All these cats with holey jeans,
Dirty hair and titty rings
Say, "What's your scene, man? We got these questions...
Is it true that you have sold your soul?"
I say, "Hey man, I don't know
Lend me a quarter won't you?
I'll call my accountant."

Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute

Petty little Ayatollah's
Come around to judge and stone ya
All's we're trying to do is make a fortune
Yeah, we ain't got no government loans
And no one sends a check from home
But get this: we're just doin' what we wanna

So, Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute

Well the guitar player's
Stayin' out in Hollywood and sayin'
He's just trying' to get some sleep
But everyone's complaning
Are you truly deeply cynical?
'Cause boy you know that I loved you so
When no one knew your name
And you were pompous. (Still are)

Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute


Lyrics submitted by typo

Get Off This song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ayatollahs are Shiite Islamic religious leaders. I think the message of this song would be this: "We're just trying to have fun and make some money. If you think we're too corporate, stop bitching at us and go fix the world's problems yourself."

    xstrykeron September 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Fuck off, I just want to be a Rockstar.

    Numb420on July 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what is Ayatollah's?

    strwberryf1dson July 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Quite refreshing to hear a current popular artist that isn't sorry for his success. These guys don't appear to be spewing the hypocritical nonsense that so many of today's ultra rich stars do. Wow! I'm really impressed. Love the line about not having a government loan. Yeah! You guys rock!!! Note to the emo's and socially aware out there! If you're so darned sure the earth is going to sink into oblivion because of man-made global warming...start riding a bike!!! Ps...a few recent volcano eruptions over the last two years have spewed more crap into the atmosphere than 200 years of China-like pollution could.

    Also, I bet 10 to 1 that the guys in the band Cracker give to charity and don't look for attention when doing so. If you're young and you've been brainwashed by gov't schooling, just sit back and open your eyes and think about what life would be like in the US if not for a thriving capitalistic environment. Do you really think the government can produce a utopian-like world for everyone? Open you minds and resist the status quo thinking that is mired in a craddle to grave dependancy on a righteous (haha) gov't. Rock on, Cracker.

    manfromearthon April 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    The chords of this song mirror the chords to U2's one. This leads me to connect the theme of this song to Bono, someone that may have been "loved...so/When no one knew (his) your name/And you were pompous. (Still are)"

    Of course, it's likely that part of it may have come from an appreciation of U2/Bono, while the rest is not connected to anyone in particular. However, the chords mirroring U2's "One" and the reference to pompous, something even Bono would admit to, are to connected to me.

    gabrielbjlon December 08, 2019   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.