Too Bad
Rival Sons Lyrics


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I know you better than you think I do
You coulda stuck with me
But I guess a girl's gotta do what she has to
Every now and then, my name passes your lips
Your late night stroll down a memory lane
On your, your finger tips

Do you miss me so much?

Feeling like I hypnotized you
Feel a burning deep inside you
The only thing that satisfies
You miss me so much
And now you're burning with that old flame
Yearning for my old game
You tremble when you hear my name
You miss me so much
Well, that's too bad

And we go together like a hand and gun
Squeeze off a couple rounds
Put me away 'til next time you wanna hurt someone
Every now and then, you like to empty your clip, no no
Then I go right under your belt on your hip

Do you miss me so much?

Feeling like I hypnotized you
Feel a burning deep inside you
The only thing that satisfies
You miss me so much
And now you're burning with that old flame
Yearning for my old game
You tremble when you hear my name
You miss me so much
Well, that's too bad, too bad, too bad

Feeling like I hypnotized you
Feel a burning deep inside you
The only thing that satisfies
You miss me so much
And now you're burning with that old flame
Yearning for my old game
You tremble when you hear my name
You miss me so much, so much




And you miss me
Well, that's too bad

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rival Sons’s song Too Bad suggest a toxic relationship where the singer knows their partner better than they think. The partner left the singer to do what she had to do but occasionally reminisces about the past. The singer likens their relationship to partners in crime. The partner occasionally empties their clip when they think about the past, while the singer goes right under their belt on their hip. The partner continues to miss the singer so much, and they burn with an old flame and yearn for the singer’s old game. They tremble at the sound of the singer’s name. But the singer dismisses this and says that it’s too bad.


The song is suggestive of the cycle of abuse, where the abused partner keeps coming back to the abuser. The imagery of the “hand and gun” and the “emptying of the clip” suggest violence, while the lyrics “feeling like I hypnotized you” and “the only thing that satisfies” depict a manipulative relationship. The final line “that’s too bad” is dismissive of the partner’s feelings and seems to suggest the singer is content with their partner feeling this way.


Overall, the lyrics to Too Bad suggest a dysfunctional and problematic relationship, where the singer is manipulative, and their partner is trapped in an unhealthy cycle of abuse.


Line by Line Meaning

I know you better than you think I do
The singer has a better understanding of the listener than the listener realizes.


You coulda stuck with me
The singer believes the listener had the opportunity to stay with them.


But I guess a girl's gotta do what she has to
The singer implies the listener made a conscious decision to part ways, possibly for personal reasons.


Every now and then, my name passes your lips
The artist suggests the listener still thinks about them and mentions their name occasionally.


Your late night stroll down a memory lane
The listener reflects on past experiences and memories involving the artist.


On your, your finger tips
The memories are easily accessible to the listener, as if at their fingertips.


Do you miss me so much?
The singer questions whether the listener still longs for them.


Feeling like I hypnotized you
The artist believes they had a powerful influence over the listener.


Feel a burning deep inside you
The listener experiences intense emotions related to the artist.


The only thing that satisfies
The listener's need for closure or reunion can only be fulfilled by the artist's presence.


And now you're burning with that old flame
The listener still has strong romantic feelings for the singer.


Yearning for my old game
The listener desires to be back in the same dynamic they had with the artist before.


You tremble when you hear my name
The listener has a physical reaction to hearing the singer's name.


Well, that's too bad
The singer shows no interest in rekindling their relationship with the listener.


And we go together like a hand and gun
The singer and listener have a toxic and harmful relationship dynamic.


Squeeze off a couple rounds
The artist and listener engage in emotional warfare and hurt each other.


Put me away 'til next time you wanna hurt someone
The listener uses the artist as a tool for emotional manipulation and harm.


Every now and then, you like to empty your clip, no no
The listener occasionally unleashes all their emotions and negative feelings towards the singer.


Then I go right under your belt on your hip
The singer becomes a weapon the listener uses against themselves.


And you miss me so much, so much
The artist reiterates that the listener still longs for them.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jay Buchanan, Scott Holiday

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

EvG, Eddy van Gerven

This is how legends are born, in the 70s they would be overnight success. Keep it up Rival Sons, it will happen, because your just that damm good.

Dhemeas

And last week they were in Nîmes, doing the first part of Slash ft Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. So, yeah, you were right.

Michael Fletcher

@EvG Definitely agree. I see/hear a lot of "The Doors" influence through this band. Great song, great band!

Pat King

Ha

They have been touring the world since 2009

Peter Tinsley

@Michael Fletcher I hear a lot of Robin Trower type of influence. Even the lead singer sounds like James Dewar that did vocals for Trower in a few bands.

31 More Replies...

djaps1000

Honestly, I think this is one the best rock songs in the past decade. The riff, energy, vocals, building of the song, solo, arrangement, absolutely everything is on such a high level... totally awesome.

M

Agree 100%. This is a great song!

V M

Just beyond outstanding in every aspect..These lyrics are outrageous. In awe xx

michael stauffer

This is without question the greatest American rock and roll band right now

Nielz073

Congrats on a well-deserved Grammy nomination for this one guys!

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