Structure and influences
The song's roots can be traced back to rock and roll legend Bo Diddley's song "I'm a Man", which uses the same guitar riff and vocal rhythm, and has a similar overall structure, as well as Muddy Waters's "She Moves Me" and "Mannish Boy". The song also holds a very similar melody to AC/DC's hit "Whole Lotta Rosie", released on their 1977 album Let There Be Rock, although the song of AC/DC has more figures in the riff, it's moved and has a completely different bridge and chorus, while the vocal structure is no longer comparable as in the preceding songs.
Music video
The video intercuts a live performance by Thorogood and his band with his playing a lengthy game of pool with Bo Diddley himself (who therefore, presumably, did not mind Thorogood's reworking of his song). Pool legend Willie Mosconi is summoned from another room by a spectator, and he wagers a large sum of money on Diddley. As Thorogood appears to be winning, a group of children outside celebrate while Diddley gets a dirty look from Mosconi.
Thorogood prominently smokes a fat cigar throughout the pool-playing sequence. The video ends with Thorogood making the 8 ball drop into a pocket by flicking a large quantity of cigar ash on the floor, apparently triggering the drop of the ball
Appearances in other media
The song was used in the bar scene in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. "Bad to the Bone" can also be heard in the remake of The Parent Trap (featuring Lindsay Lohan) in the poker scene, the opening credits to Major Payne, in the first scene and during the closing credits of Stephen King's Christine, as well as multiple episodes of the sitcom Married... with Children, in the Super Nintendo classic game Rock 'n Roll Racing, and in the film Talk Radio as the song that starts off the talk show. The song also served as the main theme to Problem Child, with its main riff appearing through the movie and served as the background music in the restored Camaro scene in Better Off Dead. It was also featured in the episode Endless Summer of the series Renegade. Almost the full Song can be heard at the beginning of the Episode "Nobody Lives Forever" on the TV-Series Miami Vice.
The song is used by for Dennis Anderson's Grave Digger monster truck as entrance music, and plays during his portion of the freestyle round at Monster Jam events, and as an entrance theme for closing pitcher Takashi Saito of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was also played during every at bat of former Seattle Mariners slugger Jay Buhner.
In 2008, "Bad to the Bone" is being used for a TV commercial for Wrangler Jeans featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The song is also quite a popular entrance theme song in professional wrestling. As many wrestlers have used it as their theme song. Such as Kevin Wacholz, who used the song in the 1980s as "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly, while wrestling for the American Wrestling Association. It was also used by the Bad Crew.
A modified version of the song was used in a TV ad for the Buick Grand National
In advertisements for the tv show Lost, the song was used as the theme music for the character James "Sawyer" Ford.
On October 7, 2008 the song was released as downloadable content for the music video game series Rock Band.
Bad to the Bone
George Thorogood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said, "Leave this one alone"
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I'll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya, honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I'll make a rich woman beg
And I'll make a good woman steal
I'll make an old woman blush
And I'll make a young girl squeal
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya, honey
That I'm bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
Now when I walk the streets
Kings and queens step aside
Every woman I meet
They all stay satisfied
I wanna tell ya, pretty baby
What I see I make my own
And I'm here to tell ya, honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Woo, bad to the bone
The lyrics to George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" describe a person who from birth, was marked as "bad to the bone" by the nurses attending to him. This person, who is male, is portrayed as someone who is confident, bold, and fearless. Throughout the song, lyrics compare his actions, telling the listener that he has broken countless hearts in the past and that he will "break a thousand more" before he's through. He is a force to be reckoned with, someone who can make the wealthiest woman beg and the sweetest girl squeal. His confidence is so high that even kings and queens step aside for him.
Interestingly, the song's main character is not portrayed negatively despite the lyrics describing his criminal behavior. Rather, the lyrics depict him as an ultimate macho man who is being celebrated for his strength and power, almost as if he is a hero. The song celebrates the lived experience of someone who is confident and seasoned in the ways of the world.
The song has sparked a wide range of interpretations, with some people seeing it as a powerful tribute to individualism, confidence, and fearlessness. Others, however, argue that the song celebrates and normalizes anti-social and criminal behavior. Regardless of the interpretation, the song has had an immense impact on American pop culture and remains a classic among rock fans.
Line by Line Meaning
On the day I was born
From the day I was born, it was clear that I was different
The nurses all gathered 'round
Everyone around me could sense that something was special about me
And they gazed in wide wonder
People looked at me with amazement and awe
At the joy they had found
People could see that I was going to bring excitement and energy to the world
The head nurse spoke up
Even at birth, there was someone who recognized my potential
Said, "Leave this one alone"
The nurse knew that I was unique and didn't want anyone to mess with me
She could tell right away
The nurse knew from the very beginning that I was not to be messed with
That I was bad to the bone
She knew that I had a rebellious and defiant spirit that would not be tamed
I broke a thousand hearts
I've had countless romances and left many broken hearts in my wake
Before I met you
I was a player before I finally found someone I wanted to settle down with
I'll break a thousand more, baby
I still have the power to seduce and conquer anyone I choose
Before I am through
I'm not going to stop anytime soon
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
I want to win you over and make you mine
Yours and yours alone
I want to be the only one you desire
I'm here to tell ya, honey
I'm letting you know upfront what I'm all about
That I'm bad to the bone
I'm not easy to deal with and will always be wild and rebellious
I'll make a rich woman beg
I can bring any woman, regardless of social class, to her knees
And I'll make a good woman steal
I can corrupt even the most virtuous of women
I'll make an old woman blush
I've still got it, and I can even make older women feel alive again
And I'll make a young girl squeal
I'm not picky, and can seduce anyone from young girls to older women
Now when I walk the streets
People know who I am and respect my presence
Kings and queens step aside
Even the highest of social ranks must bow down to me
Every woman I meet
I have this impact on women everywhere I go
They all stay satisfied
I leave a lasting impression on every woman I encounter
I wanna tell ya, pretty baby
I need to let you know, you should be aware
What I see I make my own
I'm not afraid to claim what I want and make it mine
And I'm here to tell ya, honey
Listen up, pay attention
That I'm bad to the bone
I'm a tough, uncompromising person and I won't change for anyone
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: George Thorogood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gjmarco71
Lyrics: π΅πΆ On the day I was born
The nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
And she said leave this one alone
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I'll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I make a rich woman beg
I'll make a good woman steal
I'll make an old woman blush
And make a young girl squeal
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
Now when I walk the streets
Kings and Queens step aside
Every woman I meet
They all stay satisfied
I wanna tell ya pretty baby
Well ya see I make my own
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
(Hoo) bad to the bone πΆπ΅
@NRSessions
I have such fond memories of my drunk dad being forcibly removed from our house by law enforcement while this song was playing on the stereo at full volume. God I miss the good old days.
@treva4eva467
What's your definition of fond exactly?
@samuelsam878
That's his prison theme song
@NR-pn6mn
Congratβs to your dadβs felony charges and disturbing the neighborhood. Good old times!
@kyboy5
Was your dad getting belligerent with them
@josejaimegarcia3220
ππππππππππππΌπΆπππππππ
@panna7241
This guitar riff has done irreparable damage to my sense of humor and i love it
@Wil_Liam1
Lol π
@T110E4_Wanderer
and my speakers too
@norandomstuff
π