Do What You Want

Song details

Bad Religion original
Yes
First released
1988
First release
Suffer (album)
Songwriter
Brett Gurewitz

Lyrics

Do What You Want

Hey do what you want, but don't do it around me. Idleness and dissipation breed apathy. I sit on my ass all goddamn day, A misanthropic anthropoid with nothing to Say what you must, do all you can, Break all the fucking rules and Go to Hell with Superman and Die like a champion, yeah hey! Hey I don't know if the billions will survive, But I'll believe in God when 1 and 1 are 5. My moniker is man and I'm rotten to the core. I'll tear down the building just to pass through the door. So do what you must, do all you can, Break all the fucking rules and Go to Hell with Superman and Die like a champion, yeah hey!

Versions & recordings

Grouped by recording

10

First released on Suffer · 1988

Appears on

Operation Rescue: Live In Dusseldorf Germany 12 4 1992 FM BroadcastBootleg · 2023View 1 version →924 Gilman St FM BroadcastBootleg · 2020View 2 versions →Punk Rock Am Ring 2002Bootleg · 2002View 1 version →Hazard RadiationBootleg · 2004View 1 version →
Live in Denver 2003Bootleg · 2003View 3 versions →Florida 2002Bootleg · 2002View 1 version →No Substance Radio ConcertBootleg · 1999View 1 version →American Punk InvasionBootleg · 1996View 1 version →Holy SmokeBootleg · 1995View 3 versions →Promise Of ProsperityBootleg · 1995View 1 version →Radiation HazardBootleg · 1995View 2 versions →Stranger Than Pulp FictionBootleg · 1995View 2 versions →21st Century Live In ConsertBootleg · 1995View 2 versions →Eat or DieBootleg · 1995View 2 versions →Power PopBootleg · 1995View 1 version →Live 94 RadioBootleg · 1995View 1 version →Christmas ShowBootleg · 1995View 1 version →All AgesCompilation · 1995View 27 versions →KROQ Christmas PartyBootleg · 1994View 1 version →Live USABootleg · 1994View 2 versions →NOFX Radio 93 featuring Bad ReligionBootleg · 1993View 1 version →Live And AliveBootleg · 1994View 1 version →U.S.A. 1993Bootleg · 1994View 1 version →Nevermind The CatBootleg · 1994View 1 version →Live USA 94Bootleg · 1994View 1 version →Punk-O-RamaMisc release · 1994View 5 versions →Turn On The MusicBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Live '93Bootleg · 1992View 1 version →EpitaphBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Only EntertainmentBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Live '93Bootleg · 1993View 2 versions →Last Exit For The LostBootleg · 1993View 2 versions →NOFX and Bad Religion LiveBootleg · 1993View 1 version →Fuck The Government Bootleg · 1992View 1 version →Live In FranceBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Loosing My LoveBootleg · 1991View 3 versions →From Times Of SufferingBootleg · 1992View 2 versions →Operation HollandBootleg · 1993View 3 versions →Hollywood Palladium 1991Bootleg · 1991View 1 version →Between Heaven And HellBootleg · 1990View 4 versions →Delirium Of DisorderBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Hate YourselfBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Suffer LiveBootleg · 1991View 4 versions →Even WorseBootleg · 1991View 2 versions →Live GermanyBootleg · 1991View 1 version →Bad And WorstBootleg · 1990View 2 versions →We're Not The DamnedBootleg · 1990View 4 versions →SufferAlbum · 1988View 35 versions →

Song statistics

Archive coverage at a glance

176release versions
#4

4th most featured song

1,149documented shows
#5

5th most played song

Live through the years

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Song Interpretations

What do you think this song is about? Share your interpretation and explain your reasoning.

7

wolfbikerDec 2, 2010 · edited Dec 3, 2010
We live in an American society where everybody is free to do whatever you want mindset breaking religious barriers that "sin" will send you to hell, but the song is urging you to do follow your beliefs because you'll be like Superman and die like a champion.
legacy memberNov 22, 2010

It's essentially a song about Nietzsche and people who believe like him: They're smart enough to realize that Christianity, as a religion and belief system to explain creation, is bullshit. So they assume that the morality aspect of Christianity, i.e. giving to the poor, helping others, equality, etc. etc. is bullshit as well. In other words, it means just because you don't believe in God, doesn't mean it's okay to n…

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It's essentially a song about Nietzsche and people who believe like him: They're smart enough to realize that Christianity, as a religion and belief system to explain creation, is bullshit. So they assume that the morality aspect of Christianity, i.e. giving to the poor, helping others, equality, etc. etc. is bullshit as well. In other words, it means just because you don't believe in God, doesn't mean it's okay to not act like a good human being.
badrelgnsfFeb 2, 2010 · edited Sep 5, 2010

I think this is just a simple song about stagnant mindsets. I'm thinking it's sort of a tongue in cheek phrase stating this viewers point is that he will not go the same path as a sloth ridden rot bucket just sitting there on his ass but rather do something. The later part of the song goes into talking about not believing in god, which only helps the fact that the viewer's point is again tongue in cheek; making poke…

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I think this is just a simple song about stagnant mindsets.

I'm thinking it's sort of a tongue in cheek phrase stating this viewers point is that he will not go the same path as a sloth ridden rot bucket just sitting there on his ass but rather do something.
The later part of the song goes into talking about not believing in god, which only helps the fact that the viewer's point is again tongue in cheek; making pokes at the people that act this arrogant way (not ignorant).
legacy memberFeb 5, 2008 · edited Sep 5, 2010

This song drives to the very core of existence, since the dawn of time. Very simply put, we are all here for our own benefit, at a raw primal level. Nobody wants to be told what to do, every one of us at some point will go over the top, i.e. "tear down a building just to pass through a door." We have a hard time placing faith in something when we are brought up in a factual society, faith being the essential tool of…

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This song drives to the very core of existence, since the dawn of time. Very simply put, we are all here for our own benefit, at a raw primal level. Nobody wants to be told what to do, every one of us at some point will go over the top, i.e. "tear down a building just to pass through a door." We have a hard time placing faith in something when we are brought up in a factual society, faith being the essential tool of any politician, religious leader or salesman for that matter.
legacy memberNov 18, 2006 · edited Sep 5, 2010
I think the song is about Darby Crash, lead singer of The Germs. The "Go to hell with superman" line feeds this to me (I'm the son of a fucking superman).
legacy memberAug 15, 2006 · edited Sep 5, 2010
I actually think this song is about Darby Crash. I've heard Brett praise 'The Germs' before as one of his major musical influences. And if you listen to the song "Sex Boy" by them the whole "go to hell with superman" line makes sense.
legacy memberNov 28, 2004 · edited Sep 5, 2010
I think it is saying how everyone can do what they want to do, but don't try to push your beliefs on other people.