Early life
Williams was born in Rowayton, Connecticut to Richard Norman Williams, a prize-fighter, and his wife Marion Treat, a Housewife, for whom he is named. Williams graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut and Franklin and Marshall College.
Career
Williams came to world attention when he starred in the Miloš Forman film Hair (1979). This film was based on the Broadway musical Hair. Since that time he has gone on to appear in over seventy-five films and several television series, including, most notably, 1941 (1979), Once Upon A Time In America (1984), Dead Heat (1988), Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) and Deep Rising (1998).
Expected to become a big star in the early '80s due to his talent and film exposure, he never quite did, though he did become a prolific character actor who remains active in films to this day. From 2002 to 2006 he was the star of the popular television series Everwood.
Williams was nominated for a Golden Globe award for his part in Hair. He got a second Golden Globe nomination for starring in Sydney Lumet's Prince of the City. He got a third nomination for his performance as Stanley Kowalski in the television presentation of A Streetcar Named Desire. In 1996, he was nominated Best Actor by the Emmy Awards for his work in The Late Shift, an HBO movie. Williams has also worked as a director, winning won two festival awards for directing Texan in Showtime's Chanticleer series.
In 1996, he played bad guy Xander Drax in Paramount's big budget comic book adaptation, The Phantom, where he did his best to take over the world and kill Billy Zane's mysterious superhero.
Williams' acting career includes numerous stage roles. He won a Drama League Award for his work in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, and another for starring in the off-Broadway production of Captains Courageous.
Other notable Broadway shows include Grease, the Sherman Brothers' Over Here!, Once in a Lifetime, Pirates of Penzance and Love Letters, and off-Broadway, he has appeared in David Mamet's Oleanna and Oh, Hell (at Lincoln Center), Some Men Need Help, and Randy Newman's Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong.
He premiered the Los Angeles production of Love Letters and appeared in War Letters at the Canon Theatre in Los Angeles.
Williams is probably best known for his leading role as Dr. Andrew Brown in the former WB series Everwood, about a New York neurosurgeon who moves his family to the fictional Everwood, Colorado. Although the show's ratings were never spectacular, it won critical acclaim and had a devoted following. Williams received two SAG award nominations (2003 and 2004) for his role on the show.
Williams has recently made several guest appearances on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters playing the role of David Morton, a friend and potential suitor of the Sally Field character.
Personal life
Williams lives with his wife and two children in New York City, although they have/had a home in Utah where Everwood was shot.
Movie and Television Performances
* Brothers & Sisters (2006)
* Searching for Mickey Fish (2006) (post-production)
* Everwood (television series)(2002-06)
* Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
* Hollywood Ending (2002)
* Going to California (2002) television episode
* Guilty Hearts (2002) (television)
* Venomous (2002)
* Gale Force (2002) (V)
* UC: Undercover (2002) television episode
* Skeletons in the Closet (2001)
* The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001) (V)
* The Fraternity (2001)
* Critical Mass (2000)
* Extreme Limits (2000)
* Journey to the Center of the Earth (1999) (television)
* The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (1999) (television)
* 36 Hours to Die (1999) (television)
* The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
* Every Mother's Worst Fear (1998) (television)
* The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998) (television)
* Escape: Human Cargo (1998) (television)
* Deep Rising (1998)
* The Devil's Own (1997)
* The Phantom (1996)
* Mulholland Falls (1996)
* The Late Shift (1996) (television)
* Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)
* Johnny's Girl (1995) (television)
* In the Shadow of Evil (1995) (television)
* The Taming Power of the Small (1995)
* Mister Dog (1995)
* Texan (1994) (television)
* Parallel Lives (1994) (television)
* Where the Rivers Flow North (1994)
* Hand Gun (1994)
* Vault of Horror I (1994) (television)
* Good Advice (1993) (television series)
* Road to Avonlea (television)
* Bonds of Love (1993/I) (television)
* Deadly Matrimony (1992) (television)
* Batman (1992)
* The Water Engine (1992) (television)
* Tales from the Crypt (1992) (television)
* Till Death Us Do Part (1992) (television)
* Final Verdict (1991) (television)
* Eddie Dodd (1991) television series
* Max and Helen (1990) (television)
* Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990) television miniseries
* Oltre l'oceano (1990)
* Russicum - I giorni del diavolo (1989)
* Heart of Dixie (1989)
* Third Degree Burn (1989) (television)
* Dead Heat (1988)
* Sweet Lies (1988)
* Echoes in the Darkness (1987) (television)
* Faerie Tale Theatre (1987) (television)
* J. Edgar Hoover (1987) (television)
* Notte degli squali, La (1987)
* The Men's Club (1986)
* Smooth Talk (1985)
* Some Men Need Help (1985) (television)
* Flashpoint (1984)
* A Streetcar Named Desire (1984) (television movie)
* Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
* Stangata napoletana (1983)
* Dempsey (1983) (television)
* The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper (1981)
* Prince of the City (1981)
* Why Would I Lie? (1980)
* Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
* 1941 (1979)
* Hair (1979)
* The Ritz (1976)
* The Eagle Has Landed (1976)
* Deadly Hero (1976)
I Got Life
Treat Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm pink, I'm pink
I'm Rinso white
I'm in-vis-i-ble
Ain't got no shoes (poor)
Ain't got no money (honey)
Ain't got no class (common)
Ain't got no scarf
Ain't got no gloves (cold)
Ain't got no bed (beat)
Ain't got no pot (busted)
Ain't got no faith (Catholic!)
Ain't got no mother (orphan)
Ain't got no culture (man)
Ain't got no friends (lucky)
Ain't got no schoolin' (dumb)
Ain't got no shine
Ain't got no underwear (bad)
Ain't got no soap (dirty)
Ain't got no A-Train
Ain't got no mind (lost it)
Ain't got no smokes (shit)
Ain't got no job (lazy)
Ain't got no work
Ain't got no coins
Ain't got no pennies (hustle)
Ain't got no girl (horny)
Ain't got no ticket
Ain't got no token (walk)
Ain't got no God (good!)
Ain't got no grass (can't take no trip)
Ain't got no acid (can't blow my mind)
Ain't got no clothes (you're full of puss)
Ain't got no pad (you're full of piss)
Ain't got no apples (we got balls)
Ain't got no knives (can't cut you up)
Ain't got no guns (we got bananas)
Ain't got no garbage (white trash)
Ain't got no draft card (burned it, burned it, burned it)
Ain't got no earth
Ain't got no fun
Ain't got no bike
Ain't got no pimples
Ain't got no trees
Ain't got no air
Ain't got no water
City, banjo, toothpicks, shoelaces
Teachers, football, telephone, records
Doctor, brother, sister, uniforms
Machine guns, airplanes, germs
M-1 (bang bang bang)
M-2 (bang bang bang)
A bombs, H bombs, P bombs, Q bombs
Chinese, Czechs, Hindus, Bindus
Italianos, Polacks, Germans
Youse, Jews
Up and downs
Vietnam, Johnson, High school, sex
Coffee, books, food, scissors, magazines, news
Cigarettes, Hollywood, Tuesday Weld
Burton-taylor, pop art, pop off, popcorn
Popsicle, Andy Warpop, pop paper
Pop up, Popeye, poppers
Napalm, England, outer space
Astronauts, Jesus
Air, air, air, air
Air
Air
Air
Ain't got no home
Ain't got no shoes
Ain't got no money
Ain't got no class
Ain't got no scarf
Ain't got no gloves
Ain't got no bed
Ain't got no pot
Ain't got no faith
Ain't got no God
The song "I Got Life" by Treat Williams is a raw and honest expression of the struggles of life in America in the 1960s. The repetitive nature of the lyrics, "I got no..." followed by various nouns, expresses the theme of lacking in life. The singer lists various items that people typically have in life - a home, shoes, money, faith, friends, etc., and then counteracts that with a declaration of their own lack of those things. The use of "Ain't" also emphasizes a sense of hopelessness and defeat.
The repetition of "Ain't got no..." throughout the song serves as a social commentary on the struggles of poverty, discrimination, and lack of opportunity in America at the time. It highlights the dichotomy of the haves and the have-nots and the lack of access to better opportunities for those in the latter category. The addition of political references such as Vietnam and Johnson suggests a sense of disillusionment with the political system and the failures of the government to address these social issues.
The song seeks to highlight the struggles of those who had no voice and were constantly pushed to the margins of society. It echoes the Civil Rights Movement's message and serves as a reminder of the hopelessness and despair that existed in America at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm black, I'm black
I am proud of being black, and my identity is linked to my ethnicity.
I'm pink, I'm pink
I am also white-skinned and, therefore, multi-racial in appearance or feeling.
I'm Rinso white
I am very clean and possibly try too hard to be so.
I'm in-vis-i-ble
People often overlook or ignore me, and I feel unseen.
Ain't got no home (so)
I do not have a permanent place to live or call my own.
Ain't got no shoes (poor)
I cannot afford to have footwear to protect my feet.
Ain't got no money (honey)
I am penniless and unable to buy essential items or have any luxuries.
Ain't got no class (common)
I do not possess any social status or rank within society.
Ain't got no scarf
I don't have any accessories to keep me warm or add to my dress.
Ain't got no gloves (cold)
I have nothing to keep my hands warm in cold temperatures.
Ain't got no bed (beat)
I have nowhere to sleep, and may have to rely on makeshift bedding.
Ain't got no pot (busted)
I have no cooking equipment, and may have to rely on simpler methods of food preparation.
Ain't got no faith (Catholic!)
I have no belief or trust in any religion, specifically the Catholic Church.
Ain't got no mother (orphan)
I have no living mother, and may have grown up without parental guidance or care.
Ain't got no culture (man)
I have no background in any culture, and may feel like an outsider in many situations.
Ain't got no friends (lucky)
I do not have any close companions, and may feel lucky just to have casual acquaintances.
Ain't got no schoolin' (dumb)
I have not achieved any formal education, and may feel deemed 'dumb' by society.
Ain't got no shine
I do not look my best or lack a radiant, enthusiastic disposition.
Ain't got no underwear (bad)
I have insufficient or no undergarments to wear under my clothes.
Ain't got no soap (dirty)
I do not own any hygiene products, and may often appear or feel unclean.
Ain't got no A-Train
I do not have access to a specific train system and may not have transportation in general.
Ain't got no mind (lost it)
I have lost my ability to think or am lacking the intelligence needed to complete tasks.
Ain't got no smokes (shit)
I am without cigarettes, which may indicate a dependency or addiction.
Ain't got no job (lazy)
I am without work, possibly due to laziness or lack of opportunity.
Ain't got no work
I have no means to earn money or gain meaningful employment.
Ain't got no coins
I have no access to money or negligible amount.
Ain't got no pennies (hustle)
I do not own a penny and feel the need to hustle or acquire through questionable means.
Ain't got no girl (horny)
I do not have a girlfriend or female companion and may be feeling lonely or sexually frustrated.
Ain't got no ticket
I do not have a physical or metaphorical ticket to access anything from transportation to an event.
Ain't got no token (walk)
I do not have any form of payment or evidence of payment needed to use public transit and may have to walk instead.
Ain't got no God (good!)
I do not have any belief or trust in a higher power or deity to rely on for comfort or guidance.
Ain't got no grass (can't take no trip)
I have no marijuana to smoke and may be unable to experience certain pleasurable sensations or escape from reality.
Ain't got no acid (can't blow my mind)
I have no LSD to consume and may be unable to have psychedelic experiences or explore different states of consciousness.
Ain't got no clothes (you're full of puss)
I have nothing to wear and may feel annoyed or angered by someone making fun of my situation.
Ain't got no pad (you're full of piss)
I have nowhere to live, and someone is taunting me about it.
Ain't got no apples (we got balls)
I don't have any produce, but I have courage or audaciousness in place of it.
Ain't got no knives (can't cut you up)
I have no weapons, and my adversaries cannot be physically harmed by me.
Ain't got no guns (we got bananas)
I don't have any firearms or dangerous weapons, but I have something less threatening, possibly a joke or food item.
Ain't got no garbage (white trash)
I do not own, collect or create items that are considered waste, but others still label me negatively for my socioeconomic status.
Ain't got no draft card (burned it, burned it, burned it)
I have destroyed my draft card, which was once required to receive a military draft notice and may indicate a political statement, rebellion or cowardice.
Ain't got no earth
I don't have the resources, money, or human connections to make a significant impact on the world.
Ain't got no fun
I am miserable, bored or unable to experience moments of joy or amusement.
Ain't got no bike
I do not own a bike, making transportation more difficult or limiting recreational activities.
Ain't got no pimples
I may feel physically ugly or unclean, but I do not have any blemishes on my skin.
Ain't got no trees
I do not have any trees in my surroundings or natural resources available.
Ain't got no air
I do not have an adequate supply of clean air, causing discomfort and health complications.
Ain't got no water
I do not have access to fresh or clean water, causing discomfort and health complications.
City, banjo, toothpicks, shoelaces
All of these things seem fleeting or insignificant, as if they do not have any worth in themselves or when grouped together.
Teachers, football, telephone, records
All of these things may have importance or relevance, but none of them describes a complete or fully realized life.
Doctor, brother, sister, uniforms
All of these things may be comforting or helpful to have, but they still do not bring fulfillment.
Machine guns, airplanes, germs
These objects, while vastly different, may all bring harm or danger in some form.
M-1 (bang bang bang)
This militaristic reference may conjure feelings of violence, aggression and trauma.
M-2 (bang bang bang)
This is a continuation of the militaristic reference, continuing its associations.
A bombs, H bombs, P bombs, Q bombs
These objects are all instruments of mass destruction and represent a devastating level of power and danger.
Chinese, Czechs, Hindus, Bindus
These are all people of different nationalities or ethnicities and may represent differences that could be celebrated but are often divisive or problematic.
Italianos, Polacks, Germans
These are all people of different nationalities or ethnicities, further emphasizing the message of the previous line.
Youse, Jews
Both of these groups, while different, may represent instances of discrimination, marginalization, and othering by society or government.
Up and downs
Life is full of ups and downs, which may be a more universal human experience than any material possession or lifestyle.
Vietnam, Johnson, High school, sex
These are all topics that have been politicized, debated or stigmatized in some form or another.
Coffee, books, food, scissors, magazines, news
These are all everyday items that may provide pleasure, nourishment, or information, but might still leave an individual feeling unfulfilled or disconnected.
Cigarettes, Hollywood, Tuesday Weld
These are all common indulgences or forms of escapism that might encourage self-destructive or hedonistic tendencies.
Burton-taylor, pop art, pop off, popcorn
These are all elements of pop-culture that may be trendy, fun or entertaining, but they ultimately do not make life any more meaningful or fruitful.
Popsicle, Andy Warpop, pop paper
These are all variations of pop-culture or art, further emphasizing the message of previous lines.
Pop up, Popeye, poppers
These are all pop-culture references that, while they have some level of enjoyment or significance, ultimately do not provide meaning or purpose to life.
Napalm, England, outer space
These three things are all vastly different but represent examples of human destruction, colonialism, and infinite expanses respectively.
Astronauts, Jesus
These two things, while unrelated, may represent people or entities that transcend everyday life and bring some level of spirituality or awe to the individual.
Air, air, air, air
This line may represent the importance of the intangible or spiritual elements of human existence, or it may characterize a sense of suffocation or lack of oxygen.
Ain't got no God
This line repeats, emphasizing a sense of spiritual emptiness or lack of guidance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amitbloom1
I got life, mother
I got laughs, sister
I got freedom, brother
I got good times, man
I got crazy ways, daughter
I got million-dollar charm, cousin
I got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too
Like you
I got my hair
I got my head
I got my brains
I got my ears
I got my eyes
I got my nose
I got my mouth
I got my teeth
I got my tongue
I got my chin
I got my neck
I got my tits
I got my heart
I got my soul
I got my back
I got my ass
I got my arms
I got my hands
I got my fingers
Got my legs
I got my feet
I got my toes
I got my liver
Got my blood
I got my guts (--I got my guts--)
I got my muscles (--muscles--)
I got life (--life--)
Life (--life--)
Life (--life--)
LIFE
@cheriemichelle3528
RIP Treat, you always made me smile and were one of those genuine souls who made you feel good about life 😇🙏
@barbiecrocker7420
I came here to post this as well. Our Berger! Treat was known as the “nicest” I believe it. R.I.P. Treat. So very sad.
@americanwomanFL
@Barbie Crocker, totally agree and somehow just thought he would always be here until I took my last breath.
@gorey4more837
I was wondering if anyone would come here after the sad news. To me Treat Williams WAS George Burger. RIP You brought great enjoyment to many, many people. 🥀
@FarmersAreDummies
Legend.
@elviraquercioli3491
Treat, my dearest friend. Forever
@Cynthia040
Just learned about his passing :( Such a beautiful voice this man had. Such a great actor. RIP Treat. Thank you for everything, you will be much missed...
@iGNONERA
RIP to a wonderful person! Thank you for all you've done!
@jacquespaw4411
RIP great actor, personality. i love this scene, his appearance, voice, dance, message. From my childhood, I can watch it 1000 times.
@raspyni
Exactly... it mean everything to the 15 year old version of me.