[intro sample (on album):] Of course London's a big place. It's a very big place, Mr Shadrack. A man could lose himself in London. Lose himself. Lose himself. Lose himself in London!

Toast is burned, / and your coffee's cold, / and you leave all the post `cause it's nothing but bills again. / Home from work, / put the TV on. / Get your kicks watching Bruce on the old Generation Game /

Just dial my number, / I've got some plans for you. / You're in a bad way / and I can help you through. / You're in a bad way, / every day is just the same. / Just dial my number / or call my name. /

Jeans are old / and your hair's all wrong / Don't you know that crew-cuts and trainers are out again? / Going out / you're feeling low / Running for cover, it looks like it's going to rain. / (What a shame.) /

Just dial my number, / I've got some plans for you. / You're in a bad way / and I can help you through. / You're in a bad way, / every day seems just the same. / Just dial my number / or call my name. /

Just dial my number, / I've got some plans for you. / You're in a bad way / and I can help you through. / You're in a bad way, / every day seems just the same. / Just dial my number / or call my name. /

You're in a bad way, / (you're in a bad way.) / You're in a bad way, / (you're in a bad way.) / You're in a bad way, / (you're in a bad way.) / You're in a bad way, / (you're in a bad way.) / Yeah.

Credits

Composition:

• Bob Stanley
• Pete Wiggs
• Sarah Cracknell

Vocals:

• Sarah Cracknell

References

Bruce Forsyth used to host a BBC TV game show, The Generation Game, in which each competing team was a pair of people from different generations of the same family. It started with a legendary "Nice to see you - to see you? Nice" and ended with an equally legendary conveyor belt sequence including a cuddly toy, and a "Didn't he do well?"

Trivia

This was originally intended to be a "throwaway b-side" to a single called Everlasting which has never seen the light of day. Bob Stanley says

We played You're In A Bad Way to Creation and they said, you've gotta stick that out as a single. It's pretty cheesy. It's meant to sound like Herman's Hermits, a joke song - which ended up being our biggest hit. A millstone.

Here's the band talking about the track, shamelessly pinched from Melody Maker:

Sarah:
It was supposed to be a joke, but Alan McGee said "Brilliant! Got to be an a-side!" And it was our biggest hit.
Bob:
He placed this huge millstone around our necks. Placed a huge albatross round our necks. Hahahahahaha! It was a big hit, though, wasn't it?
Pete:
Albatross? Yeah, it was Number One.
Bob:
No, You're In A Bad Way.
Pete:
You're In A Bad Way was our Albatross.
Bob:
It was supposed to be a cheesy Herman's Hermits thing, stupid lyrics and that. We wrote it in about ten minutes. We were in a big A-ha phase, and we thought it was going to sound like Cry Wolf, but instead it sounded like...
Pete:
Cheese Wolf.
Bob:
Oh dear.

Versions and sources

You're In A Bad Way

• Indie Top Twenty Volume 17 [CD]
• Fairytales From Saint Etienne compilation album [ CD (Japan)]
• Smash The System compilation album [double CD]
• So Tough album [CD (US first release)]
• So Tough album [CD (US second release)]
• So Tough album [cassette (US first release)]
• So Tough album [cassette (US second release)]
• So Tough album [minidisc]
• So Tough album [CD (Japan)]
• Too Young To Die singles compilation album [twelve inch vinyl]
• Too Young To Die singles compilation album [CD]
• Too Young To Die singles compilation album [double CD]
• Too Young To Die singles compilation album [cassette]
• You're In A Bad Way single [vinyl seven inch]
• You're In A Bad Way single [vinyl twelve inch]
• You're In A Bad Way single [CD]
• You're In A Bad Way single [cassette]
• You're In A Bad Way single [promo CD (US)]

You're In A Bad Way (alternative mix)

• You're In A Bad Way single [promo CD (US)]

You're In A Bad Way [album version]

• So Tough album [vinyl twelve inch]
• So Tough album [CD]
• So Tough album [cassette]
• So Tough album [double CD]
• So Tough album [CD (European release)]

You're In A Bad Way [video]

• Too Young To Die videos compilation [VHS video cassette]