 Initially, Perry and Johnson had written a song for a female singer called "Stick-Up", but the two decided that the song was not substantial enough so they re-wrote it with a change in chord progressions and new lyrics.With the catchy opening line of "Wanted, young man, single and free," "Want Ads" was born.The idea for the song started when studio engineer Barney Perkins, while looking through the classified section of a newspaper, suggested that someone write a song about want ads.