While most bluesy hard rock acts of the '70s and '80s hailed from the United States (the south, to be exact), there were several exceptions to the rule, such as Canadian singer/guitarist Pat Travers. Born in Toronto on April 12, 1954, Travers first picked up the guitar just prior to entering his teens, after witnessing a local performance by the great Jimi Hendrix. It wasn't long before Travers was studying the other top rock guitarists of the day (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, etc.), and paying his dues by playing in bar bands in the Quebec area.
His first true touring gig came his way when he hooked up with '50s rock n' roll vet Ronnie Hawkins (best known for performing with a backing cast that would eventually transform into The Band). But Travers' main love was hard rock, so after a year, he packed up his belongings and headed to London. Shortly after touchdown in the U.K., Travers recorded a demo that would land him a recording deal with Polydor and result in the release of his debut, Pat Travers, during the spring of 1976. A performance at England's annual Reading Festival the same year only peaked interest, which resulted in two more releases in 1977, Makin' Magic and Putting It Straight (both of which featured a pre-Iron Maiden Nicko McBrain on drums), before Travers returned to North America and set his sights on the U.S. rock market.
Hooking up with a fine backing band comprised of drummer Tommy Aldridge, guitarist Pat Thrall, and bassist Mars Cowling, the new Travers band lineup premiered on 1979's Heat in the Street. This led to Travers' most commercially successful period, resulting in a pair of Top 30 releases, 1979's Live! Go For What You Know (considered by many Travers fans to be his finest hour) and 1980's Crash and Burn. But soon after the dawn of the '80s, bluesy hard rock seemed to quickly fall out of favor amongst the U.S. record buying public, in favor of slickly produced arena rock, and later, MTV-approved bands. As a result, each subsequent Travers release sold less, as his last albums to appear on the U.S. album charts included 1981's Radio Active, 1982's Black Pearl, and 1984's Hot Shot.
Unhappy with Polydor, Travers opted to take a break from releasing albums for the remainder of the decade, but continued to tour. Travers' 1990 comeback album, School of Hard Knocks, failed to re-spark interest on the charts, although he continued to issue new studio albums (Blues Tracks, Just a Touch, Blues Magnet, etc.) and archival live sets (King Biscuit Flower Hour, BBC Radio One Live in Concert) throughout the decade.
Travers continues to tour and record regularly (playing alongside the likes of Night Ranger's Jeff Watson, Cinderella's Tom Keifer, and Rick Derringer), and in 2001, performed as part of the 'Voices of Classic Rock' tour. Travers emerged from the recording studio once more in 2003, with P.T. Power Trio, a recording that featured covers by the likes of Cream ("White Room"), Robin Trower ("Day of the Eagle"), and ZZ Top ("Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings"), among others. (Greg Prato - AllMusic Guide)
Born Under a Bad Sign
Pat Travers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no luck at all
Bad luck and trouble
And I've been down
Ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no luck at all
Bad luck and trouble
Have been my only friend
And I've been down
Ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign
I've been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no luck at all
Born under a bad sign
I've been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
Well I wouldn't have no luck
If it wasn't for really bad luck
Well I wouldn't have no luck at all
Born under a bad sign
Born under a bad sign
Born under a bad sign
Born under a bad sign
The lyrics of Pat Travers's "Born Under A Bad Sign" are a reflection of a lifetime full of tough experiences, misfortunes, and adversity. The singer's words are a clear manifestation of how his luck has been consistently down since he was born or even before he began to craw, as he highlights in the opening verse. He attributes his lack of progress and success to his bad luck, which has been his only friend throughout his life.
The repetition of the phrase "Born Under A Bad Sign" throughout the song reinforces the idea of his unlucky and doomed fate. The repetition also emphasizes the lasting effect it has had on his life. The singer's use of the phrase "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all" is an indication of how he has come to accept his situation as inevitable, and there is no altering it.
In conclusion, "Born Under A Bad Sign" by Pat Travers is a song about a person's lifelong struggle with bad luck, how it has affected their life, and how they have learned to accept it as part of their destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock me baby
An expression of desire for comfort and reassurance from another person
Born under a bad sign
Feeling as though one's life is clouded by misfortune and struggle from the very beginning
I been down since I began to crawl
Experiencing difficulty and despair for as long as one can remember
If it wasn't for bad luck
Acknowledging that misfortune has been a defining aspect of one's life experience
I wouldn't have no luck at all
Without misfortune, one feels that they would have no positive experiences or success
Bad luck and trouble
Continued hardship and misfortune have been the primary themes of one's life
Have been my only friend
Misfortune and difficulty have been the only consistent aspects of one's life, to the point where they have become familiar and somewhat comforting
And I've been down
Continuing to experience negative emotions and struggling to find positivity
Ever since I was ten
Experiencing hardship and misfortune for a significant portion of one's lifetime, beginning at a young age
Born under a bad sign
Reaffirmation of feeling as though one's life is marked by struggle and misfortune
I've been down since I began to crawl
Continuing to experience ongoing difficulty and struggle from a very young age
Well I wouldn't have no luck
Without the persistence of ongoing misfortune, one would not have any positive experiences or success
If it wasn't for really bad luck
Acknowledging that the level of misfortune has been particularly severe and persistent
Born under a bad sign
Continuing to feel marked by a life of ongoing difficulty and struggle
Born under a bad sign
Repetition of feeling defined by years of hardship and misfortune
Born under a bad sign
Ongoing affirmation of feeling marked by chronic difficulty and misfortune
Born under a bad sign
Continued feeling marked by a life of ongoing struggle and misfortune
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOOKER T. JONES, WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ray McKown
One of the best bands ever: Pat Travers, Pat Thrall, Mars Cowling and Tommy Aldridge. Check out "Go For What You Know" for maybe the best live album EVER!
jeb baynum
Pure gold
Rocky Mountain High
Been a Pat Travers fan since the mid 70's. Another one of those guitar greats that never got the recognition that he deserves...
TRAVX11
If you know you know
Daniel Powers
He owned a house in the Rosemont neighborhood outside Orlando in the late 70s. We watched him get busted for jamming on his roof. LOL the 70s where free and fun.
rj h
Rocky Mountain High saw these dudes warming up for somebody way back when... Think it was the 90s before I got over it
Darkside Johnny
+Bob S Got to see him in concert in the late 70's :)
Jim Duccilli
Lots of bands did this song, but this version is my favorite.
Bruce7
1 of the Best Covers. Saw PT several times beginning in the 70's
Da Vid
I agree JD ..Pat rocked it in the studio .....Live was just killer .