Skid Row - 18 And Life
Skid Row - 18 And Life - Meaning of the song
"18 and Life" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in June 1989 as the second single from their self titled debut album. The song is the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was certified Gold on September 13, 1989, when it sold 500,000 copies.
Ricky, a poor, tough-as-nails 18-year-old who gets drunk and accidently kills someone with his gun, earning him a life sentence in prison, is the subject of this song.
After reading about an 18-year-old lad who accidentally shot his friend in a local newspaper, Skid Row guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo penned it. He mistook the gun for not being loaded, and he was sentenced to life in jail. Rachel Bolan, the group's bassist, co-wrote the song.
Skid Row - 18 And Life - Lyrics
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, no no good at home
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
Tequila in his heartbeat, his veins burned gasoline
It kept his motor running but it never kept him clean
They say he loved adventure, "Ricky's the wild one"
He married trouble and 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
"Accidents will happen" they all heard Ricky say
He fired his six-shot to the wind - that child blew a child away