Born to Lose
Johnny Thunders The Heartbreakers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

That's the way you go
This city is so cold
And I'm, I'm so sold
That's why I'm know

I said hit it
Born to lose, born to lose, born to lose
Oh baby I'm born too loose

Nothing to do
I've nothing to say
Only one thing that I want
It's the only way

I said hit it
Born to lose
I said hit it
Born to lose
I said hit it
Born to lose
Oh baby I'm born too loose
Oh baby I'm born too loose

Living in a jungle
It ain't so hard
Living in the city
It will eat out, eat out your heart
I said hit it
Born to lose
I said hit it
Born to lose
I said hit it
Born to lose

Baby I'm born too loose
Oh baby I'm born too loose




Oh baby I'm born too loose
Oh baby I'm born to ...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Born to Lose" by Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers depict a sense of hopelessness and resignation towards life. The first verse describes the city as "so cold" and the singer as "sold" to this way of life. This suggests that the singer has been conditioned to expect and accept the hardships of living in the city. The chorus reinforces this sense of despair with the repeated phrase "Born to lose" that expresses the fatalistic view that some people are destined to fail in life. The line "Oh baby I'm born too loose," suggests that the singer feels unmoored in life and lacks a sense of purpose or direction.


The second verse highlights the sense of boredom and lack of fulfillment felt by the singer. He has nothing to do and nothing to say, except for the desire for something that he has not yet named. The final verse contrasts living in a jungle, which is depicted as easier, with living in the city, which is described as something that will "eat out your heart." This line further reinforces the idea that the city is a hostile environment that pits people against each other, resulting in a dog-eat-dog mentality.


Overall, the lyrics to "Born to Lose" paint a bleak picture of life in the city and suggest that the singer has given up on trying to change it. The repeated refrain of "Born to lose" seems to embody a sense of fatalism and resignation towards life's struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

That's the way you go
This is the path that you take


This city is so cold
The city is unwelcoming and lacks warmth


And I'm, I'm so sold
I am fully committed and convinced


That's why I'm know
That's why I am here now


I said hit it
I say start playing the music


Born to lose, born to lose, born to lose
I was destined to fail, from birth


Oh baby I'm born too loose
I am lacking in restraint, always wild


Nothing to do
I have no plans or task


I've nothing to say
I am out of words, and have nothing new to express


Only one thing that I want
I have just one desire, goal or wish


It's the only way
It's the only path or option for me


Living in a jungle
Living in a wild, uncivilized place


It ain't so hard
It really isn't that difficult


Living in the city
Living in a big, bustling metropolis


It will eat out, eat out your heart
It will drain the life and soul out of you


Baby I'm born too loose
I am lacking in restraint, always wild


Oh baby I'm born to ...
The song ends abruptly and inconclusively




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Genzale

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions