Bad 'n' Ruin
Faces Lyrics

Mother, don't you recognize your son?
The singer is asking their mother whether she recognizes him or not.

Coming home, yeah, yeah
The singer is expressing their eagerness to come back home.

Take me home
The singer is requesting to be taken back home.

'Cause I failed you, mother
The artist is admitting to their mother that they have failed her.

I'll be there in the morning
The artist promises to return home the next morning.

If you'll have me back
The singer is asking their mother to take them back home.

The rent up here is much too high for a room without a tap
The singer is explaining the reason for their return home, as it is too expensive to live elsewhere.

A room without a tap, whoo
The artist is commenting on the lack of basic amenities in their previous living situation.

I'll be early in the morning
The artist reiterates their plan to return home early the following morning.

And I'll find my way back home
The artist is confident that they will be able to make their way back home.

Back home, bad 'n' ruin with my tail between my legs
The singer is returning home feeling defeated and ashamed.

Tail between my legs
The artist is using this phrase to further emphasize their feeling of shame and defeat.

And I'll be so tired
The singer acknowledges that they will be exhausted upon their return home.

I'll be so tired, now, listen
The singer wants the listener to understand just how tired they will be upon their return home.

And I'll fall down off my plane
The singer is anticipating stumbling upon their arrival back home.

Don't be embarrassed, mother, by your ugly worn-out son
The artist is acknowledging their physical appearance and expressing their hope that their mother is not ashamed of them.

So just let me warn you
The artist is preparing their mother for their return home.

Mother, you won't recognize me now
The singer is warning their mother that they have changed a lot since their last meeting.

And I'll be down on Cannon street
The singer is specifying their location upon their arrival back home.

Passport in my hand
The artist is holding their passport, likely due to their recent travels.

Should you not recognize me, I've heavily made-up my eyes
The artist is again expressing their concern that their mother may not recognize them, suggesting that they have resorted to makeup to appear more familiar to her.

Mama, you won't recognize me now
The artist is directly addressing their mother and emphasizing their concern about not being recognized.

Brother, you won't recognize me now, oh lordy
The singer is expressing their concern about not being recognized by their brother.

Sister, you won't recognize me now
The artist is expressing their concern about not being recognized by their sister.

So, mother, when you've seen me, don't forget I'm your boy too
The singer is reminding their mother that despite their recent failures and changes, they are still her child.

I know my brother has done you proud, he's one foot in the grave
The singer is acknowledging their brother's success, but also suggesting that he may not be well due to the phrase 'one foot in the grave.'

I'm a burglar in the first degree
The singer is confessing to a serious crime and alluding to their current state of desperation and lawlessness.

But it don't seem to worry me
Despite their confession, the artist doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

So tired
The artist's repeated use of this phrase serves to emphasize their exhaustion and defeated state of mind.