Produced by Saint E… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs & Sarah Cracknell
Produced by Saint Etienne (single version produced by Alan Tarney)
Released January 1993 on You're in a Bad Way and the original version is found on the 2nd LP, So Tough.
Notes This was originally intended to be a "throwaway b-side" to a single called Everlasting which finally saw the light of day on the So Tough deluxe reissue. Bob Stanley says "We played it to the label and they said, you've gotta stick that out as a single. It's pretty cheesy. It's meant to sound like Herman's Hermits, a joke song - which ended up being our biggest hit. A millstone. We wrote it in about ten minutes. We were in a big A-ha phase, and we thought it was going to sound like Cry Wolf. Sarah Cracknell commented "It was supposed to be a joke, but Alan McGee said "Brilliant! Got to be an a-side!" And it was our biggest hit".
You're In A Bad Way
Saint Etienne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your coffee's cold
And you leave all the post 'cause it's nothing but bills again
Home from work
Put the TV on
Get your kicks watching Bruce on the old Generation Game
Just dial my number
You're in a bad way
And I can help you through
You're in a bad way
Every day is just the same (every day)
Just dial my number
Or call my name
Jeans are old
And your hair's all wrong
Don't you know that crew cuts and trainers are out again?
Going out
You're feeling low
Running for cover, it looks like it's going to rain - what a shame!
Just dial my number
I've got some plans for you
You're in a bad way
And I can help you through
You're in a bad way
Every day is just the same (every day)
Just dial my number
Or call my name
Just dial my number
I've got some plans for you
You're in a bad way
And I can help you through
You're in a bad way
Every day seems just the same (every day)
Just dial my number
Or call my name (just dial my number)
You're in a bad way (you're a bad way)
You're in a bad way (you're a bad way)
You're in a bad way (you're a bad way)
You're in a bad way, yeah-ay
(You're in a bad way) yeah-ay
The lyrics of Saint Etienne's "You're In A Bad Way" is an observation of mundane life struggles that one goes through on a daily basis. The opening lines describe a classic scenario of a busy morning where the toast is burnt, coffee's cold and bills in the post. The repetition of the predicament signals a monotonous existence without direction or inspiration. The song further progresses to describe an average day where the singer is bored, watching old TV shows while feeling down about their outfit choices. The bridge of the chorus calls for the singer to reach out for help and dial the singer's number, as she has "some plans" and can "help you through."
The song is about providing reassurance and a sense of belonging to those feeling lost in their routine. The singer empathizes with the singer's situation and calls them out, saying "you're in a bad way" repeatedly, to notify them that they're not alone in their problems. The song hopes to encourage listeners to reach out and address their issues instead of wallowing in misery.
Overall, the lyrics of the song portray the struggles of routine and depression while highlighting the need for a support system. The song emphasizes how essential it is to reach out and seek help when feeling lost and aimless.
Line by Line Meaning
Toast is burned
Your life is not going the way you planned, and things keep going wrong one after the other, just like the way your toast turned out.
And your coffee's cold
Things seem to be getting bad, even when you anticipate it, just like how your coffee went from hot to cold.
And you leave all the post 'cause it's nothing but bills again
You're tired of receiving bills that you cannot afford, so you avoid checking your mail altogether.
Home from work
You finish your long day at work, not feeling any better about your life.
Put the TV on
You try to relax and escape your problems by watching TV.
Get your kicks watching Bruce on the old Generation Game
You're feeling nostalgic and find joy in watching re-runs of an old game show hosted by Bruce Forsyth.
Just dial my number
The singer offers to lend a helping hand, and all you need to do is reach out to them.
I've got some plans for you
The singer has ideas on how to lift you out of your current situation.
You're in a bad way
The singer acknowledges your struggles and understands that you need support.
And I can help you through
The singer is willing to be your guide and offer you help and advice to overcome your challenges.
Every day is just the same (every day)
You feel trapped in a monotonous routine, where every day seems exactly the same as the previous one.
Or call my name
In addition to dialling their number, the singer encourages you to call out to them when you need help.
Jeans are old
You're stuck in a rut and feel like you've outgrown your current situation.
And your hair's all wrong
You're not happy with your appearance and feel like your looks are not reflecting your true self.
Don't you know that crew cuts and trainers are out again?
You feel like you're out of touch and not keeping up with the latest trends and fashions.
Going out
Despite feeling down, you force yourself to go out of the house.
You're feeling low
You're not emotionally well and feel dejected with your life.
Running for cover, it looks like it's going to rain - what a shame!
The sudden bad weather is symbolic of how your life feels like everything is going wrong, and you're not prepared to handle it.
You're in a bad way (you're a bad way)
The singer reiterates that you are currently struggling.
Yeah-ay
The singer empathizes with your struggles and wants to support you to improve your life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PHIL MARGO, MITCHELL MARGO, HENRY MEDRESS, JAY SIEGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith Jones
One of the most overlooked groups in British music history. They produced some of the most perfect songs and were the soundtrack of the 90s, as much as Blur, Oasis, Pulp, The Verve etc. Sarah Cracknell is a goddess!
Foxbase Alpha
My desert island band.
Kyach Distent
Those things you list chalk up a nauseatingly bad decade if that was truth, and it was only some of it. You left out all the equally disgusting manufactured barbie boy and girlbands, howling harridan females trying to be 'serious' like Dion, Crow, Carey, and shit soul knock-offs and rap. That was virtually all the 90s-and dumb dance crap with no words. Only a few acts were standout and worth it, but the 80s were long gone and boy did the wretched 90s prove it. In fact, even worse followed them-right up to what we got now-AND most of that 90s shit is STILL here!
ROJ AKTAR
They were on a par with Pulp music wise. Just like Pulp they weren't exactly typical britpop but more indie disco
ahmet musluoğlu
I agree all of it.
Kyach Distent
@KENKENNIFF When wasn't it?! Please, the best 80s acts had the same problem, among others!
Shadowplay
For me Saint Etienne are one of the most baffling cases ever. I remember in 92, when they came up, they had great tunes with huge commercial appeal, glowing reviews, a charismatic and gorgeous singer, could be as camp as Pulp, as pop as the Pet Shop Boys, as exquisite as the Auteurs; released great solid albums with no weak songs, had a world of their own with a so enticing retro chic, but somehow they never got the success they deserved. Sure they were popular, but never really "made it". It's so unfair when you see some of the C-rate indie and Britpop derivatives that were charting really big at the time.
El Indio
+Shadowplay I'd say James have more of a case than Saint Etienne
Steve Walby
@Android Pitanga Always the race angle....
Android Pitanga
They were a bit twee and ...white for broader appeal. Dig them though