57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN' ON)

Teddy Zig Zag's version

I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills
With a truckload of hundred thousand dollar bills
Man came by to hook up my cable TV
We settled in for the night my baby and me
We switched 'round and 'round 'til half-past dawn
There was fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on

Well now home entertainment was my baby's wish
So I hopped into town for a satellite dish
I tied it to the top of my Japanese car
I came home and I pointed it out into the stars
A message came back from the great beyond
There's fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on

Well we might'a made some friends with some billionaires
We might'a got all nice and friendly if we'd made it upstairs
All I got was a note that said "Bye-bye John
Our love's fifty-seven channels and nothin' on"
(Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on)

So I bought a .44 magnum, it was solid steel cast
And in the blessed name of Elvis well I just let it blast
'Til my TV lay in pieces there at my feet
And they busted me for disturbin' the almighty peace
Judge said "What you got in your defense son?"
"Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on"
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on

I can see by your eyes friend you're just about gone
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and...

The above lyrics refer to the cover by Teddy "Zig Zag" from Guns N' Roses that was included on the tribute albums:

• Tribute To Bruce Springsteen: Made In The U.S.A.
  Released in 2001 by Purple Pyramid records (CLP 1049-2)
• A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
  Released in 2003 by Big Eye records (BIG 4268-2)
• A Rock Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
  Released in 2004 by XYZ records (55362-2)
• A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
  Released in 2004 by Platinum Disc records (31932)
• A Tribute To Pink Floyd & Bruce Springsteen
  Released in 2005 by Platinum Disc records (31912-31932)
• Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
  Released in 2005 by ZYX records (?)
• Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
  Released in 2005 by Silver Star records (SIS 55009-2)

Track credits:
Teddy "Zig Zag" - lead vocals
Lanny Cordola - guitars, dorbo, jaw harp, human beat box, and balalaika
Chuck Wright - Bass
Gary Griffin - wurly piano

Check out Bruce's album's version (more details), MTV UnPlugged version, live 16 Nov 1990 version, live 17 Nov 1990 version, live 05 Jun 1992 version, and live 10 Jul 1992 version.