Bad Boy
Williams Lyrics
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He won't do nothin' right just a-sittin' got to look so good
He don't wanna go to school and learn to read and write
Just sits around the house and plays that rock n' roll music all night
Well, he put thumbtacks on teacher's chair
Put chewing gum in li'l girl's hair
Now junior, behave yourself!
Buys every rock n' roll book on the magazine stand
Every dime that he gets, oh is off to the juke box man
Well, he worries his teacher till she's a-ready to poop
From rockin' and a rollin' spinnin' in a hula-hoop
Well, his rock n' roll has gotta stop
Junior's head is hard as rock
Now junior, behave yourself!
Gonna tell your mama you'd better do what she said
Get to the barber shop and get that hair cut off your head
You shoot the canary and you fed it to the neighboor's cat
You gave the cocker spaniel a bath in mother's laundromat
Well, your mama said it's gotta stop
Junior's head is hard as rock
Now junior, behave yourself!
The lyrics to the song Bad Boy by Larry Williams depict a rebellious and troublesome boy who has moved into the neighborhood. The lyrics show that the Bad Boy is not interested in anything other than rock n' roll music which he plays all night long. The song describes how the boy gets into trouble at school by putting thumbtacks on his teacher's chair and chewing gum in a girl's hair. The song goes on to describe how he spends all the money he gets on rock n' roll books and buys every song he can from the jukebox man.
The teachers and parents in the song are depicted as being upset with the Bad Boy's behavior and attempt to make him behave properly. However, the Bad Boy does not care what others think and is willing to go against the expectations of his parents and teachers. The song also mentions how the Bad Boy killed the canary and fed it to the neighbor's cat and even gave a dog a bath in his mother's laundromat. The song seems to be a commentary on the rise of the rock n' roll music culture in the 1950s and the rebellious attitude that the genre embodied.
Line by Line Meaning
A bad little boy moved into the neighborhood
A misbehaved boy came into the area.
He won't do nothin' right just a-sittin' got to look so good
He is good at pretending to be good; he is idle but has a presentable dress.
He don't wanna go to school and learn to read and write
He does not want to go to school to learn.
Just sits around the house and plays that rock n' roll music all night
He is lazy but loves playing rock music all night.
Well, he put thumbtacks on teacher's chair
He pranked his teacher by putting thumbtacks on their chair.
Put chewing gum in li'l girl's hair
He also put a chewing gum on a little girl's hair as another prank.
Now junior, behave yourself!
The people around him are telling him to behave or change his behavior.
Buys every rock n' roll book on the magazine stand
He bought every rock and roll book from the magazine stand.
Every dime that he gets, oh is off to the juke box man
He spends all the money he gets to pay the jukebox man to play rock and roll music.
Well, he worries his teacher till she's a-ready to poop
He annoys his teacher until she is annoyed enough to get sick.
From rockin' and a rollin' spinnin' in a hula-hoop
He dances with a hula hoop while rocking and rolling to music.
Well, his rock n' roll has gotta stop
People want him to stop listening to rock and roll music.
Junior's head is hard as rock
He is stubborn and does not listen to anyone.
Gonna tell your mama you'd better do what she said
The people tell him to listen to his mother.
Get to the barber shop and get that hair cut off your head
He is asked to go to the barber shop and get his hair cut.
You shoot the canary and you fed it to the neighboor's cat
He killed a canary and fed it to a neighbor's cat.
You gave the cocker spaniel a bath in mother's laundromat
He also gave the neighbor's dog a bath in his mother's laundromat.
Well, your mama said it's gotta stop
His mother wants him to behave differently.
Junior's head is hard as rock
He is still stubborn and difficult to deal with.
Now junior, behave yourself!
People want him to behave properly and stop misbehaving.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LARRY WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rayoloco5000
A bad little kid
Moved into my neighborhood
(He's a bad boy.)
He won't do nothin' right
His report car' don't look so good
(He's a bad boy.)
He don't wanna go to school
An' learn to read an' write
(He's a bad boy.)
He jes' a-sits aroun' the house
An' plays that rock 'n' roll music all night
(He's a bad boy.)
He puts thumbtacks in his teacher's chair
Put chew'n gum in a li'l girl's hair
Now Junior, behave yourself!
He buy every rock 'n' roll book
On the magazine stan'
(He's a bad boy.)
Every dime that he get
Whoo! He's off to the juke box, man
(He's a bad boy.)
He worries his a-teacher
Till at night she's a-ready to poop
(He's a bad boy.)
A-rockin' 'n' a-rollin'
Spinnin' in a hoola hoop
This rock 'n' roll has gotta stop
Junior's head is hard as rock
Now Junior, behave yourself, ow!
Whoo!
Whoo!
Gonna tell your mamma
You'd better do what she said
(Bad boy.)
Go to the barber shop
An' get that hair cut off your head
(Bad boy.)
He took your pet canary
An' he fed it to the neighboor's cat
(He's a bad boy.)
He gave the cocker spaniel a bath
In his mother's laundromat
(He's a bad boy.)
This minor mess has gotta stop
Junior's head is hard as rock
Now Junior, behave yourself
@jameseldogger7410
You really put your foot in your mouth saying Ringo was a better drummer. Do you even know who played drums on William's Bad Boy? It was none other than the famous Earl Palmer. The Granddaddy of Rock and Roll drummers. Yes, Earl is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Palmer was one of the most prolific studio musicians of all time and played on THOUSANDS of recordings, including nearly all of Little Richard's hits, all of Fats Domino's hits, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers, in addition to many songs by Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, and Ray Charles. He also played on a long list of classic TV and film soundtracks. According to one obituary, "his list of credits read like a Who's Who of American popular music of the last 60 years".
I love Ringo and he is a drummer par excellence....but he owes some of his skin smacking roots to Palmer. Same for John Lennon regarding Larry Williams vocals...Larry had a wonderful early rock and roll rawness and distinct "shouter" vocals that a New Orleans cat would have in 1957-58....Lennon finessed them into his version for the Beatles sound. Both were perfect matches for the music that went behind them.
@jameseldogger7410
It's crazy to compare this version to the Beatle's version- they basically are from two different eras of rock music. Take Bad Boy in context with other rock songs from 1958-59...and you will see how far ahead Larry Williams rock and roll vision was. His Orleans-Rock was a catalyst for greater things, and Lennon clearly heard that. Just like "Slow Down", Bad Boy is a balls-out rocker for it's moment in rock history ("Slow Down" actually was recorded before Elvis' Jailhouse Rock!). John Lennon did a great job of translating William's song(s) into a new vein of Rock music (British Invasion response to American roots rock), with only a few minor changes. In my opinion, both versions are awesome. I do love the rawness of the William's version and the explosive drumming of Earl Palmer (who influenced Ringo Starr greatly!).
@kennethraymondmoore
I just wondered if the line about the teacher defecating was in the original? It is.
@stepheneinbinder2604
@@kennethraymondmoore There was an expression: "I'm pooped" meaning "I'm knocked out".
@will2741
Diehard Beatles fans have brain worms. Everything has to be compared to them, they have to win every time and woe betide anyone who disagrees!
@bensherstinsky
100% right. Now listen to Rush's version.....will freaking BLOW you away
@lisbethharrell9
Larry Williams was a genius. Period. He was a genius. There is no more or less to be said about him.
@tippimail1
I fell in love with Larry's music in the '50's and still love it!!!1
@brianrocks2087
The true original bad boy of rock and roll was Larry Williams without a doubt
@danielbayer278
"This rock n' roll has go to stop/Junior's head is hard as rock" has got to be one of the best lyrics ever.
@paulrous1670
It is !! But my favorite is bo diddleys .. the night was dark , but the sky was blue ..........