It Don’t Get Better Than This

The 1988 Poison song ‘Nothing But A Good Time’ was released on their second studio album Open Up and Say… Ahh!  Poison was one of the Los Angeles based glam hair metal rock bands that had commercial success, selling more than 45 million records worldwide.  This album peaked at #2 on the US Billboard 200 and the single went to #6 in the US and it reached #35 in the UK.  This is a party song and having a good time is what Poison stood for.  It was written by singer, guitarist frontman Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, drummer Rikki Rockett and lead guitarist C. C. Deville who was born Bruce Anthony Johannesson, but renamed himself after his favorite car, the Cadillac Coupe DeVille.

Poison formed in the mid ‘80s and Deville was the last member to join the band.  Matt Smith, the original guitar player for Poison, had gotten his wife pregnant and he wanted to get married and leave the Rock and Roll lifestyle behind him.  He knew Axl Rose from the group Hollywood Rose and told him that he should try out for Poison.  Axl Rose wasn’t interested in wearing makeup, so they felt Deville was the best choice for them.  Poison drummer Rikki Rockett said that they wrote this song around the time we were living in a warehouse in downtown LA.  They didn’t have any money at the time, but were able to convince girls into getting fast food for them and take them to the beach on the weekends.  They wanted this song to speak to people who were just like them.  People that were doing their best to get by, so this song was for the working class and it became a celebration of blue-collar living.  People that were busting their humps would wish that they could have a good time.  Music was the catalyst for escape, along with booze, and women this was how they survived.  It is a decadent song that is very hedonistic, but at the end of the day, this was what they lived for.

Wooh
Mmm, yeah
Hahahaha
Wooh, yah
Wooh, hahaha, yeah

Now Listen

Not a dime, I can’t pay my rent
I can barely make it through the week
Saturday night, I’d like to make my girl
But right now, I can’t make ends meet, no

I’m always workin’, slavin’ every day
Gotta get a break from that same old, same old
I need a chance just to get away
If you could hear me think this is what I’d say

Don’t need nothin’ but a good time
How can I resist,
Ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good time
And it don’t get better than this

They say I spend my money on women and wine
But I couldn’t tell you where I spent last night
I’m really sorry about the shape I’m in
I just like my fun every now-and-then

I’m always workin’, slavin’ every day
Gotta get away from that same old, same old
I need a chance just to get away
If you could hear me think this is what I’d say

Don’t need nothin’ but a good time
How can I resist?
Ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good time
If you could hear me think this is

You see I, I raise a toast to all of us
Who are breakin’ our backs every day
If wanting the good life is such a crime
Lord, then, put me away, yeah
Here’s to ya

Mmh, guitar

Don’t need nothin’ but a good time
How can I resist?
Ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good time
And it don’t get better than this

Don’t need nothin’ but a good time
How can I resist?
Ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good time
And it don’t get better than this

It don’t get better, babe

Written for Thursday Inspiration #154 You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.