Bad Time
The Jayhawks Lyrics


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I'm in love with the girl that I'm talking about
I'm in love with the girl that I can't live without
I'm in love but I sure picked a bad time
To be in love, to be in love.

Let her be somebody else's queen, I don't want to hear about it
There is too many others that know what I mean
And that's why I gotta live without it.

[Chorus]
Cause, I'm in love with the girl I'm talking about
I'm in love with the girl I can't live without
I'm in love but I feel like I'm living it out
I'm in love but I must have picked a bad time to be in love
A bad time to be in love
A bad time to be in love
A bad time to be in love

All the stories coming back to me
About my friends and the people I don't want to see
All the stories they just couldn't be true
Least not until I hear them from you

[Chorus: x2]

A bad time to be in love (such a bad time)
A bad time to be in love (such a bad time)
A bad time to be in love (such a bad time)




A bad time to be in love (such a bad time)
A bad time to be in love

Overall Meaning

The Jayhawks' song Bad Time is about being in love with someone at the wrong time. The singer expresses his strong love for a woman that he can't live without, but also acknowledges that this is the wrong time for him to be in love. The chorus repetition of "I'm in love but I must have picked a bad time to be in love" highlights the difficulties of the situation the singer is in.


The second verse reveals some anxiety and jealousy on the part of the singer. He asks the woman he's in love with to be someone else's queen, possibly referring to her being someone else's romantic partner. He doesn't want to hear about all the gossip and rumors he's heard, but he also feels like he's living out his love in secret.


These lyrics express the feeling of being in love when everything seems to be going wrong. The singer is frustrated by circumstances he can't control, but the love he feels for this woman is too strong to ignore. The lyrics suggest a reluctance to let go or move on, but also a sense of hopelessness, as if things cannot work out because the timing is bad.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm in love with the girl that I'm talking about
I have strong feelings for a particular girl


I'm in love with the girl that I can't live without
She is indispensable to me and I cannot imagine my life without her


I'm in love but I sure picked a bad time
Despite my feelings, the timing is unfortunate or inconvenient


To be in love, to be in love
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the strong emotions and feelings of love


Let her be somebody else's queen, I don't want to hear about it
It would be better if she belonged to someone else, so that I wouldn't have to deal with the complications


There is too many others that know what I mean
Many others understand the struggles and challenges of being in love, especially at a bad time


And that's why I gotta live without it
The complexities are too much to handle, so it's easier to live without being with her


All the stories coming back to me
Rumors and gossip are circulating and causing doubts in my mind


About my friends and the people I don't want to see
The stories involve people I don't want to associate with or confront


All the stories they just couldn't be true
I hope the rumors are not true, but I won't know until I hear her side


Least not until I hear them from you
I need to hear her perspective before I can believe or address the rumors


[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus emphasizes the conflicting emotions of being in love at a bad time


A bad time to be in love
The repetition of this line emphasizes that the timing is truly unfortunate for love




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARK FARNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Sundeep Kothari

Criminally underrated band.

Heather Koppa

Word

Lawdog Wales

@Mjoe T Lucky you! Did they play Bad Time? Blue? Save it for a Rainy Day?

Mjoe T

@Lawdog Wales ARE great. Just saw them in Minneapolis last night (Lake Harriet bandshell)

Wade Rittenberry

I mean, my God, "Blue" is undescribably good. Still perfect after countless listens. Heartbreaker extraordinaire

Hans Gunner

How true but they had big comeback in 90's cause Axls cover of Bad Time. They played Jayhawks in all radio 📻stations again

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James McCaffrey-Fan

This song came to me out of the blue. I was doing some stuff in the house and started singing this song, it's a friggin awesome song

Larry Schellhorn

Same thing to me....wow

ReemaTheRealtor

that's what happened to me this morning, and that's why I'm here!

Kari Auerbach

One of those rare times that I like a cover just as much or maybe even more than the original! Brilliant!

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