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.
Tough Times Don't Last
Bad English Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do I reach you
You know I scare myself
These crazy nights without you
And I feel no pain
When I see you cry
We can turn it around now
We've all seen some trouble
But we've always come through
You know things could get better
Hey babe believe me
Tough times don't last
Lovers do
Baby don't give up
On me and you
Cause trouble's just a storm
That's gonna pass
Tough times don't last
We can work so hard
Til we feel the strain
We can get so close
It's the distance
We can't explain
Still I reach for you
In the pouring rain
Like a change in the weather
Here comes the sun
Things could only get better
Hey babe believe me
Tough times don't last
Lovers do
Baby don't give up
On me and you
Cause trouble's like a storm
That's gonna pass
Tough times don't last
You say now that your heart is breakin'
From the wild times that you've lived
Better measure the risks that you're taking
Hey babe it can only get better
Tough times don't last
Lovers do
Baby don't give up
On me and you
Cause trouble's like a storm
That's gonna pass
Tough times
Tough times don't last
Lovers do
Me and you
Believe me baby
Oh yeah
(Whoa whoa whoa)
Tough times don't last
Baby now
(Whoa whoa whoa)
Oh yeah
Na na na na na na na na na
(Whoa whoa whoa)
Oh yeah
It's me
It's you
(Whoa whoa whoa)
Oh yeah
Tough times don't last
(Whoa whoa whoa)
Oh yeah
(Whoa whoa whoa)
The lyrics to Bad English's song Tough Times Don't Last speak to the idea that despite any hardships one may face, love can help overcome them. From a place of desperation, the singer is asking how to reach his partner as he feels lost without them. However, he sees his partner's tears as a sign that they can turn things around together. Despite past troubles, the singer believes that they have always come through and things can get better with the support of each other.
The chorus of the song repeats the message that tough times don't last, but lovers do. The storm of trouble will pass, and the couple can work through it together. The singer urges his partner not to give up on them and to believe that things can improve. He also reminds them to measure the risks they are taking as their hearts are breaking, but that things can only get better from here on.
Overall, the song focuses on the power of love to help people through difficult times. It acknowledges that hard times are inevitable, but that with the right support and determination, they will eventually pass. Bad English's song Tough Times Don't Last is a reminder to hold onto love during the storms of life.
Line by Line Meaning
From a desperate place
In a tough situation where things seem impossible
How do I reach you
How can I communicate with you
You know I scare myself
I'm afraid of the challenges we face
These crazy nights without you
The pain of being separated from you is difficult to bear
And I feel no pain
Seeing you cry renders me numb
When I see you cry
It pains me to see you in tears
We can turn it around now
We can make things better
You're my reason to try
You're my motivation to keep going
We've all seen some trouble
We have all faced difficulties before
But we've always come through
We have always overcome them
You know things could get better
Things could improve if we work at it
Hey babe believe me
Don't lose hope, trust me
Tough times don't last
Difficulties are temporary
Lovers do
Love endures
Baby don't give up
Don't lose faith in us
On me and you
Our relationship
Cause trouble's just a storm
Challenges are like a storm that will eventually pass
That's gonna pass
This too shall pass
We can work so hard
We can put in effort
Til we feel the strain
Until it becomes difficult to continue
We can get so close
We can have a strong connection
It's the distance
However, there's something keeping us apart
We can't explain
We can't figure out what it is
Still I reach for you
I still try to connect with you
In the pouring rain
Even when it's difficult and unpleasant
Like a change in the weather
Like a sudden shift in mood
Here comes the sun
Things are starting to look better
Things could only get better
Things can still improve
You say now that your heart is breakin'
You're feeling heartbroken at the moment
From the wild times that you've lived
From the difficult experiences you've had
Better measure the risks that you're taking
Be careful about the choices you make
Hey babe it can only get better
Things can only improve from here
Me and you
Just the two of us
Believe me baby
Trust me, my love
Na na na na na na na na na
All our troubles shall pass
Oh yeah
That's a fact
It's me
I'm here for you
It's you
You have my love and support
Tough times don't last
But love does
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JONATHAN CAIN, DAVID ROBERTS, JOHN CHARLES WAITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind