Jim Croce – Bad Bad, Leroy Brown

About the song

“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” stands as a quintessential narrative of American folk rock, immortalized by the talented singer-songwriter Jim Croce in 1973. This upbeat, strophic ballad captured the hearts of listeners, propelling it to the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July of that year and earning Croce widespread acclaim.

The song unfolds with vivid storytelling, centered around its larger-than-life protagonist, Leroy Brown, a towering figure at 6 feet 4 inches from Chicago’s South Side. Leroy is notorious for his imposing stature, flamboyant attire adorned with diamond rings, and his penchant for driving luxury cars like a custom Lincoln Continental and a Cadillac Eldorado. However, Leroy’s charisma is matched by his dangerous reputation—he carries a .32 caliber gun in his pocket and a razor discreetly tucked in his shoe.

The narrative reaches its peak when Leroy, known for making advances towards married women, finds himself in a brawl after hitting on Doris, sparking the ire of her jealous husband. Despite his tough exterior, Leroy suffers a humiliating defeat in the fight, leaving him “like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone.”

Jim Croce drew inspiration for “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” from a colorful character he encountered during his time in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. This acquaintance, who famously went AWOL (Absent Without Leave) but returned to collect his paycheck only to be swiftly apprehended, left a lasting impression on Croce. The song’s chorus, humorously describing Leroy as “meaner than a junkyard dog,” reflects Croce’s firsthand experiences scavenging for car parts in junkyards, evoking a gritty realism that resonated with audiences.

Critically acclaimed for its witty lyrics, catchy melody, and Croce’s charismatic delivery, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” solidified Jim Croce’s status as a masterful storyteller in the realm of folk rock. The song’s success was tragically cut short by Croce’s untimely death later that year, marking it as his final chart-topping single released during his lifetime.

In essence, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” remains a timeless testament to Jim Croce’s narrative prowess, blending humor with pathos to paint a vivid portrait of a larger-than-life character whose legend continues to endure through the power of music.

Video

Lyrics

Well the south side of chicago
Is the baddest part of town
And if you go down there
You better just beware
Of a man named leroy brown

Now leroy more than trouble
You see he stand ’bout six foot four
All the downtown ladies call him “treetop lover”
All the mens just call him “sir”

And it’s bad, bad leroy brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old king kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog

Now leroy he a gambler
And he like his fancy clothes
And he like to wave his diamond rings
In front of everybody’s nose
He got a custom continental
He got an eldorado too
He got a 32 gun in his pocket for fun
He got a razor in his shoe

And it’s bad, bad leroy brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old king kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog

Well friday bout a week ago
Leroy shootin’ dice
And at the edge of the bar
Sat a girl named doris
And ooh that girl looked nice
Well he cast his eyes upon her
And the trouble soon began
And leroy brown learned a lesson
’bout messin’ with the wife of a jealous man

And it’s bad, bad leroy brown
The baddest man in the whole damned town
Badder than old king kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog,

Well the two men took to fightin’
And when they pulled them from the floor
Leroy looked like a jigsaw puzzle
With a couple of pieces gone

And it’s bad, bad leroy brown
The baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old king kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog