The Beatles – Bad Boy: A Dip into R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll Roots
The Beatles, a name synonymous with revolutionary rock music, surprised audiences in 1965 with a little ditty called “Bad Boy.” This brief but infectious track stood out amidst the band’s burgeoning sound, offering a playful homage to their early rock ‘n’ roll and R&B influences.
Background
Released in June 1965, “Bad Boy” wasn’t originally intended for a Beatles album. It was recorded during a session dedicated to covering songs by Larry Williams, a pioneering R&B artist whose raw energy and rebellious spirit had captivated the young Beatles.
“Bad Boy,” originally released by Williams in 1959, perfectly captured this essence, with its driving beat, playful lyrics, and John Lennon’s characteristically raspy vocals.
The song’s narrative follows a mischievous young boy, a “bad boy” who gets into trouble with his mother for a series of petty pranks.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
A bad little kid moved into my neighborhoodHe won’t do nothing rightJust sitting down and looks so goodHe don’t want to go to school and learn to read and writeJust sits around the house and plays the rock and roll music all nightWell, he put some tacks on teacher’s chairPuts chewing gum in little girl’s hairNow, junior, behave yourselfBuys every Rock and Roll book on the magazine standEvery dime that he gets, (oh), he’s off to the jukebox manWell he worries his teacher ’til at night she’s ready to poopFrom rocking and a rolling, spinning in a hula-hoop