Tao te Chingy

Bon Jovi had Slippery When Wet, which embodied the '80s hair-rockers' fan base, teeming with hard-up ladies who'd seen one rock show too many and too few quality relationships. AC/DC had "Big Balls," a statement to both their thunderous guitars and their audacity to conquer America and Britain as the coolest rock band on Earth. Joan Jett had "I love rock 'n' roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby," a testament to not only woman's right to a pastime chock-full of cock, but also her right to flip the switch and objectify dudes. Gil Scott-Heron had "The Revolution Will Not be Televised," a boast of the badassness and strength of young people unhappy with their government and armed with slang. Bob Dylan-well, Bob's entire catalog can be milked for one meaningful nugget after another.

If, walking into any joint in San Diego this week looking for a lyric to live your life by, would you find one? Could the Tao, the Te and the Ching be located somewhere in Track 5 on the new album by John Doe? Mining their catalogs and recent works, here are three lyrics you can hear uttered in person. And then go home and live by them.

Quiet Riot

"So you think my singing's out of time, well it makes me money." -from "Cum on Feel the Noize"

Granted, singer Kevin DuBrow didn't pen this spellcheck-proof lyric. That honor belongs to Slade, the U.K.'s poster children of '70s glam-who originally hit No. 1 in Britain with "Cum on Feel the Noize." But in the U.S., Quiet Riot took that song by the balls, slung it over their shoulder and owned it. The lyric's life lesson: No matter how outdated your marketable skill is (listen up, donut makers), as long as there are suckers willing to pay you, you still have the right to flip a middle finger of personal finance at self-righteous aesthetes. Stand tall in your yesterdayity. And now, as Quiet Riot enter the county fair twilight of their career, it also proves that clairvoyance is for real-so go with your gut! Quiet Riot play at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Wednesday, July 4.

Band of Horses

"At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral." -from "Funeral"

A relatively new band. And if new bands need anything-besides duct tape, kitschy merch and a song about Paris Hilton-it's a catch phrase. This song has been used in a few TV shows, so it's already dented the fat, idle, American psyche. The lyric's life lesson: No matter how outrageously good your life is, maintain perspective. Remember, as you snap a photo of your infant son being cute with a puppy, that somewhere in the world, someone just got hit by a motor vehicle. You could be next. Band of Horses plays at 'Canes on Friday, July 6.

John Doe

"He never thought of himself as cruel... kindness was always outside his grasp, he was the meanest man in the world." -from "Meanest Man in the World"

This is from the legendary punk man's newest solo album, A Year in the Wilderness. When you're John Doe-who's been given bit roles in everything from Roadhouse to Boogie Nights-you don't need a catch phrase. Heck, his name alone is a catch phrase. But still. The lyric's life lesson: I have a theory. Very few people, save for possibly the roommate you got off craigslist, wake up, look in the mirror, smile and say, "I'm going to be such an asshole today." So, really, the "meanest man in the world"-or just that douche at the party who thinks he's being funny and sarcastic but is really just being a douche-doesn't want to be. He's simply socially inept. Do not punch him or stand in a circle of cooler people and ridicule him. Pity the meanest man in the world. Give him your sad, Oh you just dropped your ice cream face. John Doe plays at The Casbah on Sunday, July 8.