Bad English

On the streets of this town
There is no surrender
They've got a number for every name
Buildings and shopping malls
Seem like a stage for pretenders
They criticize the clothes you wear
They try to make you feel like a stranger

Cause you do things they wouldn't dare
Who cares who's right and who's wrong
Because we know where we belong

The wild heart is calling us
Out in the night
A primitive love in your eyes
And out on the wasteland of broken dreams
Go you and I
We're the restless ones
(oh)
Oh yeah
The restless ones

Step outside of yourself
And you'll see through the changes
Leave your mark
Let them know you came
But don't lead the rest of your lives
In plastic cages

Cause you do things they wouldn't dare
Who cares who's right and who's wrong
Because we know where we belong

The wild heart is taking us
Out in the night
A primitive love in your eyes
Out on the wasteland of broken dreams
Go you and I
We're the restless ones
(oh)
Oh yeah, we're the restless ones
That's all we'll ever be
Yeah (oh)
You're the restless one
You're just like me

And sometimes I just walk the streets at night
Wonder where I'm going
Can't relate to nothing no more
But listen you hear it call

The wild heart is calling us
Out in the night
A primitive love in your eyes
And sometimes I feel like a loaded gun
Cause just like you
I'm the restless one
(oh)
Oh yeah
That's all I'll ever be

Oh you're the restless one
(oh)
And baby you're just like me
Oh
(oh)
Oh yeah
You're the restless one
You're the restless one
(oh)
And that's all we'll ever be

Bad English was a short-lived hard rock supergroup best known for their chart-topping rock ballad “When I See You Smile”. The band came up with their name while shooting pool between studio takes. The term means ‘putting the wrong spin on a cue ball’.

After releasing four successful albums on his own, ex-Babys frontman John Waite felt the urge to front a band again. When his manager suggested teaming up with a previous bandmate, he reconnected with ex-Babys Jonathan Cain (while Cain’s band Journey was on hiatus) backstage at a Heart concert. Cain had already been in touch with another ex-Babys member Ricky Phillips about ‘doing a band with the rock attitude of The Babys again’. The three began writing songs together.

Neil Schon (also of the then-inactive band Journey) occasionally stopped by the studio and offered to play guitar to help the band out. However, he ended up officially joining the project and recruiting Wild Dogs drummer Deen Castronovo. After accumulating seven songs, a conference call between the band, producer Ritchie Zito and their A&R man led to adding songs written by outside songwriters like Martin Page, Mark Spiro and Dianne Warren – the latter contributing the ballad “When I See You Smile” (a song previously offered to Alias frontman Freddie Curci).

more tracks from the album

Bad English

From the album

Bad English (1989)

Bad English popular songs

Restless OnesBad English

Bad English

Bad English