You Give Love a Bad Name
Jon Bon Jovi Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darling, you give love a bad name

An angel's smile is what you sell
You promised me heaven and put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison you can't break free

Whoa-oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
Whoa-oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (Bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (Bad name)
You give love a bad name

Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A schoolboy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

Whoa-oh, you're a loaded gun
Whoa-oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (Bad name)
You give love, oh

Ohh, shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (Bad name)

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (Bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (Bad name)

(Whoa) You give love
(Whoa) You give love (A bad name)
(Whoa) You give love
(Whoa) You give love (A bad name)

(Whoa) You give love
(Whoa) You give love (A bad name)




(Whoa) You give love
(Whoa) You give love (A bad name)

Overall Meaning

"You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi is a classic 1980s hard rock song with fast beats and catchy lyrics. The song talks about a woman who lures men in with her sweet smile, promising heaven, but ultimately takes them through hell. The singer of the song has fallen into the chains of love. He is trapped because he cannot break free from his prison of passion. The woman who has captured his heart is a loaded gun with nowhere to run, and there is no way out of his predicament. He is ultimately the victim of love's game and left with a heart shot.


The song portrays the struggle of the singer who tries to regain his lost love, but there is no turning back. He tries to forget his past, but his love has already been destroyed, and he is left alone. The song's narrator warns others about this woman's impure intentions, saying she gives love a bad name. The song's chorus is a reflection of the apparent tragedy, encouraging the singer to take the blame for his heartache.


The song's powerful lyrics and catchy melody earned it a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for four weeks. It was also named one of the Top 10 Jukebox Singles of The Year by Billboard magazine. The song's unmistakable guitar sound, created by Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi, has become an iconic sound of the 1980s. It was covered by numerous other artists, including Atreyu and Blake Shelton.


Line by Line Meaning

Shot through the heart
You hurt me deeply


And you're to blame
You're responsible for my pain


Darling, you give love a bad name
You make people distrust love


An angel's smile is what you sell
You deceive people with your innocent appearance


You promised me heaven and put me through hell
You gave me false hope and caused me great suffering


Chains of love got a hold on me
I feel trapped in this painful relationship


When passion's a prison you can't break free
I'm trapped by my intense emotions


Whoa-oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
You're dangerous and unpredictable


Whoa-oh, there's nowhere to run
I can't escape from you


No one can save me
I'm in this alone


The damage is done
The harm is already done


I play my part and you play your game
We both have our roles in this destructive relationship


Paint your smile on your lips
You hide your true feelings behind a fake smile


Blood red nails on your fingertips
You have caused pain to others with your actions


A schoolboy's dream, you act so shy
You pretend to be innocent and inexperienced


Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye
Your actions have caused the end of this relationship


You give love, oh
You're the reason love is difficult


Whoa, You give love (A bad name)
You make people distrust love




Contributed by Nicholas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@FarrasAlFath

Lyrics
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give love a bad name
An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me Heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free
Oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
Hey, you give love, a bad name
Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye
Whoa, you're a loaded gun
Whoa, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, oh
Oh, shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love



@nuhkestering6402

LYRICS
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give love a bad name
An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free
Oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, a bad name
Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye
Whoa, you're a loaded gun
Whoa, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, oh
Oh, shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love



@fly8668

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give love a bad name
An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me Heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free
Oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
Hey, you give love, a bad name
Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye
Whoa, you're a loaded gun
Whoa, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, oh
Oh, shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love
Source: LyricFind



All comments from YouTube:

@losachoro4996

If your here watching this in 2024 your a legend

@jacobpodwirny2292

Why thank you.

@user-qw1nt1et3v

Yep a legend in my own mind lol. Wore this album out. Glad to stream this again

@InspirationForTheHandicapped

Right here.

@96_JR

Ty ,U too

@trentshumaker

yessir@@96_JR

5 More Replies...

@harrisonobi5917

Who is here in March, 2024?

@user-vq8no4kh4s

Me

@clown_pierce_x

me

@Luczkeee_

me

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