The Vibrators recorded sessions at for John Peel at BBC Radio 1 in October 1976, June 1977, and February 1978. They were one of the pioneering punk bands that played at London's Roxy Club. They headlined in January 1977, supported by The Drones, and in February they played twice at the venue. In March 1977 the band supported Iggy Pop on his British tour. Later that year they backed ex-Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter.
The band signed to Epic Records in early 1977. Their debut album, Pure Mania was co-produced with Robin Mayhew, the sound engineer for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust live shows, and reached the Top 50 of the UK Albums Chart. The album is well regarded by some music critics and, 17 years after its release The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music named Pure Mania one of the 50 best punk albums of all time.
Their follow-up album, V2, narrowly missed the UK Top 30. The only single to be taken from that album, "Automatic Lover", was the only Vibrators’ single to reach the UK Top 40 where it reached #35. It earned the band a TV appearance on the prime-time TV show Top of the Pops. The Vibrators’ final single on Epic, "Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)", was released in June 1978. It reached #70 in the UK singles chart. Years later it was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.
A lack of further chart activity, and with only one UK Top 40 single to their credit, sees the Vibrators join the list of one-hit wonders; a list that includes other UK punk and new wave acts such as The Banned, John Cooper Clarke, The Flying Lizards, Jilted John, 999, the Radio Stars, and the Rich Kids.
During the 1980s, John Ellis recorded and toured frequently with Peter Hammill, and subsequently The Stranglers, eventually joining the latter full-time in the 1990s. Pat Collier went on to work closely with The Soft Boys, producing their seminal album, Underwater Moonlight, and Robyn Hitchcock, producing and mixing some of his solo albums (to which Knox also sometimes contributed). Despite numerous line-up changes, The Vibrators are still touring to this date as a three-piece, "Knox" and "Eddie" being the only original members.
Bad Time
The Vibrators Lyrics
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Since I was twenty-two
I never had a chance in life
Used to get trodden on in school
Well, now things are different
Ain't it funny how we can change?
I've been havin' a good time
Gonna give you a
Bad time, honey
Treat you any way I choose
Bad time, honey
To make up for those days at school
Well, I've been having a bad time
Since you found out how to be cruel
I never had a chance at all
Since I've been hangin' round with you
But now things are different
Ain't it funny how it can change?
I've been having a good time
Since I've become deranged
Gonna give you a
Bad time, honey
Treat you any way I choose
Bad time, honey
To make up for those days at school, come on
Bad time, honey
Treat you any way I choose
Bad time, honey
To make up for those days at school
Bad time, honey
Treat you any way I choose
Bad time, honey
To make up for those days at school
The Vibrators’ song "Bad Time" is a relatable and angsty tune about the feeling of being trodden on in life and trying to take control of one's own narrative. The opening lines, “I've been havin' a bad time / Since I was twenty-two / I never had a chance in life / Used to get trodden on in school” suggest that the singer has been struggling for a long time and feels like they’ve never had a fair shot. The use of “trodden on” is significant as it shows that the singer has been stepped on and oppressed, which has led to their current state of mind.
However, things change as the singer becomes “deranged.” The chorus, “Gonna give you a bad time, honey / Treat you any way I choose / Bad time, honey / To make up for those days at school” is a powerful statement of agency and taking control. It’s almost as if the singer has been released from their past traumas and has found a way to make up for lost time.
In the second verse, the singer attributes their bad time to the cruelty of someone else, “Well, I've been having a bad time / Since you found out how to be cruel / I never had a chance at all / Since I've been hangin' round with you.” They have been caught up in someone else's negativity, and again, they find a way out through becoming deranged and taking control. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the power the singer now holds in this new mindset.
Overall, "Bad Time" is a song about resilience and taking control of one's own narrative, even in the midst of past trauma and current adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I've been havin' a bad time
The singer has been having a difficult time.
Since I was twenty-two
This difficult time started when the singer was twenty-two years old.
I never had a chance in life
The singer feels that they never had a fair opportunity in life.
Used to get trodden on in school
The singer was bullied in school.
Well, now things are different
Things have changed for the singer.
Ain't it funny how we can change?
It is interesting how people can change over time.
I've been havin' a good time
The singer is currently having a good time.
Since I've become deranged
The singer attributes their current state of happiness to becoming deranged.
Gonna give you a bad time, honey
The singer is going to treat their partner poorly.
Treat you any way I choose
The singer feels justified in treating their partner however they please.
To make up for those days at school
The singer is using their partner as a way to make up for the bullying they experienced in school.
Well, I've been having a bad time
The singer's difficult time has returned.
Since you found out how to be cruel
The singer's partner has become cruel, making things difficult for them.
I never had a chance at all
The singer feels that they have no chance of happiness in their current situation.
Since I've been hangin' round with you
The singer feels that their partner is to blame for their current situation.
But now things are different
Things have changed again for the singer.
Ain't it funny how it can change?
The singer reflects on how quickly things can change.
I've been having a good time
The singer is currently happy again.
Since I've become deranged
The singer once again attributes their happiness to being deranged.
Gonna give you a bad time, honey
The singer is once again planning to treat their partner poorly.
Treat you any way I choose
The singer still feels justified in treating their partner however they please.
To make up for those days at school, come on
The singer is using their partner to make up for the bullying they experienced in school.
Bad time, honey
Overall, the singer is having a rough time and plans to take it out on their partner.
Treat you any way I choose
The singer feels entitled to treat their partner however they please, regardless of the consequences.
To make up for those days at school
The singer is still fixating on their past experiences of being bullied and using their partner as a way to make up for it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IAN MILROY CARNOCHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind