What's It Gonna Take
Struggling for Stardom: Mötley Crüe's Anthem
Lyrics
We were drinkin' dinner on the Sunset Strip
We were having dinner on the Sunset Strip
The girls doin' powder got a little on her lip
The girls using drugs (powder) accidentally got some on her lip
It's just another night
Expressing that the situation is just another typical night
Man I can't take this
The narrator is frustrated and cannot endure the current circumstances
Runnin' outta money and I can't pay the rent
Facing financial difficulties and unable to pay rent
The man at the label say we'll never write a hit
Label executive doubts the band's ability to create a successful song
Shit
Expressing frustration and disbelief
Man I can't take this anymore
The narrator cannot tolerate the situation any longer
Everything's drivin' me crazy
Feeling overwhelmed and distressed by various challenges
I'm tickin' like time bomb
Describing the narrator's emotional state as explosive and tense
And I'm about to blow
Building tension, hinting at an impending outburst
What's it gonna take to make it
Pondering the requirements for success
What's it gonna take to make it
Reiterating the question about the necessary conditions for success
I'm a sorry mother fucker tired of livin' in the gutter
Expressing frustration and discontent with life
Get me outta here
Expressing a desire to escape the current situation
What's it gonna take to make it
Reiterating the question about what it takes to succeed
I'll do anything but fake it
Willing to do anything genuine to achieve success
What's it gonna take to make it here
Reiterating the question in the context of authenticity
So we wrote another song cut a demo on a dime
Creating another song and recording a demo inexpensively
They didn't like the sound
The demo is rejected due to its sound
We didn't fit the times
The band doesn't fit the current musical trends
And the radio station said "it's way too loud"
Radio stations criticize the band for being too loud
We took it to the streets just to prove 'em all wrong
Taking the music to the streets to prove critics wrong
We knew we had it right, yeah, we knew it all along
Believing in the band's sound despite external opinions
It's just another fight
Characterizing the struggle as just another fight
Man I can't take this
Expressing frustration and inability to tolerate the situation
Everything's drivin' me crazy
Repeating the feeling of being overwhelmed
I'm tickin' like time bomb
Continuing the metaphor of a ticking time bomb about to explode
And I'm about to blow
Reiterating the building tension and imminent outburst
What's it gonna take to make it
Posing the question again regarding the requirements for success
In the city of sin, yeah the city of angels
Referencing the challenging environment of sin and angels in the city
What's it gonna take
Repeating the question about what it takes to succeed
To make it out of here
Expressing the desire to escape the current environment
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