'Do Anything you Wanna Do' was released in 1977. I was 13. The band was called 'The Rods' at that point. I know it's a cliché, but it blew my mind. Often thought of as a punk band, there was a definite element of punk to them (at least in the context of those days). They were popular with punks and played support to punk bands, like The Ramones, or were supported by some, including early on by The Sex Pistols. But they were just independent guys, not following a fashion, just a straight, fast, high energy, pub rock type of band from Essex.
When my dad heard me listening to this song as a teenager he said 'do you really think you should do anything you want to do?'. But the song is more complex than that, about breaking away from dead-end jobs and being told what to do by elites, instead going and finding yourself and growing: 'I'm sure I must be someone, now I'm gonna find out who'. Doing this may mean 'you'll get so lonely, Maybe it's better that way'. I love that line.
'It ain't you only, you got somethin' to say', it goes. Everyone has something to say. And, despite that you may 'get so lonely' following this path, it's also a social thing - 'it ain't you only'.
It's a shame that scepticism about elites and the establishment has been hijacked by the far right - it's a healthy attitude and meant a lot to me in my very conservative boys grammar school.
My son used to work in a bar in Glasgow, as head chef there, and they had gigs down in the small basement. He said bands would often turn up and proclaim 'we are the band, we are here', etc. But he said Eddie and the Hot Rods, when they played there in their mature years, just rolled up unpretentious and humble. Barrie Masters, the singer, said he couldn't manage the Asian food my son cooked because of a sensitive stomach. So they had to go and get some chicken from a food outlet down the road. This account of their unassuming and unaffected style only endeared them to me even more.
Someone described their songs all sounding as if they are being chased by the police, which sounds about right to me.
Before finishing this post I just listened to the song again. What a song. If I had to choose a number 1 track of all time (maybe I will rank them when I've finished posting the 100) this would be a very strong contender.
The Lyrics
Gonna break out of this city, leave the people here behind
Searchin' for adventure is the type of life to find
Tired of doin' day jobs with no thanks for what I do
I'm sure 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 are gonna do?
You'll get so lonely, maybe it's better that way
It ain't you only, you got somethin' to say
Do anything you wanna do
Do anything you wanna do
Don't need no politician tell me things I shouldn't be
Neither no optician, tell me what I oughta see
No one tells you nothing even when you know they know
But they tell you what you should do, 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 are gonna do?
You'll get so lonely, maybe it's better that way
It ain't you only, you got somethin' to say
Do anything you wanna do
Do anything you wanna do
Gonna break out of this city, leave the people here behind
Searchin' for adventure is the type of life to find
Tired of doin' day jobs with no thanks for what I do
I'm sure 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 are gonna do?
You'll get so lonely, maybe it's better that way
It ain't you only, you got somethin' to say
Do anything you wanna do
Do anything you wanna do
See also: My Top Tracks Introduction