The band's first, self-titled album was released in 1988, and it met with a great fan response as well as gave the band two hit singles in the United States: "When I See You Smile" and "Price of Love". Positive reviews followed by massive tours built up immense expectations about the songwriting talent of the band in their future endeavors. However, on their second album, entitled 'Backlash', the one and only single failed to enter the U.S. Top 40, peaking instead at only number 42. Critical views were also mixed on the release.
Soon after the band recorded their second album 'Backlash', in 1991, the group disbanded. Members went their separate ways even before the album could be mixed. In a later interview, frontman John Waite said that, while he enjoyed playing to stadium-sized audiences again, he wasn't happy with the somewhat 'corporate rock' image that the Bad English had been tagged as having. He has since had a solo career focused more on mellower singer-songwriter music.
Rockin' Horse
Bad English Lyrics
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By the jukebox at the starlight grill, kickin' out an Elvis tune
Are you waitin', little sister, killin' time and dreamin' too
You need a fraction of long distance love, I'm driving all night for you, yeah
I'm gonna be there in a big way, you can leave the radio on
Like an outlaw, like Jesse James, another hundred miles is gone
Sunrise to sundawn, I'm gonna turn you around, yeah
Baby I've been so lonely, what am I s'pposed to do
Out in the sun with passion, out of my head for you
Baby my heart's a mustang, just let it run its course
Take it up by the river, I'm gonna give you more
Ride the rockin' horse, hey, ride the rockin' horse, yeah
Got the top down, wishin' on a star, underneath the Spanish moon
Golden Earring on the radio, radar love is coming through
She's a station on the interstate, I'm coming with a message of love
In the saddle, you can ride all night, rock your reins around my glove, yeah
Sunrise to sundawn, I'm gonna turn you around, yeah
Baby I've been so lonely, what's a man s'pposed to do
Out in the sun with passion, out of my head for you
Proof papa's got the fever, just let it run its course
Take it up by the river, I'm gonna give you more
Ride the rockin' horse, hey, ride the rockin' horse
Baby I've been so, baby I've been so, baby I've been so lonely
(Ride the rockin' horse) Lo-lo-lo-lo-lonely, lonely, yeah
Baby I've been so, out of my head for you, whoah (ride the rockin' horse)
Baby I've been so lonely, baby baby baby (ride the rockin' horse)
Babe I've been so lonely, what am I gonna do, thank you New York
(Ride the rockin' horse) (repeats out)
The song "Rockin' Horse" by Bad English tells the story of a man driving on a desert highway to find his beloved, who is waiting for him at a diner. He promises to come back for her and drives all night to see her. He compares himself to an outlaw or Jesse James and wants to be there for her in a big way. He sings about his loneliness and desire for her, describing his heart as a mustang. He urges her to ride the "rockin' horse" with him, a metaphor for their relationship and their passion for each other. The song builds up with the use of the guitar solo and catchy lyrics.
The song ends on a repeated chorus of the word "lonely", emphasizing the man's loneliness and need for his beloved. The song's lyrics are poignant and express strong emotions of love, passion, and loneliness. The use of metaphors and a catchy tune makes the song memorable and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Desert highway to a memory, I said that I'd come back for you
Traveling through the desert, I promised to return to you
By the jukebox at the starlight grill, kickin' out an Elvis tune
At the diner, we were listening to Elvis by the jukebox
Are you waitin', little sister, killin' time and dreamin' too
Are you waiting for me, my dear sister, passing the time and dreaming?
You need a fraction of long distance love, I'm driving all night for you, yeah
You need a bit of long-distance love, and I'm driving all night to be with you
I'm gonna be there in a big way, you can leave the radio on
I'll be there in a grand manner, you can leave the radio playing
Like an outlaw, like Jesse James, another hundred miles is gone
Like an outlaw like Jesse James, we've already covered another hundred miles
Sunrise to sundawn, I'm gonna turn you around, yeah
From sunrise to sundown, I'll be with you and change your life
Baby I've been so lonely, what am I s'pposed to do
I've been very lonely, what am I supposed to do?
Out in the sun with passion, out of my head for you
In the sun filled with passion, I'm going crazy for you
Baby my heart's a mustang, just let it run its course
My heart is like a wild horse, let it run and be free
Take it up by the river, I'm gonna give you more
Let's go up by the river, I'll give you even more
Ride the rockin' horse, hey, ride the rockin' horse, yeah
Ride the vibrant energy between us
Got the top down, wishin' on a star, underneath the Spanish moon
With the car roof down, wishful thinking under a Spanish moon
Golden Earring on the radio, radar love is coming through
Golden Earring's song is playing on the radio, 'radar love' is in the air
She's a station on the interstate, I'm coming with a message of love
She's a station on the highway, and I'm bringing a message of love
In the saddle, you can ride all night, rock your reins around my glove, yeah
In the saddle, we can ride all night, control me with the reins
Baby I've been so, baby I've been so, baby I've been so lonely
I've been very lonely
(Ride the rockin' horse) Lo-lo-lo-lo-lonely, lonely, yeah
Ride the energetic buzz between us, feeling less lonely
Baby I've been so, out of my head for you, whoah (ride the rockin' horse)
I've been going crazy for you
Babe I've been so lonely, what am I gonna do, thank you New York
I've been feeling so lonely, what will I do, thank you New York
(Ride the rockin' horse) (repeats out)
Ride the energetic buzz between us
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Waite, Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind