[Verse 1]
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]

[Chorus 1]
We switched round and round till half-past dawn
There was fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
‎
[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus 2]
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

[Bridge]
Well, we might'a made some friends with some billionaires
We might'a got all nice and friendly, if we'd made it upstairs
‎
[Chorus 3]
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
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
[Verse 3]
So I bought a .44 Magnum, it was solid steel cast
And in the blessed name of Elvis, well, I just let it blast
Till my TV lay in pieces there at my feet
And they busted me for disturbin' the almighty peace

[Chorus 4]
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

[Chorus 5]
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

[Outro]
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on