Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good” Back On The Charts Because Of A Cover

The classic “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh became popular once again after 40 years it was first released.

Through the reggae-rock group Dirty Heads, the song was given a more unique version which made the younger generation embrace it. The original version was included in Walsh’s fourth solo album in 1978, But Seriously Folks….

For the record, it became his biggest hit as a solo artist and has become a mainstay in his solo concerts, as well as with his performances with the Eagles. Upon its release, Walsh said in an interview:

“I wanted to make a statement involving satire and humor, kind of poking fun at the incredibly silly lifestyle that someone in my position is faced with.

“In other words, I do have a really nice house, but I’m on the road so much that when I come home from a tour, it’s really hard to feel that I even live here. It’s not necessarily me, I think it paraphrases anyone in my position, and I think that’s why a lot of people related to it.”

Although the new rendition is not a straight-ahead cover, it became a chart-topper as it did way back 1980s. Dirty Heads’ version is a reimagining of the tune with lyrics that reflect their beach-loving, Southern California lifestyle. The melody and vibe of the tune remain, but the lyrics are somewhat different. Jared Watson, co-vocalist of the band, explained:

“The new version is just this tongue-in-cheek, kinda ridiculous song about just fuckin’ off and having a bunch of money.

“Not that we’re these giant rock stars like Joe Walsh or anything, but we liked the take on it in that we are probably in a little bit more comfortable spot when it comes to [success]. And we could still make it tongue in cheek.”

Stream the new version below.