Have a good time, all the time

The line “Have a good time, all the time” was delivered by Viv Savage, the dim-witted keyboard player in This is Spinal Tap. In the closing credits, when asked about his philosophy of life, Viv leans in and, with a goofy sincerity, says: “Have a good time…all the time. That’s my philosophy, Marty.”.

It’s one of those throwaway lines that lands perfectly because of who says it. Viv Savage isn’t the loud, egotistical frontman or the over-serious guitarist. He’s the hapless side character who barely speaks during the film, always lingering on the periphery with a spaced-out grin. The fact that he is the one to articulate a “life philosophy” makes it hilarious. It’s not profound or clever, but it’s simple enough that you almost want to nod along. After all, who doesn’t want to have a good time, all the time?

The brilliance of the line is that it works on two levels. On the surface, it’s laughably shallow. No one can actually live like that. Life inevitably includes bad days, struggles, and moments where “having a good time” is the furthest thing from possible. But at the same time, the delivery has this earnest charm. Viv Savage believes it. He’s not being ironic or trying to impress anyone. He’s just sharing, with genuine conviction, what guides him through his days. That innocence and lack of self-awareness makes it both funny and oddly endearing.

When I was working at Aglet, I adopted it as my email and in-game sign-off. Players started to recognise it as “my line,” when really I’d just borrowed it from Viv. I loved that it became a calling card, because it carried the same playful spirit as the movie: don’t take yourself too seriously, and try to keep things fun. It’s a little reminder not to get bogged down in the weight of everything. Even though the line is a joke, it’s also a nudge toward something we could all use more of. Making room for good times, whenever we can.