Formed in 1985, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones started playing in Boston clubs in the mid-1980s. After a brief period of inactivity due to the schooling commitments of its members, they reformed and released their album Devil's Night Out on Taang! Records. The Bosstones toured relentlessly throughout the 1990s, playing hundreds of shows a year, releasing albums and spinning off the popular rock radio hit "Someday I Suppose". They were eventually signed to Mercury Records. The band appeared in the movie Clueless. In 1997, the success of their single "The Impression That I Get" and its follow up, "The Rascal King" earned them mainstream recognition. In 2000 they put out their critically acclaimed disk Pay Attention. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones released their last album on Side One Dummy Records. They officially went on hiatus in 2003, citing too much time on the road and desire to branch out and do different things. In 2007, the Bosstones announced that they were reforming. They played their 10th Hometown Throwdown in Boston and released a new album, Medium Rare, which consists of rare B-sides, and 3 new songs, including the single, "Don't Worry Desmond Dekker".
The band announced their split in early 2022.
Shit Out of Luck
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes the fastest man in the traffic jam
A major road rager with a bone to pick
I'll take another quick look and I'm over it
Right you're richer now weren't you happier
When you were shit out of luck
You've got so much but you've forgotten
It's more fun when you don't give a fuck
A lot of kids grew up in there
You put it up and then you made a ton
Well aren't you the lucky one
Right you're richer now weren't you happier
When you were shit out of luck
You've got so much but you've forgotten
It's more fun when you don't give a fuck
Check the new car out in the mirror
Here comes the fastest man in the traffic jam
A major road rager with a bone to pick
I'll take another quick look and I'm over it
Tear it down to the ground
A lot of kids grew up in there
You put it up and you made a ton
Well aren't you the lucky one
Right you're richer now weren't you happier
When you were shit out of luck
You've got so much but you've forgotten
It's more fun when you don't give a fuck (2x)
( Right you're richer now weren't you happier
When you were shit out of luck
You've got so much but you've forgotten
It's more fun when you don't give a fuck [3x] )
Right you're richer now weren't you happier (2x)
( Right you're richer now weren't you happier
When you were shit out of luck
You've got so much but you've forgotten
It's more fun when you don't give a fuck [2x]
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones's song Shit Out of Luck is about the perils of success and how it can cause you to forget the things that truly matter in life. The opening verse describes a man in a fancy car, who may have gained wealth but has lost the ability to enjoy life. The chorus speaks to the idea that having less can sometimes mean having more in terms of happiness and contentment. The second verse talks about tearing down a building where many kids grew up, and how it may have made someone a lot of money, but at what cost? The song ends with repeating the sentiment that having more doesn't necessarily mean being happier.
This song speaks to the culture of materialism and the idea that success is often equated with wealth and possessions. However, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are providing a cautionary tale, highlighting that true happiness comes from within and not from what we own. It also suggests that sometimes, simplicity and less can be more fulfilling than extravagance and too much.
Line by Line Meaning
Check the new car out in the mirror
Taking a look at one's reflection and admiring a new car
Here comes the fastest man in the traffic jam
Someone who's in a hurry and aggressive while driving their car when they're stuck in traffic
A major road rager with a bone to pick
An aggressive driver who's always eager to start a fight with other drivers
I'll take another quick look and I'm over it
Quickly losing interest in something that no longer matters
Right you're richer now weren't you happier
Asking someone if they're happier now that they have more money
When you were shit out of luck
A time when someone didn't have enough money or resources to live comfortably
You've got so much but you've forgotten
Someone who has plenty of assets or wealth but is no longer aware of their value
It's more fun when you don't give a fuck
Suggesting that it's better and more enjoyable to not worry about material possessions or social status
Tear it down to the ground
Destroying something completely
A lot of kids grew up in there
A reference to a building, possibly a house or community center, where many children once lived or spent time
You put it up and you made a ton
Someone who built something and profited greatly from it
Well aren't you the lucky one
A sarcastic statement indicating jealousy or resentment towards someone who has achieved success
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mightybosstones2258
THIS IS THE WAY I REMEMBER THE BOSSTONES PURE SKA PERFECTION BOSSTONES FOREVER
@grep67
Yes!
@nicholasmoose6574
"It's more fun when you don't give a fuck."
@christopherpetty7430
I don't give a fuck but I love the mighty mighty boss 😂😂 tones?