Music video by Bon Jovi performing Bad Medicine. (C) 1988 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Lyrics:
[Chorus]
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Shake it up, just like bad medicine
There ain’t no doctor that can
Cure my disease
[Verse 1] I ain’t got a fever got a permanent disease
It’ll take more than a doctor to prescribe a remedy
I got lots of money but it isn’t what I need
Gonna take more than a shot to get this poison out of me
I got all the symptoms count them 1,2,3
First you need
That’s what you get for falling in love
Then you bleed
You get a little but it’s never enough
On your knees
That’s what you get for falling in love
And now this boy’s addicted cause your kiss is the drug
[Chorus]
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Shake it up, just like bad medicine
There ain’t no doctor that can
Cure my disease
Bad, bad medicine [x2]
[Verse 2]
I don’t need no needle
To be giving me a thrill
And I don’t need no anesthesia
Or a nurse to bring a pill
I got a dirty down addiction
It doesn’t leave a track
I got a jolt for your affection
Like a monkey on my back
There ain’t no paramedic
Going to save this heart attack
When you need
That’s what you get for falling in love
Then you bleed
You get a little but it’s never enough
On your knees
That’s what you get for falling in love
Now I’m addicted and your kiss is the drug
[Chorus]
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Shake it up, just like bad medicine
So let’s play doctor, baby
Cure my disease
Bad, bad medicine [x2]
[Verse 3] I need a respirator cause I’m running out of breath
You’re an all night generator wrapped is stockings and a dress
When you find your medicine you take what you can get
Cause if there’s something better baby well they haven’t found it yet
[Chorus]
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Shake it up, just like bad medicine
There ain’t no doctor that can
Cure my disease
Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Shake it up, just like bad medicine
Your love’s the potion that
Can cure my disease
Bad, bad medicine [x2]
The song is highlighted by a near constant keyboard playing by David Bryan that is well defined in the beginning of the song and at several interludes, as well as loud guitar playing by Richie Sambora, background singing in the bridge and chorus, and a loud fast-paced delivery of lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi. It is one of the more upbeat and hard rocking songs on New Jersey.
Towards the end of the song, Jon says he is running out of breath and has to go, but then relents, saying “I’m not done…one more time, with feelin'” and the band finishes the song with another repeat of the chorus.
Music video
There are two videos for the song, one with the band live in concert, and a more well-known live video in which a crowd of young people waiting in line to get into the video shoot is asked by Sam Kinison if they (the public) “can make a better Bon Jovi video than these guys can.” The crowd gives a very enthusiastic response, and members of the crowd are given hand-held cameras and invited onstage to help shoot the video.[citation needed]
Legacy
“Bad Medicine” continues to see considerable airplay on many rock radio stations and has always been a live staple at Bon Jovi concerts. In concert, an approximately 1-minute interlude of the classic “Shout” is incorporated into the middle of the song. Although with the Circle Tour, “Bad Medicine” has been played with many more covers than just “Shout”.
Mexican Wrestler Dr. Wagner Jr. uses the song as his entrance theme.
The song was frequently sung by football (soccer) fans with the lyrics changed to “Your love is like Barry Venison” in honour of Barry Venison, the former Liverpool F.C. and Newcastle United[1]
In 2017, in the Young Sheldon episode entitled “Spock, Kirk, and Testicular Hernia,” Sheldon enters Gerogie’s room to help him study for a math test and the song can be heard as Sheldon enters his room.
