Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

Jim Croce

About Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" is a song written by American folk rock singer Jim Croce. Released as part of his 1973 album Life and Times, the song was a Number One pop hit for him, spending two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973. Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1973. Croce was nominated for two 1973 Grammy awards in the Pop Male Vocalist and Record of the Year categories for "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown". It was his last number-one single before his death on September 20 of that year.  


Year:
1998
67 
#1

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Well the South side of Chicago
Is the baddest part of town
And if you go down there
You better just beware
Of a man named Leroy Brown

Now Leroy more than trouble
You see he stand 'bout six foot four
All the downtown ladies call him "Treetop Lover"
All the men just call him "Sir"

[Chorus]
And it's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damned town
Badder than old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog

Now Leroy he a gambler
And he like his fancy clothes
And he like to wave his diamond rings
In front of everybody's nose
He got a custom Continental
He got an Eldorado too
He got a thirty two gun in his pocket for fun
He got a razor in his shoe

[Chorus]

Now Friday 'bout a week ago
Leroy shootin' dice
And at the edge of the bar
Sat a girl named Doris
And oo that girl looked nice
Well he cast his eyes upon her
And the trouble soon began
Cause Leroy Brown learned a lesson
'Bout messin' with the wife of a jealous man

[Chorus]

Well the two men took to fighting
And when they pulled them off the floor
Leroy looked like a jigsaw puzzle
With a couple of pieces gone

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Jim Croce

James Joseph "Jim" Croce (/ˈkroʊtʃi/; January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles. His singles "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle" were both number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. more »

10 fans

Written by: James Croce

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Facts
"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" was Jim Croce's first single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1973.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by a character Croce met while in the United States Army. Leroy Brown was a guy from the South Side of Chicago, who got into trouble with the law.
Popularity
"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" has been used in numerous films and TV shows, including "The Secret Life of Pets", "Invincible", and "Supernatural".
Awards
The song was nominated for two Grammys in 1974: "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" and "Record of the Year".
Cover versions
Many well-known artists have covered the song, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.
Genere
The song falls under folk-pop genre, but it also slightly deviates into soul and rhythm and blues due to its engaging, narrative elements.
Commercials
In addition to appearing in films and TV shows, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" has been utilized in commercials for companies like Bridgestone and Budweiser.
Posthumous Success
Tragically, Jim Croce died in a plane crash on September 20, 1973, two months after his song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" reached the top of the charts.
Music Composition
The song contains an upbeat rhythm, despite the storyline about a tough and ill-fated character, thus creating a juxtaposition that listeners often find appealing.
Cultural Impact
"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" is considered a classic of American pop culture. The phrase "Meaner than a junkyard dog", as used in the song, has since been widely adopted in various contexts to describe a formidable person or obstacle.
Live Performances
Despite its popularity, Jim Croce had only a few opportunities to perform "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" live due to his untimely death shortly after the song reached peak popularity.

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    Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1973

    Billboard #1


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