In 1978, Tom Cochrane joined up with Rob Baker on drums, Jeff Jones on bass, Peter Boynton on keyboards and Ken Greer to form Red Rider. They were signed to Capitol Records and released their first album Don't Fight It in 1980. With the singles "White Hot" and "Don't Fight It", the album quickly reached gold status. Their second album As Far as Siam was released in 1981 and featured the hit "Lunatic Fringe" which was in the 1982 movie "Vision Quest.". "Lunatic Fringe" and two other tracks, "Cowboys in Hong Kong" and "What Have You Got To Do" were featured in an episode of Miami Vice in addition to which helped push the album to platinum. Boynton was replaced by keyboardist Steve Sexton on Red Rider's third album Neruda, released in 1983. The track "Napoleon Sheds His Skin" would become one of the more popular songs from the album.
For their 1984 album Breaking Curfew, John Webster replaced Sexton on keyboards. The album did not sell as well as Neruda and a dispute with Capitol Records over the future direction of the band resulted in Red Rider being dropped from the record label later in 1984.
The band subsequently signed with RCA. In what became a strong signal regarding the future of the band, they officially became known as Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, and released their self-titled fifth album in 1986.
In 1987, Capitol released a compilation CD titled Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider, covering the band's first four albums.
In the fall of 1988, the band released their sixth album Victory Day which contained the track "Big League", about a boy's dream of playing in the National Hockey League. The song was featured in a segment on CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada.
Red Rider's final album, The Symphony Sessions, was released in 1989 and saw the band performing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, as Procol Harum had done seventeen years before. Cochrane's solo career was taking off and the band broke up shortly after the album was released.
The three-CD box set Ashes to Diamonds, including material by both Red Rider and Cochrane as a solo artist, was released in 1993.
What Have You Got To Do (To Ge
Red Rider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I think I'll call up my nouveau friends
Met her at 'The Edge' on a Monday night
And I think that she'd be fun but she's not my type
We talking about the accident
All messed up and that's exactly what she meant
Inherit the wind and start over again
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight
I don't want to talk about what's fashionable
I don't want to know about what is in vogue
I want to know about the way that you feel
I want to have fun, I want to know what is real
I feel like a bird was frying on a wire
Walking on coals to cool my desire
Inherit the wind but you're gonna get tired
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight, oh
Ooh and I feel like a bird that's frying on a wire
Walking on coals to cool my desire
Inherit the wind but you're gonna get tired
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off tonight
Hey, what have you got to do to get off tonight
What have you got to do to get off, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ooh, yeah
The song "What Have You Got To Do (To Get Off Tonight)" by Red Rider can be interpreted as a reflection on the struggle to find genuine connection and fulfillment in a world focused on trends and superficiality. The singer seems to be searching for an escape from the empty feeling that plagues them, and is considering calling up some "nouveau friends" to try and find it. However, they ultimately realize that these people are not their type and may not bring them the satisfaction they seek.
The lyrics make reference to an accident and a discussion about it, but it is unclear what this means. It could be a metaphor for life's unexpected events throwing off our plans, or it could be a more literal reference to a specific incident. Either way, it seems to be contributing to the singer's feeling of being "all messed up".
The repeated refrain of "What have you got to do to get off tonight" suggests that the singer is looking for some kind of release or escape from their troubles. They are walking on coals to cool their desire, but are also aware that eventually, they will get tired. The song is a commentary on the human desire for pleasure and how sometimes we struggle to find it in meaningful ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Here it comes that lonely feeling again
The singer is feeling lonely and sad yet again.
Well, I think I'll call up my nouveau friends
The singer plans to call up his new friends to hang out and feel better.
Met her at 'The Edge' on a Monday night
The singer met a girl at a bar called 'The Edge' on a Monday night.
And I think that she'd be fun but she's not my type
The singer thinks the girl he met would be fun to hang out with but is not romantically interested in her.
We talking about the accident
The singer and the girl he met are discussing an accident that happened previously.
All messed up and that's exactly what she meant
The girl meant that things are messed up because of the accident.
Inherit the wind and start over again
The singer wants to forget about the past and move on to start fresh.
What have you got to do to get off tonight
The singer is asking what he needs to do to have a good time and forget his troubles for the night.
I don't want to talk about what's fashionable
The singer is not interested in discussing what is trendy or fashionable.
I don't want to know about what is in vogue
The singer is not interested in knowing what is currently popular or in style.
I want to know about the way that you feel
The singer wants to know how the girl he met is feeling.
I want to have fun, I want to know what is real
The singer wants to have fun and experience something genuine and authentic.
I feel like a bird was frying on a wire
The singer feels trapped and uncomfortable, like a bird stuck on a hot wire.
Walking on coals to cool my desire
The singer is willing to endure discomfort to satisfy his desires.
Inherit the wind but you're gonna get tired
Trying to forget the past and start over is exhausting and unsustainable.
What have you got to do to get off tonight
The singer is repeating his question about what he needs to do to have fun and forget his troubles.
Hey, what have you got to do to get off tonight
The singer is emphasizing his question, asking what exactly he needs to do to have a good time.
What have you got to do to get off, hey, hey, hey, hey
The singer is urging someone to answer his question and help him have a good time.
Ooh, yeah
An exclamation expressing the singer's desire to have fun and enjoy the moment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: THOMAS WILLIAM COCHRANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gaskan666
I remember when this record came out. Loved it then and still love it just as much almost 40 years later. My all time favor record by far.
@italianstallion8510
With the exception of "Rush", Red Rider is without exception one of Canada's best import rock bands to the 🌎 🇨🇦 🤘
@northernlight696
I saw Red Rider in the early eighties at a concert in Alberta, but was too drunk to remember much. I heard from some friends that I had a good time - fantastic band!
@andrewhowse2670
Amazing Canadian band I'm very proud of our Canadian talent
@1888bry
Our song.
@antytilda
I saw Tom Cochrane and Red Rider in concert this weekend. They were AWESOME!!
@bradleybrass2015
Man this music brings back some good times and memories of fnf and having some beers at the rivers or low levels , cracked many cold ones listening to Red Rider 👊😎🍺🍺
@geoffedwards2802
Great song. A Red Rider favorite. Love Red Rider, own all their albums.
@Appalachiangirl
I love this song
@Margann1987
Yessssssss!!! I heard this song the other day and I have been singing it ever since! Thank you!!! :)