Ball and Chain
Social Distortion
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Well it's been ten years, and a thousand tears And look at the mess I'm in A broken nose and a broken heart, An empty bottle of gin Well I sit and I pray In my broken down Chevrolet While I'm singin' to myself There's got to be another way Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain I'm lonely and I'm tired And I can't take any more pain Take away, take away Never to return again Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain Well I've searched and I've searched To find the perfect life- A brand new car and a brand new suit I even got me a little wife But wherever I have gone I was sure to find myself there You can run all your life But not go anywhere Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain I'm lonely and I'm tired And I can't take any more pain Take away, take away Never to return again Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain Well I'll pass the bar on the way To my dingy hotel room I spent all my money Been drinkin' since a half past noon I'll wake there in the mornin' Or maybe in the county jail Times are hard getting harder I'm born to lose and destined to fail Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain I'm lonely and I'm tired And I can't take any more pain Take away, take away Never to return again Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain
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Written by: Michael Ness
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Release"Ball and Chain" is a song by American punk rock band Social Distortion, released in 1990.
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Album PlacementThe song is from their third album, which is self-titled as "Social Distortion".
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Chart Performance"Ball and Chain" managed to reach a peak position of No. 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in America, showing its popularity.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Ball and Chain" features a variety of actors and actresses recreating different scenes, depicting different stages of life.
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The Meaning and InfluenceThe song suggests feelings of despair, regret, and realization. It reflects the impact of poverty and addiction, two themes often recurring in frontman Mike Ness's songs.
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Genre and Style"Ball and Chain" is a major departure from the typical punk rock sound traditionally associated with Social Distortion, as it incorporates blues and country influences into its arrangement.
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Lyrics and CompositionThe song is distinguished by its memorable chorus, “I’m lonely and I’m tired/And I can’t take any more pain”. This melancholic refrain speaks to the hardships that Ness has experienced in his life.
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Live PerformancesDespite being originally released over 30 years ago, "Ball and Chain" continues to be a staple of Social Distortion's live shows, proving its enduring popularity.
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Influence on Other ArtistsThe song's blend of punk rock with blues and country has inspired a number of other bands to experiment with crossing genre boundaries.
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Record SalesThe album "Social Distortion", which includes the hit "Ball and Chain", went on to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicating sales of over 500,000 units.
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Citation
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"Ball and Chain Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3386804/Social+Distortion/Ball+and+Chain>.
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