Joe Walsh the poet?

Joe Walsh is an American artist who later in his career became a member of the Eagles. He is one of the most influential American artists in the history of Rock. His life has been one of both tragedy and massive success. Walsh's "Life's Been Good" speaks to his successes and how they affect him. His music can be considered poetry because of its message. The message of this song is about how fame and popularity can't fulfill a person's life and how life is complicated and cannot bought.

I have a mansion
 Forget the price
Ain't never been there
They tell me it's nice"

The first verse of the song is the first of many describing his eccentric and action-filled life. This sets the tone that he lives a life of excess and frivolous spending. This is a hyperbole in action. While Joe Walsh was likely a wild spender he obviously didn't buy a mansion and never step foot in it. He is using a hyperbole to connect to audience about how he spent his money. Using regular language to describe how he lived wouldn't be a true story. Similar to how Tim O'brien used technically untrue stories, but because a true story wouldn't do justice to his experience, he created stories that allowed the reader to share his feelings.

My Maserati
Does one eighty five
I lost my license
Now I don't drive

He further develops his lifestyle of irresponsibility and poor decisions by this verse. He explains how he lives a fast paced crazy life.

I'm making records
My fans they can't wait
They write me letters
Tell me I'm great

This verse is very important because it sets up how Joe has unconditional love from millions and yet he still doesn't feel on top of the world like one would expect. Though the song says "Life's been good to me so far" He clearly isn't as fulfilled as a rock star should be.

It's tough to handle
This fortune and fame
Everybody's so different
I haven't changed

Joe recognizes the fact that fortune and fame can have an effect on his life but he realizes that he hasn't changed as a person despite the fact he is famous and rich. While his life is good, his fame hasn't given him the total satisfaction he thought it would. He uses a technique where he sets up as if the fame was going to change hims saying it's tough to handle but then says after all he has been through he didn't change. This further alludes to him realizing that fame and fortune cannot completely fulfill his life.

Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good", is poetry because it has an important message about the human spirit. It talks about material wealth and how it cannot fully satisfy someone. He speaks from experience because he had many issues with substances and poor spending in his life.