‘It's My Life’ is a song written by New York City songwriters Roger Atkins and Carl D'Errico. The song was originally performed by English R&B band The Animals, who released it as a single in October 1965. The song became a hit in several countries and has since been recorded by multiple artists. D'Errico, who wrote the music, and Atkins, who wrote the lyrics, were professional songwriters associated with the greater Brill Building scene in New York City. By 1965 they were working for Screen Gems Music but had only found minor success at best. ‘It's My Life’ was written specifically for The Animals because their producer Mickie Most was soliciting material for the group's next recording sessions. (Other Animals hits to come out of this Brill Building call were ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ and ‘Don't Bring Me Down.’) ‘It's My Life’ has become D'Errico and Atkins' best-known work.
Writer Craig Werner sees the song as reflecting the desire on the part of both the Animals and their audience to define themselves apart from the community they came from. Writer Dave Thompson includes the song in his book 1000 Songs that Rock Your World, saying simply, "There is no angrier declaration of independence than this." Billboard said of the song that "offbeat lyric and slow driving dance beat proves a top of the chart contender." Cash Box described it as a "twangy, low-down blues-drenched ode all about a real independent type of fella who does just as he pleases."
Animals lead singer Eric Burdon said he "detested" this song and didn't want to sing it (producer Mickie Most pushed it through). Perhaps in protest, Burdon changed some of the lyrics. Songwriter Roger Atkins has said that the lyrics he wrote contained the line "Sure I'll do wrong, hurt you some time...", but that Burdon recorded the wrong words: "Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime...". Atkins said that Burdon's words "never made any sense to me. Everyone who's recorded it sings the wrong chorus, and sometimes even the wrong lyrics in the verses, too."
‘It's My Life’ was visually premiered on the US television show Hullabaloo in autumn 1965, where the group sang live vocals against canned music on a den-type set that featured attractive young women sticking their heads through holes in the wall, where normally animal heads would be mounted.
Labels – Columbia (UK), MGM (US)
Songwriters – Roger Atkins, Carl D'Errico
Producer – Mickie Most
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro][Verse 1]
It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But girl there are ways
To make certain things pay
Though I'm dressed in these rags
I'll wear sable someday
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Hear what I say
I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent
Sweating rent
Hear my command
I'm breaking loose
It ain't no use
Holding me down
Stick around
But baby (Baby)
Remember (Remember)
[Chorus]
It's my life, and I'll do what I want
It's my mind, and I'll think like I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day, I'll treat you real fine
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Verse 2]
There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry
When I'm squeezing them dry?
Taking all I can get
No regrets
[Pre-Chorus 2]
When I openly lie, ha
And live on their money
Believe me, honey
That money
Can you believe?
I ain't no saint
No complaints
So girl, throw out
Any doubt
And baby (Baby)
Remember (Remember)
[Chorus]
It's my life, and I'll do what I want
It's my mind, and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day, I'll treat you real fine
[Outro]
(It's my life, and I'll do what I want)
Don't push me!
(It's my mind, and I'll think what I want)
It's my life!
(It's my life, and I'll do what I want)
And I can do what I want!
(It's my mind, and I'll think what I want)
You can't tell me, baby!
(It's my life, and I'll do what I want)
I'm gonna do what I want…