Bad Blood
Alison Mosshart Lyrics


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Good lord take my hand
Dried of this promise land
Afraid that the sun wont rise for me

Good lord hear my cries
I've run out of ways to tell
Dead just floatin' out to sea
'Cause I got bad blood
Bad blood
You don't want none what I have

Good lord find my soul
Waitin' to behol'
Hold those gates
If I don't make it out tonight

Good lord give me peace
From life long of pain and greed but not yet
I'm not done payin' for my crimes

Bad blood
I got bad blood
You don't want none of what I have

Don't listen to any word I say
I'd say anything to make you feel okay
I'm not who I thought I was
Not today

'Cause I got bad blood
Bad blood
You don't want none of what I have

Bad blood




I got bad blood
You don't want none of what I have

Overall Meaning

In "Bad Blood", Alison Mosshart takes the point of view of someone who has been abandoned by their faith and is pleading with God. The first verse starts with the persona's desperation, they're pleading with the Lord to intervene as they feel that they have run out of options. They are disconnected from their surroundings and are worried that they won't make it through the night. The persona repeats the phrase "Good Lord" as they try to connect with the higher power they believe in. In the second verse, the persona poses a question to God, asking for peace from a life cycle of greed and pain but realizes that they're not done paying for their crimes. The last verse shows a level of self-awareness from the persona, admitting that they will go to lengths to fake feeling okay even if it means misleading the people closest to them.


The song is essentially about coming to terms with the consequences of one's actions, knowing that they are responsible for creating a toxic situation around themselves. The persona is acknowledging this fact and pleading for help to be released from the harsh cycle of negativity.


Line by Line Meaning

Good lord take my hand
Asking for divine intervention or guidance


Dried of this promise land
Feeling unfulfilled or disillusioned with life


Afraid that the sun wont rise for me
Anxiety about the future and lack of hope


Good lord hear my cries
Continuing pleading to a higher power


I've run out of ways to tell
Exhausted of trying to communicate one's anguish


Dead just floatin' out to sea
Feeling aimless, helpless and lost


'Cause I got bad blood Bad blood You don't want none what I have
Acknowledging a personal deficit that others may inadvertently suffer the consequences of


Good lord find my soul
Reaching for a spiritual awakening or salvation


Waitin' to behol'
Expectant of a divine revelation or manifestation


Hold those gates If I don't make it out tonight
Asking to be accepted in the afterlife in case of death


Good lord give me peace
Requesting tranquility from the struggles of life


From life long of pain and greed but not yet
Implying that the search for peace has been long and difficult


I'm not done payin' for my crimes
Feeling guilty and regretful about past actions


Bad blood I got bad blood You don't want none of what I have
Repeat mention of personal defects others should beware of


Don't listen to any word I say
Acknowledging that one's words may not be trustworthy


I'd say anything to make you feel okay
Implying that actions to comfort others may not be entirely genuine


I'm not who I thought I was
Realizing that one's self-identity may not match reality


Not today
Denying the possibility of personal growth or positive change at present




Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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