Bad Boy

Album: Fire & Brimstone (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Brantley Gilbert first met schoolteacher Amber Cochran in his hometown of Jefferson, Georgia. They had an on-and-off relationship for several years as he fought alcohol and opiate addiction, and started his music career. The singer eventually tied the knot with his longtime love on June 28, 2015, at his home in Georgia.

    Amber has inspired many of Gilbert's tracks; here he channels their real-life love story with his wife into a heartfelt song about the girl who loves the tough guy. Meanwhile, her mom cautions her daughter to stay away from him.

    He's that bad boy
    He's that wrong-side-of-the-tracks boy
    That break-you-hard-and-won't-come-back boy
    Why's that boy the one you love?


    By the third verse, the mom has been won round. When the bad boy asks for the girl's hand in marriage, her mother responds:

    Boy, I always knew you loved my daughter
    She loves you too, and I think I know what she sees
  • Gilbert said on Twitter: "'Bad Boy' is about as real as it gets for me... It's a reminder that no matter where you are in life, it's never too late to be the person you wanna be."

    He added: "Every line in this song is the truth... Amber and I haven't always had the easiest of journeys, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
  • Gilbert recorded a song with a similar theme, "If You Want A Bad Boy," for his 2014 Just As I Am album. But unlike that one, his 2019 track finds the girl uncovering her love's gentler side.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.