Bad Influence
Dave Bargeron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, but I'm a changed man now, baby,
And your other friend can get you what you want now.
If I go through those same things again,
I'll be worse off than I started.
[Chorus:]
Girl, you're such a bad influence
Girl, you're such a bad influence,
I've got to stay away.
I've been hurt in all of the worst kind of ways,
And it's you pretty baby,
I've just got to stay away from.
I won't go through those same things again,
I'm so glad that we parted.
[Chorus]
Somebody please, you've got to help me break away.
You know I don't like this lonely feeling.
It wasn't meant to be this way.
I won't go through those same things again,
I'm so glad we parted.
[Chorus]
You're such a bad influence,
And I have got to stay away.
You're such a bad influence,
I've got to stay away from you, baby.
I've got to stay away.
The song Bad Influence is about a relationship that was toxic and harmful for the singer but he has gotten out of it and is trying to stay away from it. He talks about how his former partner used him to get what she wanted but now that he has changed, he doesn't want to go back to that toxic cycle. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the idea that the girl was a bad influence and had ways to make the singer do what she wanted.
The lyrics also show that the singer has been hurt in the past and doesn't want to go through the same things again. He realizes that his former partner was the source of his pain and has to stay away from her. He calls for help to break away from the cycle and claims that it wasn't meant to be this way.
Line by Line Meaning
You use me to get you anything you wanted.
You manipulate me to obtain everything you desire.
Oh, but I'm a changed man now, baby,
I am claiming to be a different person now.
And your other friend can get you what you want now.
You have other people who can fulfill your desires.
If I go through those same things again,
If I experience the same negative situations as before,
I'll be worse off than I started.
It will have a more negative effect on me than the first time.
Girl, you're such a bad influence
You have a negative impact on me.
And you've got ways to make me do what you want.
You know how to control me and get me to do what you desire.
I've been hurt in all of the worst kind of ways,
You have caused me a lot of emotional pain.
And it's you pretty baby,
It is specifically you who has caused me this pain.
I've just got to stay away from.
My only choice is to distance myself from you.
Somebody please, you've got to help me break away.
I am pleading for someone to help me end this toxic relationship.
You know I don't like this lonely feeling.
I am not comfortable with feeling isolated and alone.
It wasn't meant to be this way.
This situation was not supposed to turn out like this.
You're such a bad influence,
Your presence in my life is negative.
And I have got to stay away.
I must stay away from you.
I've got to stay away from you, baby.
I must keep my distance from you.
I've got to stay away.
It is imperative that I avoid being around you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHAEL VANNICE, ROBERT CRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jwjeffrey
Thanks so much for posting this!
SATOSHEEE E
Ｑuite rare Steve's long solo!!!
Daniel Emmanuel Juárez Delgado
@Barry McCorkindale I don't understand why they always comment that Steve Katz wasn't a good guitarist, from my point of view he was and he knew how to fit in very well with a tremendous jazz band, something that not any guitarist would achieve. Even Steve himself went so far as to say that he started playing electric guitar by accident, so having remained in the band during its best years, with great hits and grammys, must have meant that he had great discipline to improve as a guitarist.
Today, I can say that he is one of my favorite guitarists. And I think he needed to make a solo career and polish himself more with the instrument. Without much trouble, it could have been another Santana, George Benson or Jojje Wadenius. Even on the first Blood albums, Steve's guitar sound was very similar to Carlos Santana's, without being as skillful or fast as Carlos Santana.
Barry McCorkindale
@Huw Pritchard , bringing in Levi would've been a pretty tall order! That being said, I can actually hear him singing "You've Made Me So Very Happy" pretty easily.
Huw Pritchard
@Barry McCorkindale IIRC Rolling Stone liked the first incarnation of BS&T, but reckoned it could be inproved by drafting in Bloomfield, Tim Davis of the Steve Miller Band on drums, and Levi Stubbs as lead vocalist. Now what a band that would have been!
In defense of Steve Katz, a pleasant singing voice, and I guess by bringing in DCT, the band got somewhere a little close to Stubbs!
Barry McCorkindale
@Huw Pritchard , Al would've loved that, as he and Bloomfield were great friends, except that Bloomfield was with Electric Flag at the time - and coincidentally, lost his job with that band about the same time Kooper lost the job with HIS band! And thus, we were provided "Super Session".
Huw Pritchard
@Barry McCorkindale I think Rolling Stone suggested Mike Bloomfield would be a good fit
Linda Furia
Jim Fielder!
SATOSHEEE E
Jim Fielder should have deserve as much credit as Bobby Colomby did. The combination of Jim and Bobby was perfect.