A Life Of Illusion

Album: There Goes The Neighborhood (1981)
Charted: 34
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Songfacts®:

  • Life's been good to Joe Walsh, but what's it all about? Sometimes it seems like life is just an illusion, and just when you start to comprehend it, it hits you right between the eyes.

    Many musicians of his era looked to gurus or other zen masters to figure it all out, but Walsh seems to have sorted it out in this song, where he concludes that letting it all get to you is a waste of your day.
  • This song began as an instrumental track written by Kenny Passarelli when he was the bass player in Walsh's band Barnstorm, which was active from 1972-1974. Barnstorm never released it, but Walsh and Passarelli worked it up for Walsh's first solo album, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get, in 1973, with Walsh adding the lyrics. It didn't make it to vinyl, so Passarelli shopped it around, pitching it to Elton John and Hall & Oates. When Walsh was working on his 1981 solo album, There Goes The Neighborhood, he and Passarelli finished the song, which finally got its release.
  • The Mariachi trumpets, played by the song's co-writer Kenny Passarelli in what Walsh described as "a drunken stupor," are nonsensical in a way that suits the song perfectly. Why are they there? Well, why are any of us here?
  • The phrase "a life of illusion" was used three years earlier in the title track to the film Grease, where Frankie Valli sings:

    This is the life of illusion
    Wrapped up in trouble
    Laced with confusion


    That song was written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees.
  • This was featured in the opening credits of the 2005 movie The 40 Year Old Virgin. It also appears in the 2010 movie Grown Ups and in the 2010 CSI: Miami episode "L.A."

Comments: 10

  • Diana from St.p.This song was my 'ear worm' of the day, kinda suits my thoughts lol.. Been looking for it's story and meaning, so thanks a lot!
  • A77white from Smyrna, Tn 37167 UsaI have a question about the opening instrumental guitar or bass riff that is repeated twice at the beginning of the song and repeated one or two more times in the song. Here's my question: I think I vaguely remember hearing that little ditty somewhere in my past. I think it was played by high school bands at football games. Do you know anything about the opening riff?
  • Annie from Washington, DcLove this song!! It appeared in the movie Bloody Nose Empty Pockets and it couldn't have been placed better <3
  • William Ken from NashvilleExcellent song!! Always liked Joe Walsh.
  • Jim from PittsburghRemember when this song was released... was very Surprised to hear it in the 40 year old virgin. I had the album in '81... it's called there goes the neighborhood. A bunch of other great songs on that LP as well.
  • Bazzaman from Johnson, VtOne of Joe's best, but then again, he has a lot of those to my tastes!
  • Jim from Philadelphia, PaI heard this song the other day, and I immediately became captivated by it tune and lyrics. I especially enjoy the Mariachi Trumpets - great stuff!
  • Tony from Chicago, IlI first heard this song in the 40-year old virgin, I 've loved ever since!!!
  • Jess from Melbourne, AustraliaFoo Fighters covered this. it's a bside to one of their singles. Taylor the drummer sings it.
  • Justin from Georgetown, Inthe intro this song is amazing
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