18 and Life
Skid Row
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Ricky was a young boy He had a heart of stone Lived nine to five and worked his fingers to the bone Just barely out of school Came from the edge of town Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down He had no money, oh No good at home He walked the streets a soldier And he fought the world alone and now it's Eighteen and life you got it Eighteen and life you know Your crime is time and it's Eighteen and life to go Eighteen and life you got it Eighteen and life you know Your crime is time and it's Eighteen and life to go Tequila in his heartbeat His veins burned gasoline It kept his motor runnin' But he never kept it clean They say he loved adventure Ricky's the wild one He married trouble Had a courtship with a gun Bang, bang, shoot 'em up The party never ends You can't think of dying when the bottle's your best friend And now it's Eighteen and life you got it Eighteen and life you know Your crime is time and it's Eighteen and life to go Eighteen and life you got it Eighteen and life you know Your crime is time and it's Eighteen and life to go Accidents will happen They all heard Ricky say He fired his six-shot to the wind That child blew a child away Eighteen and life you got it Eighteen and life you know Your crime is time and it's Eighteen and life to go Eighteen and life you got it Eighteen and life you know Your crime is time and it's Eighteen and life to go, yeah Oh oh
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Written by: RACHEL BOLAN SOUTHWORTH, DAVID MICHAEL SABO
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
14 facts about this song
Song Origins"18 and Life" is a song written by Skid Row, an American rock band that was widely popular during the late 80s and early 90s.
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Chart SuccessThe song reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1989.
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Album InclusionIt appears on Skid Row's self-titled debut album, released in 1989.
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Song ThemeThe song is about a troubled adolescence and the consequences of reckless actions during youth.
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True StoryAccording to the band members, "18 and Life" was inspired by a true story of a teenager who accidentally killed his friend with a gun he thought was not loaded, resulting in his prison sentence.
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Song AuthorsIt was written by band members Rachel Bolan and Dave "The Snake" Sabo.
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Critically AcclaimedThe song was highly praised by critics for its melodic sound and powerful lyrics, setting it apart from much of the glam metal music of the time.
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Mainstream Appeal"18 and Life" helped establish Skid Row as a successful band in the mainstream music scene.
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Band LineupThe band lineup for this song was Sebastian Bach on vocals, Dave "The Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill on guitars, Rachel Bolan on bass and Rob Affuso on drums.
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CertificationThe song earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying sales of over half a million copies in the United States.
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Song Length"18 and Life" runs for a duration of three minutes and fifty-one seconds (3:51) on the album.
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Music VideoThe music video was equally famous for its narrative that closely resembled the lyrics of the song, adding visual depth to the story told in the lyrics.
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Cover VersionsIt has since been covered by many artists, including Asking Alexandria and Bulletboys, illustrating its enduring popularity.
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In Pop Culture"18 and Life" has appeared in various movies, TV shows, and video games, such as Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.
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Citation
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