Drinking in L.A.

The song portrays a young man who spends another day in Los Angeles drinking and talking about a creative project instead of doing any real work. At first, the day seems like a chance to make a film; by the end, the characters have only produced a vague “conclusion.” The repeated question about what he is doing at twenty-six suggests self-doubt and a growing awareness that time is passing without much progress.

Several expressions make the gap between ambition and action funny. “Working on a movie” is immediately undercut by “Yeah right!”, showing that the film project may be mostly an excuse. “Bupkis” means nothing, or no result, and emphasizes how little they accomplish. The “fix” he says he needs can mean another drink or a pleasurable escape; the later offer to “fix it all up” also sounds like a promise to solve their problems, though it may be just more talk.

The tone is playful, but the humor has an uneasy edge. The speaker recognizes that life must be seized and that he should “wise up,” yet he keeps drinking. The scene with men arguing about the fine line between rich and poor hints at social tension, but does not explain exactly where the speaker stands. The song can be heard as a comic portrait of procrastination, or as a more rueful reflection on knowing one should change while not yet changing.