Brook Benton (born Benjamin Franklin Peay on September 19, 1931; died April… Read Full Bio ↴Brook Benton (born Benjamin Franklin Peay on September 19, 1931; died April 9, 1988) was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just a Matter of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.

When Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs and in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career.

He was a member of several gospel groups including "The Langfordairies", "The Jerusalem Stars", and "The Golden Gate Quartet".

After returning to his home state he joined a R&B singing group, "the Sandmen", and soon went back to New York to try for a big break. Eventually the record company decided to drop The Sandmen and push Brook as a solo artist.

Benton wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit A Million Miles From Nowhere, and later he joined the Mercury label, which would later bring him big success.

In 1952 he got his big break with It's Just a Matter of Time and Endlessly.

It's Just a Matter of Time made it to #3 on the U.S. Pop charts, while Endlessly made it to #12 . Both hits were written by Benton himself.

Benton had many #1 hits including Rainy Night in Georgia and Hotel Happiness. According to Songfacts, his version of the blues standard The Boll Weevil Song has the unique distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.

Altogether, Benton had 38 hit singles through out his career. His last album was "Fools Rush In", released posthumously in 2005. He died on April 9, 1988.

Born Under a Bad Sign
Brook Benton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

Hard luck and trouble is my only friend
I been on my own ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign

I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

I can't read, haven't learned how to write
My whole life has been one big fight
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

I ain't lyin'
If it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no kind-a luck
If it wasn't for real bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

Wine and women is all I crave
A big legged woman is
gonna carry me to my grave
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

Yeah, my bad luck boy
Been havin' bad luck all of my days, yes

Overall Meaning

Born Under A Bad Sign is a blues song performed by Brook Benton, originally written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell. The lyrics delve into the theme of bad luck and misfortune, exploring the idea that some people are simply unlucky and filled with bad karma. The opening line of the song, "Born under a bad sign," serves as a metaphor for the singer's entire life, suggesting that they have been plagued by hardships from the very beginning. The lyrics mention that the singer has struggled their entire life, unable to read or write, and constantly fighting to survive.

Furthermore, the song expresses a longing for companionship and pleasure in the form of wine and women. This theme is often found in Blues music and represents a desire for temporary escape from the harsh realities of life. The lyrics suggest that the singer has nothing left in their life except their addictions, which also lead them to their ultimate demise.

Overall, Born Under A Bad Sign is a powerful Blues song that speaks to the human experience of facing adversity and the struggle to overcome it. The lyrics suggest that, no matter how hard someone tries to escape their misfortune, it is an inescapable part of their life.

Line by Line Meaning

Born under a bad sign
From the start, my life has been marked by misfortune and bad luck.

I been down since I begin to crawl
I have suffered since the very beginning of my life.

If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all
My life has been so riddled with misfortune that I feel like I don't have any good luck to balance it out.

Hard luck and trouble is my only friend
I have faced so many difficulties in my life that they have become my only constant companions.

I been on my own ever since I was ten
I have been forced to fend for myself since a very young age.

I can't read, haven't learned how to write
Due to my difficult circumstances, I have not received a proper education.

My whole life has been one big fight
My life has been a continuous struggle against various obstacles and difficulties.

I ain't lyin' If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no kind-a luck If it wasn't for real bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all
I am not exaggerating when I say that my life has been plagued with so much misfortune that I have no luck to speak of whatsoever.

Wine and women is all I crave
Due to the lack of happiness and fulfillment in my life, I seek solace in vices like alcohol and women.

A big legged woman is gonna carry me to my grave
I am so desperate for affection and attention that even a woman with no other qualities besides physical appearance could be my downfall.

Yeah, my bad luck boy Been havin' bad luck all of my days, yes
I have accepted that bad luck is a permanent part of my life and have come to terms with the fact that it will continue to affect me.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOOKER T. JONES, WILLIAM BELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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