January 18th 1974, Former members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople(Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. The band went on to score a US No.1 album with their debut release.
The song was released as the third single from their debut album Bad Company in 1974, although it did not chart (in America). Co-written by the group's lead singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke, the song's meaning comes from a book on Victorian morals. The song uses the same chords and piano figure as Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock" from 1970.
Lyrics
Company
Always on the run
Destiny is the rising sun
Oh I was born six gun in my hand
Behind a gun I'll make my final stand
That's why they call me
Bad company
And I can't deny
Bad company
Till the day I die
Till the day I die
Till the day I die
Rebel souls
Deserters we are called
Chose a gun and threw away the sword
Now these towns
They all know our name six gun sound is our claim to fame
I can hear them say
Bad company
And I won't deny
Bad, bad company
Till the day I die
Till the day I die
Bad company
I can't deny
Bad company
Till the day I die
And I say it's
Bad company oh yeah, yeah
Bad company
Till the day I die oh yeah
Tell me that you are not a thief
Oh but I am
Bad company
It's the way I play
Dirty for dirty
Oh somebody double-crossed me
Double-cross, double-cross
Yeah
We're bad company
Kill in cold blood
Songwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Bernard Rodgers / Simon Kirke
Bad Company lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc