Formed in 1985, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones started playing in Boston clubs in the mid-1980s. After a brief period of inactivity due to the schooling commitments of its members, they reformed and released their album Devil's Night Out on Taang! Records. The Bosstones toured relentlessly throughout the 1990s, playing hundreds of shows a year, releasing albums and spinning off the popular rock radio hit "Someday I Suppose". They were eventually signed to Mercury Records. The band appeared in the movie Clueless. In 1997, the success of their single "The Impression That I Get" and its follow up, "The Rascal King" earned them mainstream recognition. In 2000 they put out their critically acclaimed disk Pay Attention. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones released their last album on Side One Dummy Records. They officially went on hiatus in 2003, citing too much time on the road and desire to branch out and do different things. In 2007, the Bosstones announced that they were reforming. They played their 10th Hometown Throwdown in Boston and released a new album, Medium Rare, which consists of rare B-sides, and 3 new songs, including the single, "Don't Worry Desmond Dekker".
The band announced their split in early 2022.
Bad News And Bad Breaks
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would he refuse to be the bearer
Seems what he has to do
Could not be any clearer
It's a job he can't neglect
Its consequences will affect
I'm glad that I'm not in his shoes
He's the bearer of bad news
He's got an ugly job to do
Oh! There's always something
That can set you back
That's the way life is
Bad breaks for heaven sakes
And mistakes he couldn't count
To put it politely It's a very large amount
Whenever he gets involved
You end up with problems you can't solve
You're cleaning up the mess he makes
He's a victim of bad breaks
What can you say?
Will he always be this way?
Oh! There's always something
That can set you back T
hat's the way life is
It's not sunny everyday
And there are bumps on every road
Toss in one more dumb cliche
Like life can be a heavy load
Said life can be a heavy load now
Oh! There's always something
That can set you back
That's the way life is
Oh! There's always something
That can set you back
That's the way life is
Oh! There's always something
That can set you back
That's the way life is
Oh! There's always something
That can set you back...
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ song Bad News and Bad Breaks is a reflection on the struggles and hardships of life. The song is divided into two parts, the first being about someone who has the difficult task of delivering bad news. The lyrics express empathy for the person, noting that it’s an ugly job they can’t ignore, and that the consequences of their actions will be far-reaching. The repetitive chorus of “there’s always something that can set you back, that’s the way life is” emphasizes that bad news is an inevitable part of life, and that it’s important to be able to face it head-on.
The second part of the song switches focus to someone who seems to constantly have bad luck and makes poor choices. The singer notes that this person has had many bad breaks and mistakes, and whenever they get involved, problems follow. Again, there’s empathy expressed for this person, and a sense that their life is difficult and out of their control. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, driving home the idea that life is unpredictable, and that everyone has to deal with setbacks and hardships.
Overall, the song Bad News and Bad Breaks is a poignant commentary on the human experience, acknowledging that life is full of difficulty and struggle, but that we can get through it if we face it head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad news if he could choose
If he had the option, he would refuse to bear bad news
Would he refuse to be the bearer
He would reject the job of delivering bad news
Seems what he has to do
The task at hand is unavoidable
Could not be any clearer
The situation is unequivocal
It's a job he can't neglect
He cannot ignore his responsibility
Its consequences will affect
His actions will have far-reaching effects
I'm glad that I'm not in his shoes
I am relieved that I am not in his position
He's the bearer of bad news
He is the one tasked with delivering unpleasant information
What can he do?
He has no choice in the matter
He's got an ugly job to do
His job is unpleasant and difficult
Bad breaks for heaven sakes
He experiences frequent setbacks and misfortunes
And mistakes he couldn't count
He has made numerous mistakes that are difficult to quantify
To put it politely, It's a very large amount
To be subtle, he has made an excessive number of errors
Whenever he gets involved
Whenever he is present or participates
You end up with problems you can't solve
His involvement leads to insurmountable issues
You're cleaning up the mess he makes
You are left to deal with the repercussions of his actions
He's a victim of bad breaks
He is constantly experiencing negative circumstances
What can you say?
There is little to comment or remark upon in regards to his situation
Will he always be this way?
Will he continue to perpetuate these harmful patterns?
It's not sunny everyday
There are unpleasant days to endure
And there are bumps on every road
Obstacles and challenges are present on every path
Toss in one more dumb cliche
Adding one more overused phrase
Like life can be a heavy load
Such as the saying, life can be burdensome
Said life can be a heavy load now
Reiterating that life is not always easy
Oh! There's always something That can set you back That's the way life is Oh! There's always something That can set you back That's the way life is Oh! There's always something That can set you back That's the way life is Oh! There's always something That can set you back...
Life is unpredictable and full of setbacks, but one must persevere
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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