This is strange – i guess everybody knows the song (and it is one of the very best teenage rebellion anthems i can think off) but hardly anyone knows the record is was on. It was not on their first LP (Teenage Depression) but on a single made under their moniker (The) Rods. It was only pushed onto their 2nd LP by the sheer success (#9 in UK Top 10 by August 1977). But whatever – this is was is a perfect outcome from the 1976/1977 melting pot in London!
The verdict:
1977 – sure thing!
published by a cool lable – Nope, Island was a major!
found in a cool shop – must have been early 80’s, guess at Stoneys 2nd hand record shop in Barmbek!
catching sound – are you fucking deaf?
The lyrics – teenage rebellion 1977! Forever my very own theme! And, as a side note, the lyrics are from the bands manager (Ed Hollis) rather then the band.
Read out loud:
I'm gonna break out of the city Leave the people here behind Searching for adventure It's the kind of life to find Tired of doing day jobs With no thanks for what I do I know I must be someone Now I'm gonna find out who Why don't you ask them what they expect from you ? Why don't you tell them what you're gonna do You get so lonely, maybe it's better that way It ain't you only, you got something to say Do anything you wanna do Do anything you wanna do I don't need no politicians to tell me things I shouldn't be Neither no opticians to tell me what I oughta see No-one tells you nothing even when you know they know They tell you what you should be They don't like to see you grow Why don't you ask them what they expect from you ? Why don't you tell them what you're gonna do You get so lonely, maybe it's better that way It ain't you only, you got something to say Do anything you wanna do Do anything you wanna do I'm gonna break out of the city Leave the people here behind Searching for adventure It's the kind of life to find Tired of doing day jobs With no thanks for what I do I know I must be someone Now I'm gonna find out who Why don't you ask them what they expect from you ? Why don't you tell them what you're gonna do You get so lonely, maybe it's better that way It'ain't you only, you got something to say Do anything you wanna do Do anything you wanna do Do anything you wanna do (c) 1977 Island Records Ltd
There is nothing more to do other then to listen up:
It is worth to note that it made it into UK muscial legacy so deep that it got killed … er … covered by Manfred Mans Earth Band (an outfit so owfull that it is one of the reasons why punk started in the first place):
They even dared to stretch it into a 6 Minute something extended 12″ versions these fuckers!
If i ever have a say i’ll pass a law that people would be tarred and feathered for killing music that way!
