The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
More Bad Times
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never had rabies
You never gained weight
You never drank poison
You watched what you ate
You never came home with a terrible scar
You never so much as put a scratch on my car
You never got measles
You never got gout
You never got dizzy
And you never fell out
You never suggested we all play charades
You never picked up any live hand grenades
You twisted your ankle
I carried you
You got a divorce
So I married you
You fell off a cliff
So I buried you
I wish there were more bad times to see you through
I wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
I wish there were more
You never lost contact
You never leaked oil
You never drank cleanser
And you never ate foil
You never got hurt by sticks and stones
You never choked on any big chicken bones
You never got mauled by a mad baboon
You never lost all the air in your balloon
You never got poked in the eye with a spork
You never got sick from all that leftover pork
You twisted your ankle
I carried you
You got a divorce
So I married you
You fell off a cliff
So I buried you
I wish there were more bad times to see you through
I wish there were more bad times
So many things did go wrong
But the list is not long enough
Not enough bad things to fill up a song
Wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
Wish there were more bad times
I'd rather gather your bones
Than mop up this mess
If I scrub us all spotless
I'll wreck our success
I was holding your hand
When it fell on the floor
When you left you broke the knob on the door
I wish there was more
The song "More Bad Times" by The Presidents of the United States of America is a humorous take on love and relationships. The lyrics describe a partner who has never experienced any major health issues or accidents, leading the singer to hope for more bad times to see them through. The lyrics express a desire for deeper connection through shared struggles and difficulties.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that the singer is bored with the stability of their relationship and yearns for more excitement. The line "I wish there were more bad times to see you through" suggests that the singer wants to prove their commitment by going through tough times together. The repeated refrain of "Wish there were more bad times" adds to the humorous and ironic tone of the song.
The lyrics also touch on themes of loss and mourning. The lines "You fell off a cliff / So I buried you" and "I was holding your hand / When it fell on the floor" suggest that the singer has experienced tragedy and is struggling to cope. The humor in the rest of the song may be a coping mechanism to deal with grief and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
You never had rabies
You never experienced any severe illnesses or diseases
You never gained weight
You were always conscious of your health and physique
You never drank poison
You were never at risk of ingesting harmful substances
You watched what you ate
You were mindful of your diet and food choices
You never came home with a terrible scar
You never suffered from any serious injuries or accidents
You never so much as put a scratch on my car
You were always careful and conscientious with your actions
You never got measles
You were fortunate enough to avoid many common illnesses
You never got gout
You never had to deal with painful health conditions
You never got dizzy
You never experienced any severe vertigo or disorientation
And you never fell out
You never fainted or experienced any sudden losses of consciousness
You never suggested we all play charades
You never made any strange or unpopular suggestions
You never picked up any live hand grenades
You never put yourself or others in danger
You twisted your ankle
Despite everything else in your life going right, you still experienced minor setbacks
I carried you
I was there to support and help you through those setbacks
You got a divorce
Even though our relationship hit a rough patch, we were able to work through it and come back together
So I married you
We were able to reconcile and start over
You fell off a cliff
Even though we may experience major setbacks or crises, we will support each other through them
So I buried you
Even in death, we will remain together and support each other
I wish there were more bad times to see you through
We have such a strong bond that we can weather any storm together, and I wish there were more opportunities for us to prove that to each other
So many things did go wrong
Even though many things did not go according to plan, we were still able to come out strong
But the list is not long enough
We have been through so much and have come out strong, but there are always more challenges to face
Not enough bad things to fill up a song
Even though we have weathered many hardships, we have also been fortunate enough to avoid many more
I'd rather gather your bones
I would rather keep the memory of you close to me, even in death
Than mop up this mess
I would rather deal with the aftermath of a tragedy than lose the memory of you altogether
If I scrub us all spotless
Trying to erase the mistakes or imperfections in our relationship would only damage the good things we have built together
I'll wreck our success
Trying to erase the moments of hardship in our relationship would only undermine the strength and resilience we have built
I was holding your hand
Even in the most difficult moments, we were there for each other
When it fell on the floor
Even when things fall apart, we will always have each other to rely on
When you left you broke the knob on the door
Even in death, you left a permanent impact on my life and memory
I wish there was more
I wish we had more time together, and more opportunities to prove our resilience and bond
Contributed by Natalie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keith Zampino
I know it’s a cover but... this version is my definition of a perfect song.
I didn’t grow up on it. I have no nostalgic connection. It just came on a Spotify playlist seven years ago...
And I listen to it once a week to this day.
heffayguap
@Francis Todd hard disagree
Francis Todd
the original is so much better
Jaded Old Coot
saw them do this as the last song of the gig in Brisbane last night. Totally awesome. Love it
faustbanana
Love this song. The lyrics make me smile, especially on the bridge.
Cynsa Bonorris
I had no idea someone covered Ed's. this is awesome. love the baboon line.
chili wilcox
My cousins wrote the first version of this song. It's pretty emotional now that one of them has passed.
amybonbamy
awesome song
DangerSoup
Pretty bittersweet song, but still fun.
Nashon Howard
Awesome song! Haha Thumbs up without a doubt!