful, wealthy and famous. It paints a picture of someone who has fallen prey to those pressures, and is struggling to find their way out of it. Despite its dark lyrics and themes, Lust for Life has a vibrant and danceable beat which belies its content.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes Johnny yen again
with the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another strip tease.
Johnny yen is arriving with alcohol, drugs and a tool for sexual gratification. He plans to perform another strip show.
Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion'
I've been hurting since I've bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah, something called love.
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens.
The singer asks where the other person got their lotion, but then admits that they've been feeling pain since buying into the idea of love. The metaphor of hypnotizing chickens implies that people are easily swayed by the concept of love.
Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before.
I have a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life.
The singer sees themselves as a modern person who has experienced a lot. They have a desire to live their life to the fullest.
I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a GTO
Wear a uniform
All on a government loan.
I'm worth a million in prizes
Yeah, I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With liquor and drugs
With liquor and drugs.
The artist presents a grandiose image of themselves, claiming to be worth a million in prizes and owning a torture film. They also have access to possessions like a GTO and a uniform, all paid for by a government loan. They are finished with living in poverty and abusing drugs and alcohol.
Well, I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause of a lust for life (lust for life, oooo)
I got a lust for life (oooo)
Got a lust for life (oooo)
Oh, a lust for life (oooo)
Oh, a lust for life (oooo)
A lust for life (oooo)
I got a lust for life (oooo)
Got a lust for life.
The artist repeats their desire for a life full of excitement and passion.
Here comes Johnny yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another strip tease.
Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion'
Your skin starts itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Love, love, love
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens.
The song closes with a repetition of the opening lines, highlighting the cyclical nature of the singer's desire for a thrilling and sensual life. The reference to love as a gimmick that causes itching and is similar to hypnotizing chickens reinforces the idea that love is a fleeting and easily manipulated concept.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, TINTORETTO MUSIC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind