Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name

About The Song

“You Give Love a Bad Name” is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the first single from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child about a woman who has jilted her lover, the song reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on November 29, 1986, and became the band’s first number-one hit. In 2007, the song re-entered the charts at No. 29 after Blake Lewis performed it on American Idol. Despite the lyrics of the chorus, the song should not be confused with “Shot Through the Heart”, an unrelated song from Bon Jovi’s 1984 self-titled debut album.

The chorus tune of “You Give Love a Bad Name” was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler under the title “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” with different lyrics commissioned by its producer Jim Steinman. Dissatisfied with its success in the US and the UK (which he attributed to reticence on the part of her label in promoting it), Desmond Child re-wrote the song with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

Upon the release of the Ava Max song “Kings & Queens” in 2020, comparisons were drawn with that song, “You Give Love a Bad Name”, and Bonnie Tyler’s “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)”, and reviews highlighted Desmond Child’s credit as a songwriter for “Kings & Queens”.

Video

Lyrics

Shot through the heart
And you’re to blame
Darling, 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, oh, oh
You’re a loaded gun
Oh, oh, 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)
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

Oh, oh, oh
You’re a loaded gun
Oh, oh, 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)
You give love, ah!

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