Bad To The Bone by George Thorogood

Album: Bad to the Bone (1982)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

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.
With MTV coming on the air in 1981, Thorogood picked a good time to release a memorable video. The clip shows Thorogood playing pool against Bo Diddley in a place where there is no chance of a dance sequence breaking out. Pool champion Willie Mosconi also appears in the clip, which introduced Thorogood - and to some extent, Diddley - to the younger MTV crowd. Among the British New Wave acts that dominated MTV's playlist at the time, Thorogood certainly stood out, and he created an image of a bad man. While Thorogood is a disciple of the blues, he was raised in a Delaware suburb and by most accounts is actually a pretty nice guy, despite what he claims in this song.
This song was featured in the film Terminator 2: Judgment Day when Arnold Schwarzenegger steps out of a bar wearing biker clothes. It also appears in the movies The Parent Trap, Major Payne, Christine and Problem Child. TV series to use the song include Top Gear, South Park, Nurse Jackie, My Name Is Earl, Las Vegas, According to Jim, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Married... with Children (three times), and Miami Vice. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Ricky - Los Angeles, CA
In the 2019 The Good Place episode "A Chip Driver Mystery," there's this bit of dialogue between Bad Janet (D'Arcy Carden) and Michael (Ted Danson):

Janet: "To quote a terrible song by a terrible musician that people love so much they constantly put it in terrible movie trailers, humans are b-b-b-b-b-b-bad to the bone."

Michael: "Well, I think that they're g-g-good sometimes. And you should give them the b-b-benefit of the d-d-doubt."

Comments: 8

Jennifur Sun from RamonaBryce thanks and ouch sounds hard on them poor strings.
Bryce from Lima, OhJennifur, I believe he got that real scratchy effect by taking a metal guitar slide and scraping it across the strings, near the pickups. You can see him doing it in the video for the song.
Jennifur Sun from RamonaDoes anyone know how he got those effects on this guitar? Also who played sax and drums.
Shawn from Green Bay, WiOne of the baddest ass songs of all time. Never gets old.
Jorge from Bronx, NySaw him live,back then I didn't knew much about him,but it was exciting to see play,great guitarist,,and when i listen to this tune the '59 Plymouth Fury comes to life,lol
Tony from Connellsville, Pathe song is not about being uncircumsiced its about a person thats just bad to the bone......dumbass
Ken from Louisville, KyThis was also the main theme for the Oliver Stone movie Talk Radio.
Thomas from Fuquay Varina, NcI was thinking about these lyrics and I was wondering if maybe George was extolling the "virtue"
of being uncircumcised. I wouldn't know, myself. But
some of the lyrics sounds like that is what he is singing about.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Lady MarmaladeChristina Aguilera

The first female rapper to perform on a #1 hit? Surprisingly, it's Lil' Kim with the 2001 remake of "Lady Marmalade" for the movie Moulin Rouge. She was was joined on the track by Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott, Pink and Mya.

It's My PartyLesley Gore

One of the first teenage stars of the Rock Era was Lesley Gore, who was just 16 when she recorded "It's My Party," a huge hit in 1963. It gave us the iconic phrase, "It's my party, I'll cry if I want to."

The OneMemphis Bleek

Rapper Memphis Bleek's 2005 album track "The One" is notable for featuring a then-unknown Rihanna on the hook. It was the Barbadian singer's first-ever major-label appearance.

Diamonds From Sierra LeoneKanye West

"Diamonds From Sierra Leone" by Kanye West is about the "blood diamonds" mined using child labor in Africa. It also serves as a shout-out to Roc-A-Fella records, known for a diamond-shaped hand signal.

Smuggler's BluesGlenn Frey

Glenn Frey of the Eagles played a bad guy in a 1985 episode of Miami Vice based on his song "Smuggler's Blues."

I Want You BackThe Jackson 5

Michael Jackson was only 11 years and 5 months old when the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" became the group's first #1 hit. This made Jackson the youngest group member ever to top the Hot 100.