Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give love a bad name

An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me Heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison, you can't break free

Oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
Hey, you give love, a bad name

Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

Whoa, you're a loaded gun
Whoa, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, oh

Oh, shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)

You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

You Give Love A Bad Name Lyrics as written by Desmond Child Richard Sambora

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

You Give Love A Bad Name song meanings
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42 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    To me, the song is about a guy whose girlfriend isn't as kind and innocent as she pretends to be. Haven't we all known people of both sexes like this? I am going to toss in my chips with everyone else and say that this song totally describes my ex. I'd have to say that my favorite lyrics are "I play my part, and you play your game" and "your love is done...no one can save me the damage you've done". You can hear the reproach and anger in Jon's voice. It toally describes the nature of love, because people's hearts get hurt and there's nothing that can be done to repair it. Meanings aside, this song has the best rhythm ever. Love it love it love it.

    goddesscarolineon January 27, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song really made me want to get up and dance and by the second time of hearing it I was singing along with every word. When I looked up the lyrics I was surprised to find out the song is by Bon Jovi. So I started looking up more of his songs and fell in love with his music. I love his style. His music has great rythme and makes you want to dance no matter how depressing the lyrics may be. That's what music is great for. To bring you up when you're down while describing your current situation in ways you never thought possible. My boyfriend's ex-girlfriend and a pretty good friend of mine just decided she want to play tug-o-war with me over him. This song pertains to my situation pretty well. Too bad people my age (14) can't appreciate the better music nowadays. All rap does is degrate women.

    SwiSS_StinkSon May 08, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    FRIGGIN AWESOME SONG! It makes me freak out when I hear it, I totally rock out when he's like "SHOT THROUGH THE HEART AND YOUR TO BLAME" again friggin awesome song

    -forrest-

    Olexon December 02, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song.

    SeeingRedon May 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the song is about a guy and his girlfriend or wife and she is a selfesh little b**** and she puts him thru hell and he cant get out now he thought he loved her but he was wrong he thought she loved him but he was wrong again.

    bonjovi1on March 16, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    After just going through a very hard break-up and realizing what my girlfriend was doing to me, I can relate to this very well. "Shot through the heart and you're to blame, darling you give love a bad name" this means that whomever that person was dating, they had broken their heart, it feels like they have been shot. "You're to blame," basically means that she/he is the one that broke your heart and she/he is the one that is making you feel this way.

    "An angel's smile is what you sell You promise me heaven then put me through hell" They pretend to be all innocent and lovely and they promise you that they will be right by your side through it all, but instead the opposite of that happens.

    "I play my part and you play your game" you are doing what you promised them you'd do, you mean everything that you tell them. All your love, all your stories, it's all real. But on their side? It's a game to toy with your heart, and everything they say is fake and when they think they're done with you, they throw you away.

    "There's nowhere to run No-one can save me, the damage is done" you are heartbroken after what they did to you. The damage is done, they already did what they did and there's no turning back. There is no going back in time and turning down the relationship.

    "You paint your smile on your lips Blood red nails on your fingertips A school boys dream, you act so shy" this means that she was faking everything. She faked that smile. She hid her true feelings. She seems all girly and innocent and amazing, and because of this, you loved her.

    "Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye" To me, this line means that she stole a kiss from you, basically. The first time the two of you kissed, and the only time, you felt so much passion and so much love and your heart was burning. But she felt nothing, and broke up with you either that day or the day after, or sometime within that week.

    On a side note, oh my goodness, I love this song! There's so much passion in his voice when he's singing it, Bon Jovi is an amazing band, they know how to make your feelings really be described in just a few words. You can just feel his emotion, his anger, his sadness in his voice as he sings the song.

    Blizzard79on October 27, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This makes me think of someone i know. Cuz this person just worries about themselves and just lets everyone drag along for the ride.

    Fallen4on June 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song has a really great beat and it makes u wanna dance. It has to do with a selfish person in a relationship, mostly. It's not my fave Bon Jovi song, but it's pretty good.

    JessieLynnon June 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    About a guy whose girlfriend is really, really bad for him.

    Boonechic_21on March 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song absolutely goes off. The solo drum bit in the middle you have to turn up really loud.

    antmannon June 15, 2003   Link

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