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George Thorogood - Bad To The Bone


George Thorogood - Bad To The Bone - Meaning of the song


This is based on the Bo Diddley blues song "I'm A Man." Thorogood is influenced by the blues, and Diddley is one of his heroes. Thorogood's version has a much heavier guitar sound, which replaces the harmonica in Diddley's recording. Both songs are full of swagger, with the singers exuding lots of testosterone.

The phrase "bad to the bone" means there isn't a bit of good in him. Other songs have been published with that title, but Thorogood popularized it and created a modern blues classic with this song. Some artists to cover it include The Countdown Singers, Molly Hatchet and The Starlite Singers. Hip-hop artist Tek did a rap version of the song.


Bad To The Bone - Lyrics


On the day I was born

The nurses all gathered 'round

And they gazed in wide wonder

At the joy they had found

The head nurse spoke up

Said "leave this one alone"

She could tell right away

That I was bad to the bone


Bad to the bone

Bad to the bone

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-B-Bad

Bad to the bone


I broke a thousand hearts

Before I met you

I'll break a thousand more, baby

Before I am through

I wanna be yours pretty baby

Yours and yours alone

I'm here to tell ya honey

That I'm bad to the bone

Bad to the bone

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-B-Bad

Bad to the bone


I make a rich woman beg

I'll make a good woman steal

I'll make an old woman blush

And make a young girl squeal

I wanna be yours pretty baby

Yours and yours alone

I'm here to tell ya honey

That I'm bad to the bone

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-B-Bad

Bad to the bone


And when I walk the streets

Kings and Queens step aside

Every woman I meet

They all stay satisfied

I wanna tell ya pretty baby

Well Ya see I make my own

I'm here to tell ya honey

That I'm bad to the bone

Bad to the bone

B-B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-Bad

B-B-B-Bad

Bad to the bone

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