Bad Penny
Rory Gallagher Lyrics
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You're in my sights, there's a mist on my lens.
I think you know how it was when I tripped and fell,
Well, you double-dealed me, baby and I broke like a shell.
Like a bad penny you've sure lost the glow
But I'm out of reach, your smile's sure gone cold.
Well, it can't ever be like it was then,
Don't you mess with my plans.
Some stormy nights, your memory haunts me,
You won't go away.
Well, like a bad penny you have turned up in the change,
Try to fit into the picture, you can't get inside the frame.
I think you know I'm still sore, but I'm on the mend,
Times sure have changed, it won't happen again.
Well, like a bad penny spins around and around,
Well, you won't know what's gone wrong when it all falls down,
You got to learn from now on to stop playing games,
You ought to keep on moving, you got to spin on your way.
Some lonely nights, I hear you calling,
Won't you go away?
Well, like a bad penny you have turned up again,
You're in my sights, there's a mist on my lens.
I think you know how it was when I tripped and fell,
Well, you double-dealed me, baby, I cracked like a shell.
The song "Bad Penny" by Rory Gallagher speaks about a person who has returned to the singer's life like a bad penny, which means they keep turning up despite being unwanted. The lyrics point towards the singer's past experiences with this person, who had betrayed and hurt them. As the song progresses, the singer emphasizes that they have moved on and won't let themselves be fooled again. They warn the person not to mess with their plans and to keep moving on. Still, the memory of this person haunts them, causing them discomfort and loneliness.
The song's message is pretty straight-forward yet relatable. It talks about how one should let go of toxic people and move on, learning from past experiences. One interesting fact about the song is that Rory Gallagher himself, being a skilled guitarist, plays all the guitar parts of the song live. The song has been covered by various artists like John Mayer and Gary Moore. Another notable fact is that it features a guitar riff that Gallagher borrowed from the Muddy Waters blues classic "I Can't Be Satisfied." According to Gallagher, the song was one of his favorites to play live, and he would often extend the solos in concerts. The song was part of Gallagher's seventh studio album, released in 1976, titled "Calling Card."
● The song was recorded in just two takes in Munich, Germany.
● The song was remixed and remastered in the 2020 release of the album "Blues."
● "Bad Penny" is often regarded as one of Gallagher's best songs.
● The song's lyrics were inspired by Gallagher's experiences with his former manager.
● The song has been played several times on the TV crime show "Breaking Bad."
● It was also part of the soundtrack for the 2009 video game, "Guitar Hero 5."
● "Bad Penny" was played during Gallagher's last-ever live performance in 1995.
● That same year, it was also played live with Slash and Queen's Brian May at the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival.
● The song's title is a reference to an old saying that refers to an unwanted person or thing that keeps returning.
● The live version of the song, played at the Paradiso club in Amsterdam in 1979, is regarded by many as the best version of the song.
Chords (as interpreted by Ultimate Guitar):
Verse:
Em, A, Em, A, G, A, G, A
Chorus:
Em, A, G, A
Bridge:
C, G, A, C, G, A, C, G, A, C, A, G, A, G, A
*Note: Some variations of the chords exist based on different interpretations of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, like a bad penny you have turned up again,
You keep coming back into my life like a cursed coin.
You're in my sights, there's a mist on my lens.
I can see you clearly now, but my emotions are clouding my judgment.
I think you know how it was when I tripped and fell,
You understand the pain and vulnerability I felt when you betrayed me before.
Well, you double-dealed me, baby and I broke like a shell.
You played me for a fool and it shattered my confidence and trust.
Like a bad penny you've sure lost the glow
Your charm has faded over time and I'm not as beguiled by you as I once was.
But I'm out of reach, your smile's sure gone cold.
I've distanced myself from you and now you're showing your true colors.
Well, it can't ever be like it was then,
Our relationship is irreparably damaged and we can't go back to how things used to be.
Well, don't you fool with me, baby,
Don't try to manipulate or deceive me again.
Some stormy nights, your memory haunts me,
Sometimes I still think about you and our tumultuous past.
You won't go away.
Your memory still lingers and affects me.
Well, like a bad penny you have turned up in the change,
You keep reappearing unexpectedly, like an unwanted coin amongst my possessions.
Try to fit into the picture, you can't get inside the frame.
You're trying to insert yourself back into my life, but you don't belong anymore.
I think you know I'm still sore, but I'm on the mend,
You know I'm still hurt by what you did, but I'm slowly healing.
Times sure have changed, it won't happen again.
Our past relationship can't be repeated because we've both changed as people.
Well, like a bad penny spins around and around,
Our unhealthy relationship kept repeating itself, like a coin being endlessly flipped.
Well, you won't know what's gone wrong when it all falls down,
You are reckless with relationships and won't see the consequences until you're in ruins.
You got to learn from now on to stop playing games,
You need to mature and stop toying with people's emotions.
You ought to keep on moving, you got to spin on your way.
You should continue on your own path and leave me behind.
Some lonely nights, I hear you calling,
Sometimes I feel nostalgic and long for our past relationship.
Won't you go away?
But I ultimately know it's best if you stay out of my life.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RORY GALLAGHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind