A second film, The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch, — modelled on the 2000 TV special The Beatles Revolution — was made in 2002 and released in the US on DVD in 2003.
Shangri-La
Rutles Lyrics
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That the truth is less revealing
Than a downright lie?
And did you think your head was hip
To certain things it's not equipped
To qualify?
All day long the sky is blue
And everyone says "how do you do"
Every day's a perfect day
And you can go your own sweet way
In Shangri-La
In Shangri-La...
In Shangri-La...
You can be whoever you are
In Shangri-La
Investment with a good return
Provides the means through which we earn
Our daily bread
Insisting on an equal cut
Some people even bust a gut
To stay ahead
All day long the sky is blue
And no one has a lot to do
In Shangri-La
In Shangri-La...
In Shangri-La...
You can be whoever you are
In Shangri-La
It's a strange world we live in
But surely we're forgiven
If we don't know where to turn
With paradise for hire
On the back streets of desire
We all live and learn
All day long the sky is blue
And everyone's in love with you
In Shangri-La
Lovers dance and children sing
And everybody does their thing
In Shangri-La
In Shangri-La...
In Shangri-La...
You can be whoever you are
In Shangri-La-hah-hah-hah
In Shangri-La...
In Shangri-La...
You can be whoever you are
In Shangri-La
All together now...
1... 2... 3...
Lah-dee-doo-dah
Lah-dee-dah
Here we are
In Shangri-La...
The lyrics of "Shangri-La" by the Rutles give us a glimpse of an ideal world, the mythical utopian paradise. In this world, everyone is happy and carefree. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the idea that in Shangri-La, you can be whoever you are. The verses, however, have a darker tone that addresses the reality of the world outside of Shangri-La. They talk about how we often feel like we’re not equipped to qualify or understand certain things, and how we frequently rely on lies instead of revealing the truth. The song talks about how despite working hard, some people fail to get an equal cut, and how that can be frustrating.
The song also hints at the idea that achieving Shangri-La is not easy. It contrasts the blue skies and the love and acceptance that exists within Shangri-La to the back streets of desire. Ultimately, the song speaks of a world that celebrates diversity, where everyone is free to be who they are without judgment.
Overall, "Shangri-La" is a song that addresses human nature's complexities, relationships, and the perplexing circumstances that we find ourselves in. It is an invitation from the Rutles to contemplate the nature of our existence and the possibility of finding alternatives to the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever get the feeling
Have you ever sensed that something is not quite as it seems?
That the truth is less revealing
The truth might not always be the most transparent information.
Than a downright lie?
Sometimes falsehoods can be more straightforward than the truth.
And did you think your head was hip
Have you ever thought you understood something that you, in fact, didn't?
To certain things it's not equipped
There are some concepts that we don't have the necessary knowledge or understanding to handle.
To qualify?
To accurately describe and assess something based on our current knowledge.
All day long the sky is blue
The world presented in Shangri-La is always perfect and full of hope and optimism.
And everyone says "how do you do"
People in Shangri-La are friendly, welcoming, and always interested in meeting new people.
Every day's a perfect day
In Shangri-La, every day is perfect and free of any worries, issues, or problems.
And you can go your own sweet way
You can live your life on your own terms and follow your passions without judgment or limitation in Shangri-La.
It's a strange world we live in
The outside world can be confusing, chaotic,and hard to navigate.
But surely we're forgiven
We should forgive ourselves for not understanding the complexities of the world.
If we don't know where to turn
It's okay not to know where to go or what to do sometimes.
With paradise for hire
We can try to find solace and happiness for a price.
On the back streets of desire
We might have to search in unexpected places to find what we're looking for.
We all live and learn
We continue to experience and grow throughout our lives.
Lovers dance and children sing
In Shangri-La, joy and love are all around us.
And everybody does their thing
People in Shangri-La are free to be themselves without fear of judgment or societal pressure.
Here we are
We have arrived in Shangri-La.
In Shangri-La...
The themes and ideas presented in the song continue to be present throughout the world of Shangri-La.
You can be whoever you are
People can live authentically as themselves in Shangri-La.
In Shangri-La-hah-hah-hah
A playful, joyous exclamation of the wonder and beauty of Shangri-La.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WALTER WIDEMAIR, HANS GREINER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@the_rutles
We still miss you, Neil!
@FischGroyp
You Mean Ron IDK who Neil is
@Jacob-hk1je
Neil Innes
@fanbladeinstruments
I've loved this song for years but never seen the video until just now, the endless stream of identical cue cards made me laugh out loud, still finding new things to enjoy about the Rutles and Neil's work.
@jamescaldwell405
R.I.P. Ron Nasty
1940-2019
@rayphoenix7296
Ron Nasty didn't die. He went off to Shangri-La.
@jcedwards8363
The RUTLES RULE!
@AAC-qd2vn
Like it’s unironically good music
@craig1538
Those trousers......
@DoctorBeatle01
I like how stig(Ricky fataar) is younger than i thought