Do Anything You Want to Do

This Phil Lynott composition is the opening track on the 1979 Black Rose album, and runs to 3 minutes 53 seconds. It was also released as a single backed by "Just The Two Of Us."

In 1977, Eddie And The Hot Rods had a big hit with "Do Anything You Wanna Do," so it is tempting to suggest that Lynott was influenced by or even plagiarized this slightly earlier song; he would undoubtedly have heard it. However, even the most cursory comparison suggests this is not the case; the free-spirited Lynott was obviously writing from his own viewpoint, and apart from the similar titles, the two songs have about as much in common as has Bowie's "...Laughing Gnome" with Al Stewart's "...Elf"; rather it is simply another of those coincidences that happen so often in music, in other disciplines, and in life itself.

Although it has the trademark Thin Lizzy duel lead guitar, this track is primarily drum based, with an unusually heavy beat. Also notable is Lynott's allusion to the recently deceased Elvis Presley as the song fades out.