Born Under a Bad Sign
ERIC CLAPTON &/THE CREAM Lyrics
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Born under a bad sign.
I've been down since I began to crawl.
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all.
Bad luck and trouble's my only friend.
I've been down ever since I was ten.
[Chorus]
You know, wine and women is all I crave.
A big bad woman's gonna carry me to my grave.
[Chorus]
Bad luck and trouble's been my only friend.
I've been down ever since I was ten.
Born under a bad sign.
I've been down since I began to crawl.
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck.
If it wasn't for real bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all.
Born under a bad sign.
Born under a bad sign.
The lyrics of Eric Clapton and the Cream's song "Born Under a Bad Sign" convey a sense of constant struggle and misfortune. The chorus repeats the phrase "born under a bad sign" which suggests that the singer feels cursed from birth. The next line, "I've been down since I began to crawl," emphasizes the idea that the singer has never experienced any true luck in their life. The phrase "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all" highlights the irony in the situation. The singer seems resigned to their fate, recognizing that their life has been filled with hardship and difficulty.
The next verse, "Bad luck and trouble's my only friend," reinforces this idea of isolation and the idea that the singer has never had anyone to rely on besides themselves. The line "I've been down ever since I was ten" shows that the singer has been grappling with these issues for a long time. The desperation of the singer is further emphasized in the third verse where they state that "wine and women is all I crave" and that they expect to be carried to their grave by a big bad woman. This demonstrates that the singer has given up hope of ever finding happiness, instead resorting to vices to pass the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Born under a bad sign.
My life has been plagued by misfortune and hardship since the beginning.
I've been down since I began to crawl.
I have been struggling and experiencing difficulty for as long as I can remember.
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all.
I have been unlucky in almost every aspect of my life, and without it, I would have no luck whatsoever.
Bad luck and trouble's my only friend.
I have come to expect misfortune and hardship in my life, and I feel that these are the only things that have consistently been with me.
I've been down ever since I was ten.
I have been experiencing difficulties and struggles since I was a child of ten years old.
You know, wine and women is all I crave.
The only things that provide me with any sense of fulfillment or pleasure are alcohol and women.
A big bad woman's gonna carry me to my grave.
I am destined for a self-destructive path, and a woman who is no good for me will likely be the one who leads to my death.
If it wasn't for real bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all.
My misfortunes have been so significant and constant that without them, I would have no luck whatsoever.
Born under a bad sign.
My life has been defined by misfortune and difficulty from the very beginning.
Born under a bad sign.
My outlook on life has been negatively impacted by my constant experiences of bad luck and trouble.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOOKER T. JONES, WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind