Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent (born December 13, 1948) (aka "The Nuge", "Mo… Read Full Bio ↴Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent (born December 13, 1948) (aka "The Nuge", "Motor City Madman", "Uncle Ted", or just plain Ted) is a guitarist and singer from Detroit, Michigan that has performed for over four decades. He originally gained fame as a guitarist for the The Amboy Dukes, a 60s psychedelic band best known for their hit "Journey to the Center of Your Mind". In the 70s, he went solo and had a string of bestselling albums with hits including "Stranglehold", "Free For All", "Dog Eat Dog", "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" and, perhaps his best known song, "Cat Scratch Fever". He's also a notable public commentator for various right-wing social and political causes, especially gun rights.

He got his start around 1965 when, as a teenager living in Chicago inspired by contemporary rock n roll, he formed the first version of The Amboy Dukes. The name harks back to a somewhat infamous exploitation novel of the time. When Nugent went back to his Michigan roots in 1967, he assembled what would be the classic line-up of the Dukes, and they built a reputation as a raucous group. Their 1968 album Journey to the Center of the Mind, the title track blasting into the top 20, brought the band national stardom, but they would become bogged down in inter-group conflicts that left the Nuge the sole constant member.

Going solo, Nugent achieve fame as a solo artist for an arena-ready mix of hard rock with blues and psychedelic influences, particularly getting a reputation for wild stage performances by antics such as playing dressed as Tarzan (with just a loincloth on). In the 80s, the Nuge even tried his hand at acting in a haunting episode of the TV drama Miami Vice. It received both a strong critical and fan response.

In 1989, he joined Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, and drummer legend Michael Cartellone to form the hard rock supergroup Damn Yankees, which produced the 90s chart toppers "Come Again", a Billboard's #1, and "High Enough", an emotional power ballad (backed by a string section no less). The latter track led to the creation of a popular music video, the song reaching #3 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #2 on the AOR charts. After the band's folding, the Nuge continued his solo career and even managed yet another stint in a rock supergroup, this one being the TV series produced Damnocracy

Outside of music, Nugent has gained fame and notoriety, leading to widespread controversy, for his support of hunting and for various conservative political causes. His comments vehemently blasting various public figures from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have brought his name frequently to the headlines. He's also an important member of the NRA (National Rifle Association). He's written four books and numerous articles while also appearing many times in the news media, with his autobiography appropriately titled 'God, Guns, & Rock n' Roll.'

Besides a regular reality type show on cable showcasing Ted's outdoorsman skills, his most recent foray in music was the aformentioned reality television show, titled 'Supergroup', which resulted in the creation of band called Damnocracy. The band's other members were Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row), Scott Ian (Anthrax) Jason Bonham ("Bonham", son of Zeppelin's John Bonham) and Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard). Though coming to an end quickly, it generated a large fan response.

Throughout his career, Nugent has climbed up the Billboard charts with multiple singles and albums. His latest album was titled 'Ultralive Ballisticrock', and he released it in 2013 through Frontiers Records. He continues to tour as of 2014, and plans for yet another album is in the works.

American rocker Ted Nugent has unveiled a lyric video for his new single “Come And Take It” from his upcoming studio album Detroit Muscle, which will be released via Pavement Music on April 29, 2022.

For photographs and more information see Ted Nugent's official website, www.TedNugent.com

Live It Up
Ted Nugent Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We need the time to rock away
A little work and then some play
Workin' hard to feel good
Now it's time to really live it up

Can't you see, I'm hap happy
I just can't stop, Got to live it up

Now's the time for really gettin' it down
Ain't no need in you hangin' around
Skin to skin is how it should be
It's tough to touch everything that I see

Can't you see, I'm hap happy
I just can't stop, Got to live it up

Sure been fun but it's time to go
Just so we take you where you want to go
The sled outside 'll take too long
'Cause we can rock and light a song

Can't you see, I'm hap happy
I just can't stop, Got to live it up

Got to live it up
Got to live it up
Got to live it up

Got to live it up
Got to live it up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ted Nugent’s Live It Up describe the need to balance hard work and play in life. The first line “We need the time to rock away” suggests that we all need time to let loose and have fun, but only after a little hard work. The line “Workin’ hard to feel good” emphasizes the idea that a little hard work can lead to a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The chorus “Can’t you see, I’m hap happy, I just can’t stop, Got to live it up” reinforces the idea that it’s important to enjoy life and find happiness wherever possible.

The second verse focuses on physical pleasure, with the line “Skin to skin is how it should be, It’s tough to touch everything that I see” implying a desire for physical intimacy. The song ends with the acknowledgement that all good things must come to an end, but even then, it’s important to make the most of the time we have. It’s implied that even in leaving the party, there’s still an opportunity to live it up by continuing to rock and sing.

Overall, Nugent’s Live It Up serves as an anthem for those who believe in hard work, but also want to have fun and enjoy all that life has to offer.

Line by Line Meaning

We need the time to rock away
We require the time to unwind by enjoying music

A little work and then some play
It is necessary to work a bit before indulging in some leisure time

Workin' hard to feel good
Putting in effort leads to a sense of wellness

Now it's time to really live it up
It is now the opportune moment to properly enjoy life

Can't you see, I'm hap happy
Don't you recognize my elation?

I just can't stop, Got to live it up
I am determined to enjoy myself to the fullest extent

Now's the time for really gettin' it down
Currently is the perfect occasion for fully getting into it

Ain't no need in you hangin' around
There's no purpose in you waiting here

Skin to skin is how it should be
Closely connected is how it ought to be

It's tough to touch everything that I see
It's challenging to resist indulging in everything I come across