Singer/guitarist Joan Jett composed the song with Kim Fowley, The Runaway's then-manager. In the 2005 documentary Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways, Fowley and former Runaways lead singer Cherie Currie claimed that "Cherry Bomb" was quickly written just for Currie to audition for the band because the band members could not perform the song she originally chose to sing.
Jett re-recorded the song with her band the Blackhearts for the 1984 album Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth.
Cherry Bomb
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
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Can't stay at school
Old folks say
"You poor little fool"
Down the street
I'm the girl next door
I'm the fox you've been waiting for
Hello Daddy
Hello Mom
I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Hello world
I'm your wild girl
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Stone age love and strange sounds too
Come on baby let me get into you
Bad nights causin' teenage blues
Get down ladies you've got nothing to lose!
Hello Daddy
Hello Mom
I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Hello world
I'm your wild girl
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Hey street boy, want some style?
Your dead end dreams don't make you smile
I'll give ya something to live for
Have ya, grab ya
'Til you're sore
Hello Daddy
Hello Mom
I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Hello world
I'm your wild girl
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Cherry bomb
Joan Jett's song "Cherry Bomb" is an energetic and rebellious anthem that encapsulates the excitement and freedom of youth. The lyrics convey a young girl's desire to break free from the confines of her home and school and explore the world around her. The "old folks" may tell her she's a "poor little fool," but she sees herself as the "fox you've been waiting for" - a bold, confident, and irresistible force of nature.
The chorus of the song is a rallying cry for all the wild girls out there: "Hello Daddy, Hello Mom, I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb, Hello world, I'm your wild girl, ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb." It's a declaration of independence and a refusal to be tamed or contained. The verses are filled with references to sex and rebellion, with the singer urging the listener to "come on baby, let me get into you" and offering to "give ya something to live for."
Overall, "Cherry Bomb" is a celebration of youthful energy, rebellion, and sexuality. It's a song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt the urge to break free and live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't stay at home
I'm too restless to be confined to the house
Can't stay at school
I'm too rebellious for the classroom
Old folks say
The adults in my life disapprove of my behavior
"You poor little fool"
They think I'm naive and foolish
Down the street
I'm right around the corner
I'm the girl next door
I'm not quite what you expect
I'm the fox you've been waiting for
I'm exactly what you've been craving
Hello Daddy
Hey father figure,
Hello Mom
Hey mother figure,
I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb
I'm your explosive and irresistible child
Hello world
Hey everyone else,
I'm your wild girl
I'm the one who's going to shake things up
Stone age love and strange sounds too
I'm not interested in conventional romance or music
Come on baby let me get into you
I want to make a physical and emotional connection with you
Bad nights causin' teenage blues
I'm dealing with typical teenage angst
Get down ladies you've got nothing to lose!
Girls should embrace their freedom and have fun
Hey street boy, want some style?
I can help you upgrade your image
Your dead end dreams don't make you smile
You're not happy with your life
I'll give ya something to live for
I'll show you what it means to really live
Have ya, grab ya
Come on, let's go
'Til you're sore
Let's have a wild and unforgettable experience
Cherry bomb
I'm explosive and impossible to ignore
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joan Jett, Kim Fowley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind