"Posh Life" is a song written by Lady Gaga and produced by Dallas Austin for TLC's compilation album, 20 released on October 15, 2013. Although, the song was announced to be included on the album but due to label politics, the song was shelved.
Background
Posh was the name of a character during the arena version of The Monster Ball Tour. Gaga's friend, Posh! The Prince played himself during the 2010 dates of the Monster Ball. After the new demo of "Posh Life" leaked, Gaga explained on Little Monsters that it's "very old song i wrote it about POSH! my friend from brooklyn/les who had moved to NY. he was in the Monsterball . TLC loved it." On July 25, 2013, V reported that Gaga gave "Posh Life" for TLC's upcoming greatest hits album.[1] In a interview with Rolling Stone (2013), the two remaining members of the group recalled how they received the song:
- Chili:' It was a song that she did for an album with Dallas [Austin]. She was singing like TLC.
- T-Boz: She was a fan and we didn't even know. She was like, "I don't want to disrespect them," and was scared to put it on there. She called us like, "Oh my God, come down and meet me. I can't believe it." We were like, "This is Lady Gaga. Are you serious right now?" She was so excited and she had tears. She loved it. We're hoping to collabo with her on it but we already have the song. It's just that political record company business that screws things some times. If it works out, then she'll be on it. If not, it's still a song that she penned that's dear to her heart and dear to us, too, because of the passion she put into it.
- The song is called "Posh Life," correct?
T-Boz: It stands for Passionately Only Serving Him.
- Who is "Him"? The man upstairs or the man in the bedroom?
Chili: Oh hell, no! C'mon now! She talking about a regular guy.
- T-Boz: The G-O-D! Oh hell, no. I ain't serving no [regular] man.
Lyrics
Demo version
Verse 1:
He went to them, they turned away
He just wanted something to eat
A place to love, a place to pray
In God we trust and it's okay
He said: "I'm Black, Latin, and Gay"
I went to them, they turned away
Pre-Chorus:
Where life is holding you down
And you're having trouble finding peace
You gotta be brave, be brave until you bleed
Where life is holding you hard
In a place you don't want to be
You gotta Posh Life, cause life is all you need
Chorus:
We live a Posh Life
The world says we're not brave until we bleed
You gotta trust in the future of us, believe
(Posh Life)
We live a Posh Life
We're nothing but our leather and our dreams
You gotta trust in the future of us, believe
Post-Chorus:
Posh Life
Posh Life
Posh Life
Posh Life until we bleed
Verse 2:
Grew up north of the Florida Bay
Nineteen, moved to the big city
To find a dream, to find a way
Ooh
Burning concrete of Lower East
Inscribing sharpie William's "H"
Passionately only serving him, yeah
Pre-Chorus:
Where life is holding you down
And you're having trouble finding peace
You gotta be brave, be brave until you bleed
Where life is holding you hard
In a place you don't want to be
You gotta Posh Life, cause life is all you need
Chorus:
We live a Posh Life
The world says we're not brave until we bleed
You gotta trust in the future of us, believe
(Posh Life)
We live a Posh Life
We're nothing but our leather and our dreams
You gotta trust in the future of us, believe
Post-Chorus:
Posh Life
We live a Posh Life
Posh Life
Posh Life until we bleed (x2)
Bridge
This ain't no chapel, no Pauper's prison
We love this Posh Life for just one reason
We got each other when the church ain't giving
We love this Posh Life for just one reason
Chorus:
We live a Posh Life
The world says we're not brave until we bleed
You gotta trust in the future of us, believe
We live a Posh Life
We're nothing but our leather and our dreams
You gotta trust in the future of us, believe
Post-Chorus:
Posh Life
We live a Posh Life
Posh Life
Posh Life until we bleed (x2)