Bad News to Fall in Love
Golden Earring Lyrics


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From the Album:
* Paradise in distress
Don't try to put the blame on me
Every night I come stealin' home
You keep thinkin' I've been drinkin'
I been missin' you – no - no
Damn sherrif ain't no friend of mine
Hand-cuffin' my good times
Got no pity – show no mercy
Sure makes me think of you
He's so uptight
Downtown – can't get enough
Of the way I pay for love
Cause I'm ready – I got plenty
Who's complainin' when there's more than enough!
A deck of cards and a pair of dice
Make me feel twice as nice
The wheel's spinnin' and I'm winnin'
‘Til I walk through the door
Like I said before:
It's bad news to fall in love (3x)
With a mean motherfucker
Half dead ‘til the afternoon
Wake up feelin' cruel
You don't get it – I just said it
Pour the booze and fetch my silver spoon
Don't mind bein' critical
This love thing's pitiful
Why don't you let it
Fade and forget it




I'm bad news for a girl like you
And I'm warnin' you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Golden Earring's "Bad News to Fall in Love" tell a story of a man who is seemingly caught in a cycle of destructive behavior. He's constantly stealing home, missing his lover, and being handcuffed by the police. Despite this, he sings about how he's enjoying the lifestyle of downtown, paying for love in his own way. He's dressed to the nines, always gambling with a deck of cards and a pair of dice. He's confident in his skills and winning, but he can't shake off the feeling that his addiction is ruining his relationships. He warns his lovers that he's bad news and advises them to leave him.


The song is steeped in a sense of danger and forbidden pleasures. The singer of the song lives a fast and reckless life, indulging in vices like gambling, drinking, and other activities of the sort. He's impulsive, selfish, and doesn't think much about the consequences of his actions, showing that he's not ready to make a commitment to a relationship. The lyrics of the song reveal that the singer is aware that he's self-destructive, but he can't help himself. This makes him a hazard to the people around him, including his lovers. The last lines of the song suggest that he's aware of his destructive quality and urges women not to fall into the trap of his love.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't try to put the blame on me
Don't hold me responsible for your assumptions


Every night I come stealin' home
I come home late every night


You keep thinkin' I've been drinkin'
You keep assuming I'm drunk


I been missin' you – no - no
I've been missing you, it's true


Damn sherrif ain't no friend of mine
I don't have a friendly relationship with the sheriff


Hand-cuffin' my good times
The police are keeping me from having fun


Got no pity – show no mercy
They're not empathetic or compassionate


Sure makes me think of you
It reminds me of you


He's so uptight
He's very strict and tense


Downtown – can't get enough
I love the city and can't get enough of it


Of the way I pay for love
I spend money to find love


Cause I'm ready – I got plenty
I'm ready for anything and I have plenty of money


Who's complainin' when there's more than enough!
Who would complain when there's more than enough to go around?


A deck of cards and a pair of dice
I'm playing games of chance


Make me feel twice as nice
It makes me feel even better


The wheel's spinnin' and I'm winnin'
I'm having a winning streak at the roulette wheel


‘Til I walk through the door
Until I go back home


Like I said before:
As I've said previously


It's bad news to fall in love (3x)
Falling in love is a bad idea


With a mean motherfucker
With someone who's tough and selfish


Half dead ‘til the afternoon
I'm not a morning person


Wake up feelin' cruel
I feel angry when I wake up


You don't get it – I just said it
You're not understanding me, even though I just explained it


Pour the booze and fetch my silver spoon
Pour me a drink and bring me my cocaine spoon


Don't mind bein' critical
I don't hesitate to criticize


This love thing's pitiful
Being in love is embarrassing


Why don't you let it
Why don't you just let it go?


Fade and forget it
Let it fade into oblivion and forget it


I'm bad news for a girl like you
I'm not good for someone like you


And I'm warnin' you
I'm telling you in advance




Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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