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Song title: It's my life

(Atkins, D'errico) by The Animals (Columbia DB 7441), 1965

It's my life - Bruce version

It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make sun these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable
someday,
Hear what I say
Now I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent sweating rent
Hear my command
I'm breaking loose, there ain't no use
To holding me down,
To stickin' round
'Cos baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life, and I do what I want
It's my mind, and I think what I want
Hurt me some times, show me I'm wrong
Someday I'll treat you well fine
I will, I will, I swear to God (I know that) I will
There will be women with their fortunes
And that just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry when I leave'em dry
Taking all I can get with no regrets
When I.....
Openly lie
And leave only money, but you can believe me...
There's money out there, and you can believe me....
It ain't be no saint
And complain

I'm gonna take what's mine...
Baby
(Baby)
Remember
(Remember)
It's my life, and I do what I want
It's my mind, and I think what I want
Hurt me some times, show me I'm wrong
Someday I'll treat you well fine

Notes: Played from 1975 to 1978 (frequently in 76/7), often with a long intro. The lyrics where not always the same, but they rotated around these, pretty faithful to the original.


It's my life - Original lyrics

It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
(But girl...)
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
Though I'm dressed in these rags I'll wear sable
Some day
Hear what I...
(say)
...say I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command I'm breakin' loose
It ain't no use
Holdin' me down
Stick around
But baby (but baby)
Remember (remember)

Chorus:
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt you sometime
But someday I'll treat you real fine
There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just love to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' 'em dry
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
When I...
Openly lie
And leave only money
Believe me honey, that money
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
Who complains
So girl cut out
Any doubt
But baby (but baby)
Remember (remember)

(chorus)
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) Don't push me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) [fade]

Notes: This is the original lyrics. Live Bruce version was a little different.


It's my life - 07-Apr-1976

It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I will wear sable someday

Hear what I say I'm going to make for certain
That's there's no more time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command, I'm breaking loose
There ain't no use in holding me down
Or sticking around
Now, baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

I know, I know, I know...
I just know...

There'll be women with their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry?
Taking all I can get with no regrets

When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me honey, there's money out there
And you can believe that I ain't no saint to complain
So go on out now, go on now, and take what's mine
'Cause baby (baby)
remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

Don't push me!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
I'll do what I want!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
It's my life!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
I know!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want

Notes: 07-Apr-1976 exact version


It's my life - 01-Aug-1976

It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable someday

Hear what I say I'm going to make for certain
That's there's no more time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command, I'm breaking loose
There ain't no use in holding me down
Or sticking 'round
Cause, baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

I know, I know, I know...
I just know...

There'll be women with their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry?
Taking all I can get with no regrets

When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me honey, that there's money out there
And you can believe that I ain't no saint to complain
And I'm going to go on out now, and get what's mine
Baby (baby)
remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

Don't push me!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
Do what I want!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
It's my life!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
Do what I want, girl!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want

Notes: 01-Aug-1976 exact version.


It's my life - 04-Nov-1976

It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable, Sable!, someday
Someday...

Hear what I say
Man, I'm going to make for certain
Ain't gonna be no more of my time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command, I'm cutting loose
It ain't no use in trying to hold me down
Or sticking 'round
Cause, baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

I will!

Girl, I will... I will, god I know it... I will...

Yeah...

There's women, who likes a-paying the rent, and their fortunes
And they'll just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry?
Taking all I can get with no regrets

When I, When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me, that there's money out there
And you can believe you can't be no saint and complain
And I'm going to go on out, now!, and take what's mine
And baby (baby)
remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
It's my life!
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want)
Think what I want!
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
Don't you push me!
(It's my mind) my life! (and I'll think what I want)

All right!

It's my life!

Notes: 04-Nov-1976 exact version.


It's my life - 04-Mar-1977

It's a hard world to get a break in
Seems like the good things have all been taken
But now I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable someday
Hear what I say
Now I'm gonna ride the serpent
Gonna be no more time spent sweating rent
Hear my command, I'm breaking loose
Though it ain't no use
we're holding me down
For just hanging around
Cause baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want

I know... Know I will someday

Now there were women and their fortunes
And they just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry
taking all I can get with no regrets
When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me honey, that there's money out there
And you can believe, you can't be no saint and complain
I'm going to go on out now, and I'm going to take what's mine
Cause baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
But someday I'll treat you real fine

(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
It's my life
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want)
It's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
It's my life
(It's my life and I'll think what I want)

Notes: 04-Mar-1977 exact version.


Statistics from the KILLING FLOOR (www.brucespringsteen.it) database


This song has never been published on any official release.

First known live performance: 09/08/1975 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh,PA ,USA
Last known live performance: 01/10/1978 Fox Theatre, Atlanta,GA ,USA

Song 'history':


A discrete number of performances (72) was given during the Born to Run tour
Scarcely used during the Darkness tour, with less than a dozen inclusions
In the Tunnel of Love tour, the song was only practiced (23/03/1988 The Omni, Atlanta,GA ,USA, during the soundcheck.) but never played in the regular set.

The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database