Do What You Want

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a defiant, almost nihilistic embrace of personal freedom, framed by a stark rejection of societal norms and passive existence. The opening lines immediately establish a boundary: "Hey do what you want, but don't do it around me," suggesting a desire for autonomy that doesn't necessarily extend to tolerance of others' actions if they're disruptive or unwelcome. This is coupled with a critique of inaction, where "Idleness and dissipation breed apathy," painting a picture of a world where people are losing their drive and becoming disengaged. The narrator's self-description as someone who "sit[s] on my ass all goddamn day" and is a "misanthropic anthropoid" seems to be a provocative statement, perhaps a cynical commentary on the state of humanity or a self-aware admission of their own detachment.