What’s That Song?

If you guessed The Bitch is Back by Elton John, you are correct!

Today’s Bill Campbell What’s That Song is the second single released from Elton John’s 1974 album Caribou. Written by the Elton John and Bernie Taupin duo, it soared up the charts landing in the number one spot in Canada, number four in the USA, and number 15 in the U.K. Inspiration for the song came about when Bernie Taupin’s wife, at the time, said, “The bitch is back,” as Elton John walked into the room, clearly in a foul mood.

Did you know…

• The Bitch is Back is identified as one of Elton’s best hard rock cuts and certified Gold in September 1995 by the Recording Industry Association of America.
• A number of stations refused to play the song because of the word “bitch” no matter how popular it was.
• Artists covering The Bitch is Back include Miley Cyrus, Tina Turner, and Rihanna.
• The Bitch is Back is the first hit song with the word “bitch” in the title (a bold move in 1974).
• In the 2019 film Rocketman, based on the life of Elton John, The Bitch is Back is the first song, and sung by Taron Egerton as Elton.

The Bitch is Back

I was justified when I was five
Raisin’ Cain, I spit in your eye
Times are changin’ now the poor get fat
But the fever’s gonna catch you when the bitch gets back, oh, oh, oh

Eat meat on a Friday, that’s all right
Even like steak on a Saturday night
I can bitch the best at your social do’s
I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue, oh, oh, oh

I’m a bitch, I’m a bitch oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch ’cause I’m better than you
It’s the way that I move, the things that I do oh

I entertain by picking brains
Sell my soul, by dropping names
I don’t like those! My God, what’s that!
Oh, it’s full of nasty habits when the bitch gets back.

I’m a bitch, I’m a bitch oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch ’cause I’m better than you
It’s the way that I move, the things that I do oh

I’m a bitch, I’m a bitch oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch ’cause I’m better than you
It’s the way that I move, the things that I do oh

Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
(The Bitch Is Back lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group)

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