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ZZ Top — I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
Album: Deguello
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1874









Released: 1979
Length: 4:39
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Well I was rollin' down the road in some cold blue steel,
I had a blues man in back, and a beautician at the wheel.
We going downtown in the middle of the night
We laughing and I'm jokin' and we feelin' alright.
Oh I'm bad, I'm nationwide.
Yes I'm bad, I'm nationwide.

Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac,
I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back.
They sportin' short dresses, wearin' spike-heel shoes,
They smokin' Lucky Strikes, and wearing nylons too.
'Cause we bad, we nationwide.
Yeah we bad, we nationwide.

Well I was movin' down the road in my V-8 Ford,
I had a shine on my boots, I had my sideburns lowered.
With my New York brim and my gold tooth displayed,
Nobody give me trouble cause they know I got it made.
I'm bad, I'm nationwide.
Well I'm bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, I'm nationwide.
Comments (91)add comment
On my long list of favorite ZZ Top songs, this one always stays at the top of that list.
Posted 2 weeks ago by jimabegglen589    [ Reply ]
would love to hear Jack White cover this.
Posted 11 months ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Always found it ironic that the drummer 'Beard' was in name only. 
Posted 1 year ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
My favourite ZZ Top album.
Posted 1 year ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]
Billy F'in Gibbons! 
Posted 1 year ago by Cueburned    [ Reply ]
Bass is so fun here... really cool song,
Posted 1 year ago by jasko    [ Reply ]




oHelvetos wrote:
Love the sound of Billy Gibbons Gibson 










'PEARLY GATES'







Posted 1 year ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
These guys are Sooooo Bad.
Ass.
Posted 1 year ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Saw them in 1980 in Honolulu while stationed at Pearl Harbor.  Two giant stacks of speakers on each side of the stage ... with a 4-foot raven on top of each stack.  Tried all night long to discern of those birds were real.  If they were real, they were also deaf as doornails.
Posted 1 year ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 pope183 wrote:

...with my New York brim and my gold tooth displayed


Nobody give me trouble 'cause they know I got it made.

Yeah, pope183!  We bad; we nationwide!
Posted 1 year ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
A fine album from this little 'ol band. Other gems, Fool, Esther, and Manic Mechanic.
Posted 2 years ago by reguru2112    [ Reply ]
Great riff
Posted 2 years ago by Jeffrey_Mishik    [ Reply ]
Can’t remember hearing this before. Excellent. I highly recommend watching the ZZ Top documentary.
Posted 2 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
 
Even Peanuts getting in on the groove.
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
9 for the song + 1 for the foxes "wearing nylons too"
Posted 2 years ago by danielcatania1    [ Reply ]
 Canada_Blackbird wrote:

ZZ are living legends go see them!



They had been 10 months ago ...

Legends they are, though. Dusty will be remembered as nothing less.
Posted 2 years ago by Fabian_R    [ Reply ]
10+ bitchez ;)
Posted 2 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
Excellent!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
GREAT TUNE!!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
RIP Dusty Hill


Posted 3 years ago by t0m5k1    [ Reply ]
 Canada_Blackbird wrote:

ZZ are living legends go see them!




I love a lot of the old stuff they made, but the concert I visited in the 90's was the most disappointing one I ever saw. About an hour playtime, I think one encore and absolutely sluggish.
Posted 3 years ago by Lemmes    [ Reply ]
Filthy Funky Blues Rock !
Yeah they're Bad 
Posted 3 years ago by surfrider4life    [ Reply ]
 aneal300 wrote:

Memories, not for this song but the band:

1973 was my freshman college year at small college and ZZ Top played the basketball gym. My first concert, ever. What an initiation!!



FANDANGO
Posted 3 years ago by surfrider4life    [ Reply ]
ZZ are living legends go see them!
Posted 3 years ago by Canada_Blackbird    [ Reply ]
Memories, not for this song but the band:

1973 was my freshman college year at small college and ZZ Top played the basketball gym. My first concert, ever. What an initiation!!
Posted 3 years ago by aneal300    [ Reply ]
So very CRUNCHY!!
Posted 3 years ago by kremfresch    [ Reply ]
in my top two faves by these legends
Posted 3 years ago by dnorton    [ Reply ]
Legendary ZZ-Top! 
Posted 3 years ago by silberschmucky    [ Reply ]
Love the sound of Billy Gibbons Gibson 
Posted 4 years ago by oHelvetos    [ Reply ]
...with my New York brim and my gold tooth displayed
Posted 4 years ago by pope183    [ Reply ]



On_The_Beach wrote:

Lovin' that chunky guitar sound.

 sandpebble wrote:

Thank Tom Scholz.
 
Thank him for what? ZZ Top was a band and had their sound before Boston was even signed. Tres Hombres, their third album, which contained Waitin' For The Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, La Grange, was released in 1973, three years before Boston released their debut album. All those tracks are equally chunky to this song from Deguello
 
Bill Gibbons was an early user of Rockman (Tom Scholtz) guitar amps, but that tone is best illustrated by...Tom Scholtz.  Gibbons is most known for using a '68 100-watt Marshall Super Lead, which this sounds a lot like.
Posted 4 years ago by pcicatar    [ Reply ]
Maybe their last zz top sounding album?
Posted 4 years ago by neotrogg    [ Reply ]


On_The_Beach wrote:

Lovin' that chunky guitar sound.

 sandpebble wrote:

Thank Tom Scholz.
 
Thank him for what? ZZ Top was a band and had their sound before Boston was even signed. Tres Hombres, their third album, which contained Waitin' For The Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, La Grange, was released in 1973, three years before Boston released their debut album. All those tracks are equally chunky to this song from Deguello
Posted 4 years ago by opaceo    [ Reply ]
Good song.  Good album.
A fool for your stockings is a great song off this album.
Posted 4 years ago by dflee    [ Reply ]
 neotrogg wrote:
ELIMINATOR...The end of. that lil ol band from Texas for this old boy
 
I know what you mean (though I love Eliminator) Check out Rhythmeen, you may be surprised.
Posted 4 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
ELIMINATOR...The end of. that lil ol band from Texas for this old boy
Posted 4 years ago by neotrogg    [ Reply ]
Maybe my favorite band I don't know enough about, though I did recently watch the 2018 documentary “ZZ Top: That Lil’ Ol’ Band from Texas” on Netflix and my appreciation for the 3 Beards has grown even more...and these 3 guys have been together since 1969....crazy longevity and great tunes.
Long Live RP and Long Lived Bands and Long Beards!!
*RIP Dusty*
Posted 4 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Good and greasy....
Posted 4 years ago by 3Chords    [ Reply ]
Before they exploded with Eliminator...
Posted 5 years ago by ToddyWoddy    [ Reply ]
 ottovonb wrote:
ZZ's nasty guitar work never gets old.
I also love the way it sounds like Dusty is singing into an empty coke bottle.
It's bad, it's nationwide.

 
yup this here's greasey, nasty and chunky bad, in a funky fun way  {#Notworthy}    yowsa
Posted 6 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
So greasy!!!    :)
Love it.
Posted 10 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
Ain't it funky now
Posted 10 years ago by thatslongformud    [ Reply ]
Brilliant!
Posted 10 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
Ah, yes, the good Reverend Billy G, preaching to the choir. 

Some great college memories and beyond.  
Posted 10 years ago by robertomiller    [ Reply ]
Reverend Billy G!!!!
Posted 10 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Bill has gone full redneck. I love it. 
Posted 10 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
We bad, we Nationwide.  BIG GRIN!!!!

(I suppose this is never going to appear on an insurance commercial?) 
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
I'm black, I'm Asian white.


Posted 11 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
 sandpebble wrote:

Thank Tom Scholz.

 
Quick follow up question.

Is the sound down to the work Tom Scholz did with guitar effects (with Boston) or is Tom the 4th member on this tune.

Sorry if the answer is obvious. 
Posted 11 years ago by merkin_muffley    [ Reply ]
ZZ's nasty guitar work never gets old.
I also love the way it sounds like Dusty is singing into an empty coke bottle.
It's bad, it's nationwide.
Posted 11 years ago by ottovonb    [ Reply ]
 shakitten wrote:
It's January, 2009. I'm driving cross country by myself, on the last leg of my journey from Phoenix to Denver. I'm somewhere in New Mexico...empty highway, no gas station for miles, cell service is non-existent and has been for close to a hour. I can get only one radio station, and this song comes on. That's right, baby...I AM nationwide. In the goofiness that is resulting from my exhaustion and boredom, I turn it up and feel like a road queen, a lone wolfess
 
"Heard It On The X" might have been more appropriate for that moment.
Posted 11 years ago by BKardon    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Lovin' that chunky guitar sound.
 
Thank Tom Scholz.
Posted 11 years ago by sandpebble    [ Reply ]
Oh Yeah ... smokin', then hot bitches in da back seat, funking, we be nationwide, speeding down da highway of life rocking and rolling like they ain't no detours or stops. Going both ways with some pretty boyz and gurls, hitting dat bong, on my way to Wash—ing—TONE!  Ain't no blue lights in da mirro gonna stop me no how ...

Yes this is the original words that I wrote for ZZ .. somehow, it just didn't "click" with the "hook".

Oh well, I'll just keep looking at the single share of Apple I bought in 1975 hanging on the wall ...
Posted 11 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
Saw them here a month ago. Music was good, band tight. But lasted only 75 minutes with encore. They were the headliners. 
Posted 11 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
 philbertr wrote:
ZZ TOP on RP!!  Oh I love it.  Thank you, Bill!!
 
maybe someday the selector will hit  CCR...
Posted 11 years ago by max_p    [ Reply ]
Not a true fan of ZZT, but this song does it for me.
Posted 12 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
ZZ TOP on RP!!  Oh I love it.  Thank you, Bill!!
Posted 12 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
Lovin' that chunky guitar sound.
Posted 12 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]

YES! YES! YES! Rev. Billy!  Wahooo!


Posted 12 years ago by Ullrskid    [ Reply ]
"I'm bad, I'm bad, I'm eight foot wide..." Sorry, I just had a flashback to 1982. You had to be there....
Posted 12 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
 shakitten wrote:
It's January, 2009. I'm driving cross country by myself, on the last leg of my journey from Phoenix to Denver. I'm somewhere in New Mexico...empty highway, no gas station for miles, cell service is non-existent and has been for close to a hour. I can get only one radio station, and this song comes on. That's right, baby...I AM nationwide. In the goofiness that is resulting from my exhaustion and boredom, I turn it up and feel like a road queen, a lone wolfess
 
{#Clap} Yep, ZZ Top is the acme of road music.
Posted 12 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
It's January, 2009. I'm driving cross country by myself, on the last leg of my journey from Phoenix to Denver. I'm somewhere in New Mexico...empty highway, no gas station for miles, cell service is non-existent and has been for close to a hour. I can get only one radio station, and this song comes on. That's right, baby...I AM nationwide. In the goofiness that is resulting from my exhaustion and boredom, I turn it up and feel like a road queen, a lone wolfess
Posted 12 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
  IT ONLY TAKES 3...
  • The Jim Hendrix Experience
  • Cream
  • Rush
  • Grand Funk Railroad
  • The James Gang
  • Robin Trower
  • The Police
  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
  • Primus


Posted 12 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
I always liked it that the only guy in the band without a beard was Frank Beard. Very cool, that.
 
I was endlessly amused by that too, often referring to him as "Frank Mustache".

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Great boogie from ZZ. I especially like the end where the bass is running wild.
Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Papernapkin wrote:
Fandango was my favorite album of theirs. It seemed more authentic than the later stuff. Somehow playing a Republican fundraisers lowers my respect for this band. As time passed they seemed more concerned about their clothes and beards (as the lyrics suggest here) and less about the music.
Man, don't be wipin' your political expectations on my rock and roll !! Nacogdoches remembers.

Posted 13 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
Party yer BALLS OFF!!!!!  {#Drunk}
Posted 14 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
{#Motor}
Posted 14 years ago by gumby    [ Reply ]
HELLZ YEAH!!!


Posted 14 years ago by shawshank    [ Reply ]
Love this strange tempo-changing song
Posted 14 years ago by PeeBee    [ Reply ]
What a surprise!  Love ZZTop!
Posted 14 years ago by diannemck56    [ Reply ]
Luv it!  Fantastic surprise to hear it here.
Posted 14 years ago by onthejazz    [ Reply ]
Can't......stop..........dancing........{#Tongue-out}
Posted 14 years ago by shawshank    [ Reply ]
 HazzeSwede wrote:
don't mind "Bad Ass" Texas Blues,,Bill !{#Lol}
 
I'm with ya on that sentiment!

Posted 14 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
I always liked it that the only guy in the band without a beard was Frank Beard. Very cool, that.
Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Not a big ZZ fan, but this along with a handful of other older Top tunes (heard it on the X, Jesus went down to Chicago, etc.) are good ol' blues rock tunes!{#Bananajam}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 woozurbuddy wrote:
Not a bad tune but as any of us old-timers from Texas can tell you, ZZ's best stuff was from their earlier period.  "ZZ Top's First Album" and "Rio Grande Mud" (second) are classic Texas blues rock albums.  "Tres Hombres" was their national breakout LP and was also very good.  But those first two showcase the band when they were still The National Band of Texas (as we used to call them), a regional powerhouse and one of the best live acts you'd ever see.  Worth exploring if you love the genre - and I'd love to see "Down Brownie" or "Shakin' My Tree" or "Coco Blue" played here.
 
Texas couldn't hold these guys. The lone star state sure tried, they built; walls, barriers, moats, electrified fences, they even tried slowing them down with rubber bands but it didn't work. The sonic waves from their solid drumming, booming bass, and rockin' blues guitar riffs blew holes in the defenses and allowed the band to explode on the national scene.

Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
I loved your on air comment to this, because I always have to make the same type of intro to people when I try to get them to listen to the old school ZZ Top albums like Tres Hombres or El Loco.

Posted 14 years ago by LeftShoe    [ Reply ]
don't mind "Bad Ass" Texas Blues,,Bill !{#Lol}
Posted 15 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
Full o' FM album-rock fun!!! {#Bananajam}
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}
Posted 15 years ago by WildschÃŒtz    [ Reply ]
Fandango was my favorite album of theirs. It seemed more authentic than the later stuff. Somehow playing a Republican fundraisers lowers my respect for this band. As time passed they seemed more concerned about their clothes and beards (as the lyrics suggest here) and less about the music.
Posted 15 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
 cc_rider wrote:
. It ain't rocket science, just solid rock and roll.
 
{#Yes}

Posted 15 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
Trying to understand the Cloud Cult -> ZZ Top segue ...

Then I think I got it. Is Bill making a comment on esurance commercials and I'm Nationwide? Hello? Am I digging too deep here?
Posted 15 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
 Alafia wrote:
The last ZZ disk I paid any attention to.
Listened to it nonstop Freshman year in University.
They went downhill after this, IMO.
 
My feelings exactly. After this CD they quickly became a self-parody, with the goofy MTV videos and such. Too bad.


Posted 15 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 sqqqrly wrote:
Feelin' all right!

 

I would say that I'm polite locally.{#Angel}
Posted 15 years ago by jblankenship    [ Reply ]
HE!! to the YEAH!

Still dig the Little Ol' Band from Texas. It ain't rocket science, just solid rock and roll.
Posted 15 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Good rockin´guitars. ei Hey !!!!
Posted 15 years ago by joanot    [ Reply ]
...queue the comments about overexposure - i don't care, i like it...
Posted 15 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
The last ZZ disk I paid any attention to.
Listened to it nonstop Freshman year in University.

They went downhill after this, IMO.
Posted 15 years ago by Alafia    [ Reply ]
Feelin' all right!

Posted 15 years ago by sqqqrly    [ Reply ]