Lust For Life
The Pretenders/Tom Jones Lyrics
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With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease
Hey man where'd you get
That lotion? I been hurting
Since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
That's like hypnotizing chickens
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
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
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
A lust for life
I got a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease
Hey man where'd you get
That lotion? Your skin starts
Itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Oh love love love
That's like hypnotizing chickens
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life
A lust for life
Lust for life, lust for life
The lyrics of "Lust for Life" depict the rock and roll lifestyle lived by some musicians in the 60s and 70s. The song starts off with a man called Johnny Yen, who is back with drugs, alcohol, and a flesh machine, ready to perform another striptease. The singer then mentions how he bought into the gimmick of love and compares it to hypnotizing chickens. He admits that he has been down the path of drugs and alcohol before due to his lust for life.
The singer describes himself as a modern guy who wears a uniform, drives a G.T.O., and is worth a million in prizes due to his torture film. He admits that he is done with sleeping on the sidewalk and beating his brains with liquor and drugs. He has a lust for life and is no longer afraid to live it.
Overall, the song portrays the reckless and hedonistic lifestyle of rock musicians and their pursuit of a lust for life.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease
Johnny Yen is back with his sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle, ready to do another seductive dance.
Hey man where'd you get
That lotion? I been hurting
Since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah something called love
That's like hypnotizing chickens
The singer is asking about the source of a lotion that was supposed to help with love but has left them feeling empty. They compare the power of love to the hypnotic effect on poultry.
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
The singer admits to being a modern man who has had his fair share of experiences, all due to their unstoppable craving for excitement and passion in life.
I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
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
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs
The artist brags about how much they are worth due to their successful film productions and flashy lifestyle, all made possible with the help of a loan from the government. They declare that they are done with sleeping on the streets and no longer need to numb their mind with alcohol and drugs.
I got a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
A lust for life
I got a lust for life
The chorus repeats the artist's passion for life and their craving for more experiences and adventures.
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
The chorus repeats how the singer's insatiable appetite for thrill and excitement is the driving force behind their actions and choices.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie, Iggy Pop
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@globalboy65
Reload was a great álbum, showing Tom playing with younger musicians.
@tamaraehlin9973
Love this so much
@henry76ification
Hola Mi Titi esa canción es toda una obra de arte me encanta me trae muchos buenos recuerdos de mi época precoz Saludos desde Costa Rica
@CB-xr1eg
Couldn't you have said in the info that this version is on the album Reloaded by Tom Jones and Friends?
@Crisis.Knight
I was searching that exactly information
@SkeeterNYC
Be Happy it was posted.
@mikedtw
Came here from what's on youtube from "Alone" - this I would buy, that I would not.
@mr.polemikus4933
calm down a bit it’s 'just a cover inside a cd where there are 12 more: from Talkin Heads up to Prince, it’s a sort of tribute and divertissement....you are worse than Saint Augustine vs. Hypatia
@annwhite2346
No. Just no.
@stevefinn598
I love the Pretenders. I certainly appreciate Tom Jones' contribution to pop music but this...hmmm no. It doesn't work. Some songs just should be left alone. Lust For Life is one of Iggy's anthems. Leave it there.