Born Under A Bad Sign is a 1967 blues song originally performed by Albert King.
Originally written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones, the song has been covered by various artists throughout the years including Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Rodgers and Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson.
On Married... with Children it is heard in the Season 5 episode, "The Unnatural", during a baseball montage scene where Al is benched during the championship game and is forced to watch the rest of the New Market Mallers lose to Irv's Smelters.
Only the first verse and the first two choruses are heard in the episode.
Trivia[]
- Although the song was originally released in 1967, the version heard in this episode is taken from the Wednesday Night in San Francisco album, which was recorded live in 1968 but released in 1990. Compared to the original album version, this version is played at a slightly faster tempo, the organ is not as prominent and the sound of the audience can be heard during the opening chorus.
Lyrics[]
Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
You know, I wouldn't have no luck at all
Hard luck and trouble
Been my only friend
I've been on my own
Ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
You know, I wouldn't have no luck at all
I can't read
I didn't know how to write
My whole life has been
One big fight
Born under a bad sign
I've been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
I say, I wouldn't have no luck at all
That ain't lie, ah, oh
You know, if it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no kinda luck
If it wasn't for real bad luck
I wouldn't have no luck at all
You know wine and women
Is all I crave
A big legged woman
Gonna carry me to my grave
Born under a bad sign
I've been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck
I tell ya, I wouldn't have no luck at all
Yeah, I'm a bad luck boy
Been havin' bad luck all of my days, yes