McAuley Schenker Group was a melodic hard rock band featuring core members … Read Full Bio ↴McAuley Schenker Group was a melodic hard rock band featuring core members Robin McAuley (vocals) and Michael Schenker (guitar), a successor to Schenker's earlier Michael Schenker Group. The group released several albums before disbanding. Their first album Perfect Timing was released in 1987, and included their first hit Gimme Your Love. Two years later, Save Yourself was released, giving this incarnation of MSG its biggest hit with the power ballad Anytime. M.S.G. followed in 1992 and Unplugged Live came out in 1993.

Bad Boys
McAuley Schenker Group Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Never Enough, never enough,
It's too little for me
Cry wolf, cry cry wolf,
The black sheep of the family
Give an inch, give an inch,
Always taking a mile
Lie down with the push and shove
Yeah I can make you smile

Bad boys
Never seem to care about anything
Bad boys
You don't want to mess around
Bad boys
Playin' with the girls havin' lots of fun
Bad boys
We really don't care

It's really tough, really tough
When you ain't got no money
Livin' rough is heavy stuff
Where ya gonna get your milk and honey
I want to be in the movies
See myself on the silver screen
Romeo playin' all those parts
In positions you ain't never seen

Bad boys
Never seem to care about anything
Bad boys
You don't want to mess around
Bad boys
Playin' with the girls havin' lots of fun
Bad boys
We really don't care

The kinda things we like to do
You don't want to know if it's good for you
We're so bad through and through
The same could happen
It's gonna happen to you
New York, New York city
My kinda town
But L.A. on a sunny day, wow!
When you've got the roof down
There's blonde hair everywhere
They sure have got the style
The bad boys taken everythin'
Drivin' everybody wild

Bad boys
Never seem to care about anything
Bad boys
You don't want to mess around
Bad boys
Playin' with the girls havin' lots of fun

Bad boys
We really don't care

Overall Meaning

The song "Bad Boys" by McAuley Schenker Group is a glamorous rock-and-roll tune about living fast and playing hard. The lyrics describe a lifestyle of excess and disregard for consequences, as the singer of the song - a so-called bad boy - revels in his hedonistic ways. The chorus repeats the phrase "bad boys" four times, and serves as a sort of battle cry for the singer and his ilk. The verses highlight the reckless abandon and selfishness that defines the bad boy: "never enough, never enough, it's too little for me" and "give an inch, always taking a mile". The lyrics also touch on the hardships that come with living on the edge and being broke, but the bad boy still maintains his cool with lines like "lie down with the push and shove, yeah I can make you smile".

The song was likely written to capture the feeling of being young and wild, and the thrill that comes with throwing caution to the wind. It speaks to those who want to feel liberated and live in the moment without any worry for the consequences. The song's message is simple and direct, and conveys the idea that living life to the fullest means taking risks and embracing your wild side.

Line by Line Meaning

Never Enough, never enough, It's too little for me
I am always seeking more and am never satisfied with what I have.

Cry wolf, cry cry wolf, The black sheep of the family
I am considered a troublemaker and oftentimes not taken seriously.

Give an inch, give an inch, Always taking a mile
I will continue to take advantage of situations and people as long as they let me.

Lie down with the push and shove Yeah I can make you smile
I am willing to manipulate and use people to get what I want, even if it means using force or coercion.

Bad boys Never seem to care about anything
People like me have little regard for social norms and the consequences of our actions.

Bad boys You don't want to mess around
My behavior can be dangerous and unpredictable, and it is best to steer clear of me.

Bad boys Playin' with the girls havin' lots of fun
I enjoy using my charm and charisma to manipulate and seduce women for my own pleasure.

Bad boys We really don't care
I have no concern for the well-being of others and am only interested in gratifying my own desires.

It's really tough, really tough When you ain't got no money
Being poor is a difficult and challenging situation.

Livin' rough is heavy stuff Where ya gonna get your milk and honey
Living in poverty is a harsh reality where basic necessities are hard to come by.

I want to be in the movies See myself on the silver screen
I have grand aspirations and dreams of achieving fame and fortune.

Romeo playin' all those parts In positions you ain't never seen
I am willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means engaging in taboo or risqué behavior, to achieve success and recognition.

The kinda things we like to do You don't want to know if it's good for you
My behavior is often reckless and could result in harm or negative consequences for myself or others.

We're so bad through and through The same could happen It's gonna happen to you
My actions could have repercussions and it is possible that others could suffer the same fate as me.

New York, New York city My kinda town But L.A. on a sunny day, wow! When you've got the roof down
I enjoy the excitement and energy of big cities, especially in southern California with its good weather and glamorous lifestyle.

There's blonde hair everywhere They sure have got the style The bad boys taken everythin' Drivin' everybody wild
I enjoy the attention and admiration of others, especially women, and take pride in my ability to charm and control them.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL SCHENKER, ROBIN MCAULEY*

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS