Released: February 8, 1993
Songwriter: Rikki Rockett Bobby Dall Richie Kotzen Bret Michaels
Producer: Richie Zito
Living off the friends we made
Never ever getting paid
Kicking ass and paying dues
Lose our mind in self abuse
Loving ladies by the score
Waking up and wanting more
I hope my Mama understands
When I strike up the band
Well I spit out my anger as the sweat do fly
Fifteen years of paying dues just to get me by
Now the barkeeps would pay us by the crowds we bring
But those son-of-bitches never paid us one damn thing
And my poor Daddy, he just don't understand
It's balls out tonight, watch the shit hit the fan
When we strike up the band
Now those drop dead ladies line the very first row
I do believe I'd like to spend some time after the show
Now them years gone by, the barkeeps pay in cash
And them lovely ladies feed me an earful of trash
And my old lady, she just don't understand
Why those floozies got their hands on her man
And my poor Daddy, he still don't understand
Why it's balls out tonight watch the shit hit the fan
Give it all that we can, we don't give a good damn
When we strike up the band
Living like a gypsy
An air conditioned hippie
Who's never seen the light of day
Rode dog and cowboy
Don't know how, boy
I ever lived this long this way, no, no, said
And my poor Daddy, he still don't understand
Why it's balls out tonight watch the shit hit the fan
Give it all that we can, we don't give a good damn
When we strike up the band
Never ever getting paid
Kicking ass and paying dues
Lose our mind in self abuse
Loving ladies by the score
Waking up and wanting more
I hope my Mama understands
When I strike up the band
Well I spit out my anger as the sweat do fly
Fifteen years of paying dues just to get me by
Now the barkeeps would pay us by the crowds we bring
But those son-of-bitches never paid us one damn thing
And my poor Daddy, he just don't understand
It's balls out tonight, watch the shit hit the fan
When we strike up the band
Now those drop dead ladies line the very first row
I do believe I'd like to spend some time after the show
Now them years gone by, the barkeeps pay in cash
And them lovely ladies feed me an earful of trash
And my old lady, she just don't understand
Why those floozies got their hands on her man
And my poor Daddy, he still don't understand
Why it's balls out tonight watch the shit hit the fan
Give it all that we can, we don't give a good damn
When we strike up the band
Living like a gypsy
An air conditioned hippie
Who's never seen the light of day
Rode dog and cowboy
Don't know how, boy
I ever lived this long this way, no, no, said
And my poor Daddy, he still don't understand
Why it's balls out tonight watch the shit hit the fan
Give it all that we can, we don't give a good damn
When we strike up the band
- Native Tongue (1993)
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn
- Talk Dirty to Me
- Something to Believe In
- Fallen Angel
- Unskinny Bop
- Nothing But a Good Time
- Life Goes On
- I Won’t Forget You
- Look What The Cat Dragged In
- Ride the Wind
- Strange Days of Uncle Jack
- I Won’t Forget You (single version)
- Come Hell or High Water
- Wishful Thinkin’
- Mr. Smiley
- Unskinny Bop (live)
- (Flesh & Blood) Sacrifice
- No More Lookin’ Back
- Drum Solo
- Get Ya Some
- Doin As I See On My TV
- Strike Up The Band
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn (MTV Unplugged)
- Bad To Be Good