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The Tubes — What Do You Want From Life?
Album: The Tubes
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Released: 0
Length: 4:04
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What do you want from life?
To kidnap an heiress
Or threaten her with a knife?
What do you want from life?
To get cable TV
And watch it every night?

There you sit, a
Lump in your chair
Where do you sleep
And what do you wear
When you're sleeping

What do you want from life?
An Indian guru
To show you the inner light?
What do you want from life?
A meaningless love affair
With a girl that you met tonight?

How can you tell when you're doin' alright?
Does your bank account swell
While you're dreaming at night?
How do you know when you're really in love?
Do violins play when you're touching the one
That you're loving?

What do you want from life?
(What do you want from life?)
Someone to love
And somebody you can trust?
What do you want from life?
(What do you want from life?)
To try and be happy
While you do the nasty things you must?

What do you want from life?
What do you want from life?
What do you want from life?
What do you want from life?

Well, you can't have that, but
If you're an American citizen you are entitled to:
A heated kidney shaped pool
A microwave oven--don't watch the food cook
A Dyna-Gym--I'll personally demonstrate it in the privacy of your own home
A kingsize Titanic unsinkable Molly Brown waterbed with polybendum
A foolproof plan and an airtight alibi
Real simulated Indian jewelry!
A Gucci shoetree!
A year's supply of antibiotics
A personally autographed picture of Randy Mantooth
And Bob Dylan's new unlisted phone number
A beautifully restored 3rd Reich swizzle stick
Rosemary's baby!
A dream date in kneepads with Paul Williams
A new Matador
A new mastadon
A Maverick
A Mustang
A Montego
A Merc Montclair
A Mark IV
A meteor
A Mercedes
An MG
Or a Malibu?
A Mort Moriarty
A Maserati
A Mac truck
A Mazda
A new Monza
Or a moped
A Winnebago-- Hell, a herd of Winnebago's, we're giving 'em away
Or how about a McCulloch chainsaw?
A Las Vegas wedding
A Mexican divorce
A solid gold Kama Sutra coffee pot
Or
A baby's arm holding an apple?
Comments (88)add comment
 keller1 wrote:
Click on the "artist" link here and you get precisely one Tubes tune —- this one. I agree - why in the F isn't White Punks on Dope here?
 
You mean White Dopes on Punk.  The Tubes were so much fun.  But they played to a younger crowd.  We saw them when we were in our very early 20's and they put guys in cages on stage while singing What Do You Want From Life?  We left the concert thinking we were way too old for those antics. 
Posted 7 years ago by ciarataylor    [ Reply ]
Photo-John wrote:
This is a cool song. My favorite Tubes song was always "White Punks On Dope". This makes me want to hear that one. WPOD!
Click on the "artist" link here and you get precisely one Tubes tune --- this one. I agree - why in the F isn't White Punks on Dope here?
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
This is a cool song. My favorite Tubes song was always "White Punks On Dope". This makes me want to hear that one. WPOD!
Posted 16 years ago by Photo-John    [ Reply ]
I've always been a huge fan of the Tubes album Remote Control. Maybe it's the Todd Rundgren influence- I don't know. It's some of the best written tightest pop I have ever heard. The song "I Don't Want to Wait Anymore" (from another Tubes album- don't go ballistic) is another song I really love. Apparently Bill Spooner has parted ways with them- sorry to hear that.
Posted 16 years ago by Deadwing    [ Reply ]
danwader wrote:
It was Vince who died, not Fee. The rest of The Tubes are alive and well and still making great music. I saw them perform for and accept induction into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame last night (9-23-07). Oh, and "a baby's arm holding an apple" (nothing about dead baby... that would be another Arizona band, Alice Cooper) is a euphemism for a man's large reproductive organ.
Some of the original Tubes are still touring -- Fee, Roger Steen, and Bill Anderson are still there and sounding as good as ever. As noted, Michael Cotten still does cool art and design projects. Bill Spooner still writes music and does his own thing in the bay area; I think the rest of the band is happier without him. Prairie Prince is lately the drummer for the new version of the Cars, in which Todd Rundgren (who produced a couple of Tubes albums) takes the place of Ric Ocasek. And yes, gifted piano player Vince Welnick was in so much pain that he -- to borrow from Don McLean -- took his life as lovers often do. I miss him still.
Posted 17 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
I'm changing my last name to Mantooth.
Posted 17 years ago by blove    [ Reply ]
Panning stereo effects must die.
Posted 17 years ago by turbowaffle    [ Reply ]
They are doing well. Michael Cotten is the brother of my best friend. He's got a great loft in Chelsea, does art direction for some major recording artists, among other things. Very busy guy. There is life after punk rockage.
Posted 17 years ago by suitep    [ Reply ]
GAG
Posted 17 years ago by old_shep    [ Reply ]
Yay! More from the Tubes would be good! (Completion Backwards Principle is another good album)
Posted 17 years ago by aflanigan    [ Reply ]
It was Vince who died, not Fee. The rest of The Tubes are alive and well and still making great music. I saw them perform for and accept induction into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame last night (9-23-07). Oh, and "a baby's arm holding an apple" (nothing about dead baby... that would be another Arizona band, Alice Cooper) is a euphemism for a man's large reproductive organ.
Posted 17 years ago by danwader    [ Reply ]
Don't watch the food cook!
Posted 17 years ago by marmelock    [ Reply ]
Brilliant!
Posted 17 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
I feel disloyal saying it, but I can\'t stand this song. Disloyal because my best friend\'s brother is Michael Cotten, one of the guys in The Tubes. And yes, there is life after punk rock. He\'s doing very well.
Posted 17 years ago by suitep    [ Reply ]
Tagish_girl wrote:
OK, second time today I burst out laughing! Thanks again, Bill! A little levity, a little giggle. Spreads some good chemicals to my brain without the assitance of any pharmaceuticals..... By the by, Prince Charles' appendage was described as a baby's arm holding a rubber ball.... ew, bad mental visual. Hope Camilla's happy. Hoo-ya, almost quitting time!
I think "baby's arm holding an apple" was originally Truman Capote's reference to someone's tool.
Posted 17 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
What do I want from life? This song to come to an end.
Posted 17 years ago by ekalvi    [ Reply ]
no.
Posted 17 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
Wow, The Tubes. I haven't heard this since college. Great to hear and something you never hear on commercial radio. Good job. BTW they did amazing concerts.
Posted 17 years ago by ludite    [ Reply ]
OK, second time today I burst out laughing! Thanks again, Bill! A little levity, a little giggle. Spreads some good chemicals to my brain without the assitance of any pharmaceuticals..... By the by, Prince Charles' appendage was described as a baby's arm holding a rubber ball.... ew, bad mental visual. Hope Camilla's happy. Hoo-ya, almost quitting time!
Posted 17 years ago by Tagish_girl    [ Reply ]
I was lucky enough to see them back in the 70's. They had a trapeze with people swinging around, Fee was spitting beer at the audience, he was wearing a sequin jock strap and big boots. Wierd show.
Posted 17 years ago by Alpine    [ Reply ]
I kinda dig the song but the left/right thing with the voiceover is just too much. 3.
Posted 17 years ago by maplebed    [ Reply ]
What was that about no commercials on RP? hah.
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
Lotus_Miata wrote:
OMG!!! I haven't heard this in eons!
CLASSIC !!! THANKS
Posted 17 years ago by K-BILLY    [ Reply ]
Never heard this before... cool keyboards.
Posted 17 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
One of Bill's best segues -- Frank Sinatra's "That's Life" to this!
Posted 17 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
OMG!!! I haven't heard this in eons!
Posted 17 years ago by Lotus_Miata    [ Reply ]
lloisp wrote:
Fee died recently, but I think the tubes are still playing, without Fee of course. Personally, The Tubes ain't The Tubes without him. They put on the best shows!!!
Not true. Check www.thetubes.com. And great to hear this tune on RP. The first two Tubes albums were the best from their theatrical period. Later Remote Control en the Completion Backward Principle did well as fairly straightforward rock albums.
Posted 17 years ago by MM13    [ Reply ]
keller1 wrote:
The Tubes were just a great band.
The Tubes ARE a great band. They still gig. Bill, this the coolest thing you hav eplayed since I started listening to the RP! I discovered the Tubes by chance when I was but a tot. I came across the LP "Remote Control" in a used record pile and was intrigued by the cover art. When I flipped the album over I noticed that the record was produced by Todd Rundgren. Being a music geek already at that age I thought that this would be good if it had Todd's hand in play. I got hooked. Not long after that I came a across "What Do You Want From Live", and I couldn't stop listening to it. The Tubes are one of the most underrated bands ever. The late 80s had them doing some unfortunately mediocre pop that hit it big for the first time, but, in my opinion that doesn't take away from the early pop brilliance of Remote Control, The Tubes, T.R.A.S.H., and Young and Rich. All great recordings. I freakin' love The Tubes!
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
E_A_D_G wrote:
Fee rules.
Nice, Another true fan. Long live the Tubes!
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
The Tubes were just a great band.
Posted 17 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
Far out. Goes all Weird Al there at the end.
Posted 17 years ago by mattt    [ Reply ]
Oh WOW! This takes me back. One of my best friends in high school loved the Tubes. I never got into them, but they will always happily remind me of her. (Harriet where are you?!)
Posted 17 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
In the spirit of Frank Zappa...
Posted 17 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
How about someone uploading "White Punks on Dope"!
Posted 17 years ago by oufason    [ Reply ]
"Rosemary's BABY!!"
Posted 17 years ago by Pazzat    [ Reply ]
Tubes! yea! Anyone know about the Tubes Project (movie)
Posted 17 years ago by gb72797    [ Reply ]
This song's a mess.
Posted 17 years ago by Smoove_D    [ Reply ]
What I want is this song to end
Posted 17 years ago by rocco1207    [ Reply ]
What do I want from life? Better music than this!
Posted 17 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
What's going on today? All these weird theatrical songs...
Posted 17 years ago by pattiecovert    [ Reply ]
Fee rules.
Posted 17 years ago by E_A_D_G    [ Reply ]
mnuisance wrote:
A baby's arm holding an apple...indeed.
Does Glockman know about this? He should be here...
Posted 17 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
lloisp wrote:
Fee died recently, but I think the tubes are still playing, without Fee of course. Personally, The Tubes ain't The Tubes without him. They put on the best shows!!!
Are you not casting rumor to the air? I can't find any info on his passing.
Posted 17 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
w00t! What a treat! I didn't see that one coming. Great tune. Good to hear it on RP. I have a couple of different versions of WPOD. Mebbe it's time to take them to the LRC..
Posted 17 years ago by Servo    [ Reply ]
Now and again, I use that line. It separates those who knew from those who didn't. Still does. Goof: But really, what do you want? Alear: A baby's arm holding an apple.
Posted 17 years ago by Alear    [ Reply ]
LOVE it! Like Meatloaf, but modern!
Posted 17 years ago by Daniel_Pittenger    [ Reply ]
Now here's a surprise. Kudos, Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
I thought it was something from Zappa at first!
Posted 17 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
Bill - you do truly kick booty! What's up with all the 1's?
Posted 17 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
digger wrote:
Let's hear "White Punks on Dope"!!!
YEAH! Still, play the Tubes..go ahead, do it!
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
lotus_65 wrote:
Still out there... https://www.vh1.com/artists/az/waybill_fee/bio.jhtml
Fee died recently, but I think the tubes are still playing, without Fee of course. Personally, The Tubes ain't The Tubes without him. They put on the best shows!!!
Posted 17 years ago by lloisp    [ Reply ]
rcurrier wrote:
So what ever happened to Fee Waybill?
Still out there... https://www.vh1.com/artists/az/waybill_fee/bio.jhtml
Posted 20 years ago by lotus_65    [ Reply ]
Boy this sounds an awful lot like early Split Enz.
Posted 20 years ago by drife    [ Reply ]
jayladdin wrote:
Crikey! What the hell IS this?
Been in the States long, jayladdin? Welcome to my high school years!
Posted 20 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
This defines proto-punk silliness from San Francisco in 1975! I remember seeing these guys several times back in the day at Bimbo's in North Beach. What an absolutely insane show--complete with Fee Waybill running through the audience with a roaring chain saw. Ah, memories... 8) Al Kooper completely overproduced their album, but it is not without some certain charm. A baby's arm holding an apple...indeed.
Posted 20 years ago by mnuisance    [ Reply ]
Crikey! What the hell IS this?
Posted 20 years ago by jayladdin    [ Reply ]
I've loved this song since it was new. The music was so-so, but the lyrics (especially the list at the end) are classic. I still use "A Winnebago...hell, a herd of Winnebagos" in conversation from time to time. Thanks Bill and Rebecca!
Posted 20 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
Let's hear "White Punks on Dope"!!!
Posted 20 years ago by digger    [ Reply ]
the lyrics to this one are cool... the aranngements rough at points... guitar sucky... Kinda cool but just too much noise at points... The ending rocks though big time.
Posted 20 years ago by plundis    [ Reply ]
A Las Vegas Wedding .... A Mexican Divorce man this goes back An Airtight Alibi
Posted 20 years ago by hunters    [ Reply ]
I was thinking of this song just today and hoping we'd hear it someday. It was in the context of the "Famous Movie Quotes" forum. I was gonna start a "Famous Song Quotes" forum and the clue would be "Well, you can't have that, but if you're an American Citizen..."
Posted 20 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
A personally autographed photo of Randy Mantooth!!
Posted 20 years ago by KevDogRedux    [ Reply ]
Re Styles was the female in the band, man she was great. I can remember W.P.O.P written on our lockers in high school. Of course RP plays the Tubes!
Posted 20 years ago by houston    [ Reply ]
So what ever happened to Fee Waybill?
Posted 21 years ago by rcurrier    [ Reply ]
whiterhino wrote:
A new Mercedes, A Mustang, A Maverick, I could go on and on! Man, I haven't heard a good Tubes song on the radio since 'xrt in Chicago used to play them in the mid 70's Thanks!
...a Monza! what fun blast from the past. "white punks on dope", indeed.
Posted 21 years ago by mperry    [ Reply ]
n4ku wrote:
i'd like to be able to remember more of the tubes concert i attended in 1975.
I'd like to remember the time my band opened for The Tubes. Oh, wait, the promoter mucked up and The Tubes Cancelled. O-well.
Posted 21 years ago by jovino    [ Reply ]
:headshake:
Posted 21 years ago by indigo_xia    [ Reply ]
Bob Dylan's new unlisted phone number
Posted 21 years ago by poodha    [ Reply ]
Okay, I apparently missed this entire chapter in my upbringing, and that's the first time I've ever heard that song (or certainly the first time I -remember- hearing it). Most excellent.
Posted 21 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
i'd like to be able to remember more of the tubes concert i attended in 1975. or was that 76?
Posted 21 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
Never noticed the wobbling between the channels at the end before.. guess I was listening to it back then on a crummy FM Pocket radio. And I never got the phallic connontation until someone explained it to me years later. Ahhh... the innocence of youth. -lr Finally in stereo!
Posted 21 years ago by wa2bux    [ Reply ]
Ooooo :-s I usually live by "If you don't have anything good to say, than don't say anything" Dis a big stinky! :-&
Posted 21 years ago by GreenOnion    [ Reply ]
Here's a band and song I remember well, but WOW, this goes wayyy back!
Posted 21 years ago by RParadise    [ Reply ]
What do I want from life? Right now, I\'d be happy to have this song end...
Posted 21 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
Hell, a herd of Winnabagos, we're givin' 'em away. Or how 'bout a McCulloch Chainsaw?? 8)
Posted 21 years ago by Matt_Naas    [ Reply ]
Wow! It looks like I\'ve been missing out on a very interesting band. Never heard of them before, but I may have to check them out a bit further. Thanks, Bill.
Posted 21 years ago by Isobel    [ Reply ]
\"Well you can\'t have that but ....\" :roll:
Posted 21 years ago by Knot_Head    [ Reply ]
Hideous.
Posted 21 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]
laprincessa wrote:
HUH?
A Winnebago! Have a herd o' Winnebagoes. We're givin' 'em away! Remember when these guys were "punks" 'cause they had crazy getups?
Posted 21 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Notelrac wrote:
"A dead baby's arm holding an apple" What more needs to be said?
I think it's just a baby's arm holding an apple. No dead.
Posted 21 years ago by marci28    [ Reply ]
Beauty, Bill and Co.! That was a perfect way to start my Friday!
Posted 21 years ago by Monkeysdad    [ Reply ]
Clever I s\'pose, but irritating.
Posted 21 years ago by PaulG    [ Reply ]
strange.... but very likeable
Posted 21 years ago by BlindWanderer    [ Reply ]
Notelrac wrote:
"A dead baby's arm holding an apple" What more needs to be said?
HUH?
Posted 21 years ago by laprincessa    [ Reply ]
WOW! I am amazed. I havent heard this great song in years. It needs to be heard by more people. Thanks for playing it!
Posted 21 years ago by thrazzle    [ Reply ]
\"A dead baby\'s arm holding an apple\" What more needs to be said?
Posted 21 years ago by Notelrac    [ Reply ]