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.
The Restless Ones
Bad English Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is no surrender
They've got a number for every name
Buildings and shopping malls
Seem like a stage for pretenders
They criticize the clothes you wear
They try to make you feel like a stranger
Cause you do things they wouldn't dare
Because we know where we belong
The wild heart is calling us
Out in the night
A primitive love in your eyes
And out on the wasteland of broken dreams
Go you and I
We're the restless ones
(Oh)
Oh yeah
The restless ones
Step outside of yourself
And you'll see through the changes
Leave your mark
Let them know you came
But don't lead the rest of your lives
In plastic cages
Cause you do things they wouldn't dare
Who cares who's right and who's wrong
Because we know where we belong
The wild heart is calling us
Out in the night
A primitive love in your eyes
And out on the wasteland of broken dreams
Go you and I
We're the restless ones
(Oh)
Oh yeah
That's all we'll ever be
Yeah (oh)
You're the restless one
You're just like me
And sometimes I just walk the streets at night
Wonder where I'm going
Can't relate to nothing no more
But listen you hear it call
The wild heart is taking us
Out in the night
A primitive love in your eyes
And sometimes I feel like a loaded gun
Cause just like you
I'm the restless one
(Oh)
Oh yeah
That's all I'll ever be
Oh you're the restless one
(Oh)
And baby you're just like me
Oh
(Oh)
Oh yeah
You're the restless one
You're the restless one
(Oh)
And that's all we'll ever be
The song "The Restless Ones" by Bad English starts by highlighting the challenges faced by the youth in the town. The youth are criticized for their dressing, and the buildings don't feel like a safe place. They are made to feel like strangers, and it seems like there is no surrender in the town. Despite these challenges, they are not ready to conform, and they refuse to live their lives in plastic cages. They keep on doing things the older generation cannot dare to do. They don't care who is right or wrong because they believe they know where they belong. The streets at night seem like their safe haven, where they can feel free and the primitive love in their hearts.
The chorus highlights that they are the restless ones and go out at night to the wasteland of broken dreams. They are not ready to conform and are determined to leave a mark to let the world know they came. The song ends carrying the same message that the youth's wild heart is calling them out into the night. Though sometimes they feel like a loaded gun, they remain the restless ones.
Overall, the song is about the challenges faced by the youth, their refusal to conform, and remaining the restless ones in a changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
On the streets of this town
In this place where we live and walk,
There is no surrender
We cannot give up or give in,
They've got a number for every name
Everyone is assigned a label or stereotype by society,
Buildings and shopping malls
The physical structures of this place,
Seem like a stage for pretenders
Appear to be performing grounds for people with insincere intentions,
They criticize the clothes you wear
People judge you based on your attire,
They try to make you feel like a stranger
They attempt to alienate and distance you,
Cause you do things they wouldn't dare
Because you do things that they themselves are afraid of or unwilling to do,
Who cares who's right and who's wrong
It doesn't matter who is correct or incorrect,
Because we know where we belong
We are confident in our sense of belonging,
The wild heart is calling us
Our untamed spirits are beckoning us,
Out in the night
Away from the daily routine and into the darkness,
A primitive love in your eyes
A raw and basic emotion displayed through your gaze,
And out on the wasteland of broken dreams
In a barren place inhabited by shattered aspirations,
Go you and I
Let us embark on this journey together,
We're the restless ones
We are the ones who cannot remain stagnant or content,
(Oh)
(A vocal expression of emotion)
Oh yeah
Indeed,
Step outside of yourself
Leave your comfort zone,
And you'll see through the changes
You will have new perspective and vision towards what is occurring,
Leave your mark
Make an impression or influence on the world,
Let them know you came
Show the world that you existed and contributed,
But don't lead the rest of your lives
However, don't perpetuate a mundane existence,
In plastic cages
Trapped in artificial and restrictive surroundings,
Cause you do things they wouldn't dare
Because you possess the courage to do things that they themselves are too scared or unwilling to attempt,
Who cares who's right and who's wrong
What is right and what is wrong is not important,
Because we know where we belong
Because we know where we fit,
And sometimes I just walk the streets at night
Occasionally, I wander the streets during nighttime,
Wonder where I'm going
Reflect on my direction and purpose,
Can't relate to nothing no more
I don't connect to anything anymore,
But listen you hear it call
But if you listen, it summons you,
The wild heart is taking us
Our untamed spirits are guiding us,
And sometimes I feel like a loaded gun
Occasionally, I feel brimming with potential energy,
Cause just like you
Because I am similar to you,
I'm the restless one
I am one of the individuals who cannot remain static or complacent,
(Oh)
(A vocal expression of emotion)
Oh yeah
Indeed,
That's all I'll ever be
That is my inherent nature and being,
Oh you're the restless one
Oh, you share the same character trait,
And baby you're just like me
And, darling, you resemble me in that way,
You're the restless one
You too are one of the individuals who cannot remain stagnant,
And that's all we'll ever be
That is what we are and will always be,
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Charles Waite, Jonathan Cain, Ricky Lynn Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind