My sister got lucky, married a yuppie
Took him for all he was worth
As soon as I heard those two lines I knew I was going to like the song.
Tom Petty had gotten to know Lynne through George Harrison, who brought the Electric Light Orchestra leader to produce Harrison’s 1987 comeback LP Cloud Nine. That led to the three artists taking part in the Traveling Wilburys supergroup. One day, Petty played “Yer So Bad”; he had all the words down but was stuck on the music for the chorus.
“Jeff showed me this little part,” Petty recalled. “E minor to C, and said, ‘You could do this.’ And I said, ‘That’s great!’ And I was so elated, because I had been working on the song for days, and I couldn’t get from the verse to the chorus somehow. And he showed me this little bit, and I said, ‘Great! Will you produce this?'”
Petty wanted Howie Epstein (bass player for the Heartbreakers) to help on the harmonies but Howie said he didn’t like the song so Petty told him he didn’t need him then. That is when he knew it was going to be a solo album.
This was the last fifth single released from the album. Yer So Bad peaked at #5 in the Billboard Album Rock Tracks and #44 in Canada in 1990.
Yer So Bad
Took him for all he was worth
Now she’s a swinger dating a singer
I can’t decide which is worse[Chorus:]
But not me baby, I’ve got you to save me
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
In a world gone mad, yer so badMy sister’s ex-husband can’t get no lovin’
Walks around dog-faced and hurt
Now he’s got nothin’, head in the oven
I can’t decide which is worse
[Chorus]
Discover more from PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Two of my friends were sharing an apartment together, till one day my friend was looking for something and he discovered a blow up doll in the other guy’s bedroom closet and then he said that he had to move out.
You do know what I’m going to be listening to tonight!!!!!
I’m with you…I’ve been relistening all this week.
And it’s inevitable that I land on “while my guitar gently weeps”, Prince, Tom Pettt, Jeff Lynne…
That solo by Prince makes my jaw drop everytime I watch it. I could tell George’s song Dhani loved it also.
Haha absolutely one of the best things on the internet! Then surely to the Prince superbowl concert??!
Lyrics remind me of his character in ‘King of the Hill’,when he explains why he’s called “Lucky” and it’s because he slipped on pee in a “Mega-lo-mart” and bust his back up and has been living off insurance since.
I have got to watch that again lol.
It’s one I haven’t seen in a few years.
I don’ t get to see it nearly enough, “I tell ya whut”
Oh yes…I remember that! I’ll be over to your home blog soon…I didn’t forget…just busy working calls.
Pretty ballsy of Howie to tell his Boss that.lol. Plus Howie missed out on a payday as Full Moon Fever was a pretty big seller.
Another great track and pick Max.
Yea Howie didn’t play that right lol.
Hilarious lyrics!
I can feel the Jeff Lynne influence here. Good tune. I like that guitar in there!
But not too much influence…just a little (luckily!)
Fun track, always liked it. Didn’t know Jeff Lynne was so involved which is a good thing — he has a habit of making everything he touches sound like ELO
The first time I heard him really lay alot of ELO on a recording is Dave Edmunds “Slipping Away” It’s relaly obvious.
He seems to be an all or nothing type of producer. He doesn’t have much of a soft touch
He is a good songwriter…he knows a hook. He is also good at laying voices. I dont’ like when he puts too much slickness to it.
Heh. I’m with Howie. 😉😊😎
Things didn’t work out well for Howie…that is for sure
Shame, that.
He was involved with Carlene Carter…was that her name? Oh email was sent back
I read that. Yep. June Carter Cash’s daughter with her first husband.
Got it.
email