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Bad Company — Seagull
Album: Bad Company
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1337









Released: 1974
Length: 4:01
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Seagull, you fly across the horizon
Into the misty morning sun
Nobody asks you where you are going,
Nobody knows where you're from

Here is a man asking the question
Is this really the end of the world?
Seagull, you must have known for a long time
The shape of things to come
Now you fly, through the sky, never asking why,
And you fly all around till somebody shoots you down

Da da da da da da da down.
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm.

Seagull, you fly, across the horizon,
Into the misty morning sun.
Nobody asks you where you are going,
Nobody knows where you are from,
Now you fly through the sky, never asking why,
And you fly all around till somebody, yeah,
Shoots you down. Mm mm, yeah.
Seagull you fly, seagull you fly away.

And you fly away today
And you fly away tomorrow
And you fly away, leave me to
my sorrow.
Mm, mm, mm.

Seagull go and fly, mm, mm, mm,
Fly to your tomorrow, leave me to my sorrow, fly.
Comments (182)add comment
Their songs trigger something in me after fifty years even,;that says something regardless if they're the most brilliant band in the history of music!
 alexandersmcmillan wrote:

It's a pretty common chord progression, but wow, Kenny Wayne Shepherd sure ripped this tune off for his hit "Blue on Black." 



Thank you! I knew 'Blue On Black' was reminding me of something! and it was this all along!
Who's shooting seagulls? Rabbits? Rabbits With Guns?
(just kidding)
Love this song, always have, and i don't like 'Blue On Black' any less for it, by the way. Cheers.
Fabulous voice, shame that top E string is out of tune.....just saying😄
The slightly out of tune acoustic is kind of compelling. 
I'm not a big fan. Bad Company has always been hit or miss for me. This tune is a HIT!!  Thank You RP!
Nicely covered by Joe Bonamassa
 SmackDaddy wrote:

Who the hell is shooting seagulls anyway?



Human beings without a doubt.
 bruz wrote:

Oh, how i wish someone in the recording studio would have said, "Wait, that guitar needs tuned".



And maybe cut back on the hammer-ons a bit!

It's a pretty common chord progression, but wow, Kenny Wayne Shepherd sure ripped this tune off for his hit "Blue on Black." 
Fly high Seagull and don't let a stupid idiot with a gun shoot you down.
 SpinyNorma wrote:

I take it that you don't live near the coast, and have never had a 'shitehawk' shit on you, throw up partially-digested fish on your dog, or attack you because the bastard's after your lunch which you've decided to enjoy outside as it's a nice day? 

Bloody birds haven't even got the good grace to be edible...
 
'Tain't that the truth.
Great song. Wish they had tuned the guitar though.
 bruz wrote:
Oh, how i wish someone in the recording studio would have said, "Wait, that guitar needs tuned".
 
Yep. Very strange for a studio song. 
 SmackDaddy wrote:
Who the hell is shooting seagulls anyway?
 
I take it that you don't live near the coast, and have never had a 'shitehawk' shit on you, throw up partially-digested fish on your dog, or attack you because the bastard's after your lunch which you've decided to enjoy outside as it's a nice day? 

Bloody birds haven't even got the good grace to be edible...
Written in the days when song writers wrote real meaning lyrics brilliant song writing by the best in the business back in the day..British Rock.
 OlderGentleman wrote:
Summer 1975, on shore of Lake Mead. Around the campfire. Someone playing an acoustic guitar. This and I’m Your Captain by Grand Funk. Soundtrack to our youth. Good times. Thanks Bill.
 
was going to say that was me until I read the yr... hit Lake Mead in 1992 to watch 3 GD shows at the Silver Dome.  we Camped at Lake Mead that yr.  Las Vegas was always a fun TRIP.  Loved Bad Co. back in the day.

First album I ever bought. Paul Rodgers...what a voice! Ronnie Van Zandt saw him in Tallahassee when he was the front man for Free and decided to start a rock band .... according to a documentary I saw about RVZ
Who the hell is shooting seagulls anyway?
 Bat wrote:


Wait a minute - I remember this song from my high school days and that was well over 40 years ago!

Did Bad Co have that much staying powe?
 
Without a doubt!
I just looked up the phrase Rock and Roll and "Bad Company, the band" was the definition.
I saw Bad CO in Knoxville TN with another 10K plus screaming hillbillies  in the mid 70s.  Conveyor belt rock no question but for the time period they killed it.  
Well... this tune didn't age well...
Summer 1975, on shore of Lake Mead. Around the campfire. Someone playing an acoustic guitar. This and I’m Your Captain by Grand Funk. Soundtrack to our youth. Good times. Thanks Bill.
 Danimal174 wrote:
Wow, I don't think I've heard this song since I was in high school, almost 30 years ago. Thanks for playing!
 

Wait a minute - I remember this song from my high school days and that was well over 40 years ago!

Did Bad Co have that much staying powe?
Can you just play the entire album?
 Dana_Montroy wrote:

Why would anyone write a song about a seagull?  Well, one must take that into the context of the times, and at that time the book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" was a best-selling book (first print was 1970).  It was followed in 1973 by a movie of the same name.
 
Oh, yes, that's true.  I had almost succeeded in forgetting about all the fawning over that book and film back then.
My god my favorite rock band in the 70's
Wow, I don't think I've heard this song since I was in high school, almost 30 years ago. Thanks for playing!
 TeeCee33 wrote:
re - Paul Rogers voice
His earlier band - Free - 
Their 'fire and water' album is a real gem -
(He was very young then - but his soulful blues voice was brilliant)
 
I saw Free opening for Faces back in the early 70's, we were renting a B3 and Leslie speaker to the promoter so onstage for the whole show, quite an afternoon!
I love this song. Really......love....this song.
re - Paul Rogers voice
His earlier band - Free - 
Their 'fire and water' album is a real gem -
(He was very young then - but his soulful blues voice was brilliant)
 1wolfy wrote:
A touching tune that takes me back...way back to simpler times in my 65 Impala 8 track up loud...Perfect
 Same here. Only I had a 65 Rambler.

Paul Rodgers is the man, saw him when he was with the Firm, what a concert!!
 Cynaera wrote:

Me, too.  Maybe Paul Rodgers isn't THE best rock singer, but he carries a tune, can improvise, and can put inflections into his voice to lend an emotion where one demands to be included.  Soulful, yes.  I try to forget that he has an ego as big as Australia and just listen to the music.

Bad Company was ahead of its time - when bands were incorporating big hair, various extraneous instruments, and backup singers, Bad Company was just four guys and a few harmonies. Stripped down, gutsy, and perfect. Right in the pocket.

Can't listen to a BC song without remembering the kafoffel when they first broke. Some critics bet the bank that Bad Company wouldn't last a year because they didn't have a "gimmick." Funny thing - their "gimmick" was bringing rock back to simplicity.

And I still love them. I'm very saddened by Boz Burrell's death - he was the understated bass-player that delivered such a solid backbeat with Simon Kirke's drums - it was a signature sound.  Time marches on. Dammit.
  
she's right with this one, and imo, her insight is sorely missed

this song could have come from losing a love in an extreme way, I listen and easily go down in sentiment, it makes me want to play the whole album
Beautiful, shit lyrics an'all.
 Proclivities wrote:

This band wasn't really known for having profound lyrics, but they had some good tunes.  Still, aside from the juvenile lyrics, why would any "rock" band write a song about a seagull?  I guess it was okay to do so in 1973.
 

I'm guessing it was a metaphor, like "Blackbird" "Apeman" by the Kinks. Then again, as others have mentioned, Paul Rogers wasn't exactly known for writing complex lyrics so maybe it was just about a seagull. 
Beautiful rock and roll; an oxymoron?  Definitely not.
Also, it doesn't matter if all the lyrics make perfect sense; it just has to be lovely.
And an amazing voice can take a band a long way.
 BCarn wrote:

Ummmm, I'd say they were quite a lot better than mediocre. Quite a Lot.
 
  Point taken fellow music lover.   I recently saw Paul Rodgers on "Artist's Den"  I believe, and he was amazing.  His voice is still sublime.
 khardog145 wrote:
Yah ok the band was mediocre, but his voice is superlative. 
 
Ummmm, I'd say they were quite a lot better than mediocre. Quite a Lot.
Yah ok the band was mediocre, but his voice is superlative. 
Well it made me chuckle for the memories it brought back.
 bruz wrote:
Oh, how i wish someone in the recording studio would have said, "Wait, that guitar needs tuned".

 
I wish someone had said "Guys, guys. Have you been smoking your socks again?"
 Proclivities wrote:

This band wasn't really known for having profound lyrics, but they had some good tunes.  Still, aside from the juvenile lyrics, why would any "rock" band write a song about a seagull?  I guess it was okay to do so in 1973.

 
Why would anyone write a song about a seagull?  Well, one must take that into the context of the times, and at that time the book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" was a best-selling book (first print was 1970).  It was followed in 1973 by a movie of the same name.
Oh, how i wish someone in the recording studio would have said, "Wait, that guitar needs tuned".
 BBoyes wrote:
"You fly through the sky, never asking why." Really? Is that the best they could do? 

 
This band wasn't really known for having profound lyrics, but they had some good tunes.  Still, aside from the juvenile lyrics, why would any "rock" band write a song about a seagull?  I guess it was okay to do so in 1973.
I remember these hacks. A staple of CLASSIC ROCK RADIO. Best forgotten
 1wolfy wrote:
A touching tune that takes me back...way back to simpler times in my 65 Impala 8 track up loud...Perfect

 

Yes an 8 for me personally because it captures a time period.
A touching tune that takes me back...way back to simpler times in my 65 Impala 8 track up loud...Perfect
reminds me of REM "Me in Honey", or vice versa :), particularly the guitar riff and the humming.
Yeah!  Even British Hard Rockers are Tree Hugging Hippies.
 MangoKid wrote:
Don't get me wrong, this is a truely great song, but I personally prefere Joe Bonamassa's interpretation from his album Sloe Gin

 
Was just thinking that too..
 
"You fly through the sky, never asking why." Really? Is that the best they could do? 
Don't get me wrong, this is a truely great song, but I personally prefere Joe Bonamassa's interpretation from his album Sloe Gin
A great song from a consistently underrated singer and band.
so many memories  - awesome album - love his voice! 
 VV wrote:
Soooooo many memories made around this album....

 
holla that! 
Wow, what a flashback!
 Cynaera wrote:

Me, too.  Maybe Paul Rodgers isn't THE best rock singer, but he carries a tune, can improvise, and can put inflections into his voice to lend an emotion where one demands to be included.  Soulful, yes.  I try to forget that he has an ego as big as Australia and just listen to the music.

Bad Company was ahead of its time - when bands were incorporating big hair, various extraneous instruments, and backup singers, Bad Company was just four guys and a few harmonies. Stripped down, gutsy, and perfect. Right in the pocket.

Can't listen to a BC song without remembering the kafoffel when they first broke. Some critics bet the bank that Bad Company wouldn't last a year because they didn't have a "gimmick." Funny thing - their "gimmick" was bringing rock back to simplicity.

And I still love them. I'm very saddened by Boz Burrell's death - he was the understated bass-player that delivered such a solid backbeat with Simon Kirke's drums - it was a signature sound.  Time marches on. Dammit.
 
Unbreakable
Powerful
Love 
Soooooo many memories made around this album....
For my money, the best voice in rock.
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Loved it from the start...
what year was this made? This sounds like the precursor to a lot of those 'metal/accoustic' anthems in the mid 80's... with that said, it's not bad.
Great first album (not so much for this song). Up there with the Doors, Stones first.

 
bam23 wrote:

Not really so. The term seagull is not very useful, as many different bird species fall into that grab bag. In the absence of human detritus, these birds are about as objectionable as sparrows (there are many species there also). Give these critters a break.

 

    'Like'
     
 terrapin52 wrote:
Would have been better as "Seabird" or "Seahawk".   Seagulls are rats with wings. No one knows where you're going?  To the nearest dumpster or landfill would be a safe bet. :)

 
Not really so. The term seagull is not very useful, as many different bird species fall into that grab bag. In the absence of human detritus, these birds are about as objectionable as sparrows (there are many species there also). Give these critters a break.
Would have been better as "Seabird" or "Seahawk".   Seagulls are rats with wings. No one knows where you're going?  To the nearest dumpster or landfill would be a safe bet. :)
 Keef wrote:

or maybe Chris Cornell?
 
Robert Plant and Ian Gillan.
Yes great singer.
A piece of trite crap.  Could have gone another 30 years without hearing it again.
 xkolibuul wrote:

Roger Daltrey?  Bryan Ferry?  Freddy Mercury?  Plenty of contenders for that throne.
 
or maybe Chris Cornell?
I love Bad Co.... {#Heartkiss}
 unclehud wrote:
Don't know about that romeotuma; today it's sounding really dated.

I will agree that Paul Rogers is possibly the best rock vocalist, although Greg Lake and Robert Plant (of course!) are right up there with him.
 
Roger Daltrey?  Bryan Ferry?  Freddy Mercury?  Plenty of contenders for that throne.
R.I.P. Richard Bach. Your little book about a seagull who spends his life refusing to conform to the norms of society had a profound affect on me as a 10-year-old.

“Heaven is not a place, and it's not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Paul Rodgers def has thar raw energy rock charisma both in BC and Free.
 Cynaera wrote:

Me, too.  Maybe Paul Rodgers isn't THE best rock singer, but he carries a tune, can improvise, and can put inflections into his voice to lend an emotion where one demands to be included.  Soulful, yes.  I try to forget that he has an ego as big as Australia and just listen to the music.

Bad Company was ahead of its time - when bands were incorporating big hair, various extraneous instruments, and backup singers, Bad Company was just four guys and a few harmonies. Stripped down, gutsy, and perfect. Right in the pocket.

Can't listen to a BC song without remembering the kafoffel when they first broke. Some critics bet the bank that Bad Company wouldn't last a year because they didn't have a "gimmick." Funny thing - their "gimmick" was bringing rock back to simplicity.

And I still love them. I'm very saddened by Boz Burrell's death - he was the understated bass-player that delivered such a solid backbeat with Simon Kirke's drums - it was a signature sound.  Time marches on. Dammit.

 
Beautiful song, from an album that shook me awake
He sounds a lot like Jim Capaldi....
Nice song
Me likey.
 ick wrote:
Who shoots a seagull down?
 

Ancient mariners?  Wait, never mind, I'm thinking of something else.

This song caused me to look up the entry in Wikipedia for the 1970 book Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  I was struck by the similarity in the book's cover to the album cover.

Johnathan Livingston Seagull.jpg
 meauclaire wrote:
Man, what a voice!
 
Agreed. Paul Rogers has one of  the best rock voices ever.
(Scrolling down, I see I'm not the first to mention this.)

Thanks for shaking the dust off this song of my youth.
Man, what a voice!
Don't know about that romeotuma; today it's sounding really dated.

I will agree that Paul Rogers is possibly the best rock vocalist, although Greg Lake and Robert Plant (of course!) are right up there with him.
 ick wrote:
Who shoots a seagull down?
 
My tots too.
Nice to hear this.....
 guiguy wrote:
Paul Rogers; the best rock vocalist ever? Check out his appearance on Tim Donahue's Voices in the Wind!
 

Best ever? Don't know about that, but surely one of my personal favorites and most underrated.{#Yes}
BTW one of my favorite songs as a kid. 8
What an outstanding early 70s rock band! 
Bumping from 9 to 10.  I love this song. I love this band. I'm not even going to analyze it. To me, it's perfection.

I'm having a hard time not thinking of this song as a sort of 1974 version of Double Rainbow.
not a huge bc fan, but this is simple and pleasing. plus its fun to sing and play on guitar.
 guiguy wrote:
Paul Rogers; the best rock vocalist ever? Check out his appearance on Tim Donahue's Voices in the Wind!
 

was thinkin' more like roger daltry in his prime. maybe rogers a close second. (can my girl grace slick get an honorable mention?) 
This is a blast from the past, right enough. I was well into Bad Company back in the day, but they seemed to drop off the radar after two albums, though according to Wikipedia they're still going. It's nice to hear them again on RP, though the eponymous track "Bad Company" on this album is better than Seagull, I think. This certainly sounds heavily influenced by Greg Lake of ELP fame/notoriety. 7 from the Nottingham jury.


 Monkeysdad wrote:
Seagull?

Really?!

1
 
Their inspiration?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Livingston_Seagull



Would like to see Silver, Blue and Gold added to the playlist.  Arguably their best song.
Sweeeeeet! Such an awesome display of Paul Rodgers talent! Almost saw him in NYC at BB King's House of Blues but he had broken his collar bone and I couldn't make the rescheduled show.
Saw a recent performance by them on Austin City Limits or Soundstage or something like that — he can STILL sing.  They were tight.  My teenagers were impressed!
 Delawhere wrote:
just a great simple song. every time I hear this song, I just have to stop what I am doing and just go with it
 
Me, too.  Maybe Paul Rodgers isn't THE best rock singer, but he carries a tune, can improvise, and can put inflections into his voice to lend an emotion where one demands to be included.  Soulful, yes.  I try to forget that he has an ego as big as Australia and just listen to the music.

Bad Company was ahead of its time - when bands were incorporating big hair, various extraneous instruments, and backup singers, Bad Company was just four guys and a few harmonies. Stripped down, gutsy, and perfect. Right in the pocket.

Can't listen to a BC song without remembering the kafoffel when they first broke. Some critics bet the bank that Bad Company wouldn't last a year because they didn't have a "gimmick." Funny thing - their "gimmick" was bringing rock back to simplicity.

And I still love them. I'm very saddened by Boz Burrell's death - he was the understated bass-player that delivered such a solid backbeat with Simon Kirke's drums - it was a signature sound.  Time marches on. Dammit.

I'm blown away that I am hearing this song on a radio station!!
I've had a 30 year love affair with this song and never heard it played - not even once - by anyone but me... 
 guiguy wrote:
Paul Rogers; the best rock vocalist ever? Check out his appearance on Tim Donahue's Voices in the Wind!
 
One of the sexiest voices in R&R...fer sure{#Kiss}
Seagull?

Really?!





1
Another phenomenal line up of tunes........
just a great simple song. every time I hear this song, I just have to stop what I am doing and just go with it
 guiguy wrote:
Paul Rogers; the best rock vocalist ever?
 
Definitely among the best.{#Ask}
Who shoots a seagull down?
Really good song from a great debut album.  And, yes, the lead singer has a very good, unique voice.
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is fantastic...  love it...
 
Hi, kindred spirit.  When I first heard this song, about a million years ago, I couldn't believe it was the same bunch who did "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" and "Rock Steady."  This is probably the best "mellow" song BC has ever done.  RIP, Boz Burrell.  Dammit.

Paul Rogers; the best rock vocalist ever? Check out his appearance on Tim Donahue's Voices in the Wind!

Bad Company by ~JSaurer
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is fantastic...  love it...
 Yes. But "Run With the Pack" better. imho a best wokr BC, 1976? if my memory does not leak. Ah, nostalgia!

 cosmiclint wrote:

It's actually a pretty cool line-up. I think they usually come out and do a set of Paul Rodgers songs, followed by a Queen set. I haven't been to a show but I've "seen it on the TV." It gives two good live acts the chance to keep playing, and if you're a fan of one, you're probably a fan of both.

 
I agree. Stumbled across it on TV and watched the whole thing.

this is beautiful in its simplistic chord progression + tambourine!
I would almost swear that guitar is a bit out of tune.
I'm definitely enjoying these FM-AOR (album oriented rock) progressive rock moments with RP. Thanks, Bill.
 Grammarcop wrote:
As president of my local Audubon chapter, I'd like to say that I do not approve of gulls being abused by bad lyrics.
 

{#Roflol}
 TJS wrote:
Whoa, Bill, WTF?  Did you really need to totally harsh Bad Company just now?  I've never heard him talk shit about a band like that before.
 
Agreed...
 
TOTALLY cheesey song, but a song can be cheesey and great as well.
Whoa, Bill, WTF?  Did you really need to totally harsh Bad Company just now?  I've never heard him talk shit about a band like that before.
 maroubra wrote:
Paul Rogers is such a great vocalist. Beautiful.
 


Paul Rogers is such a great vocalist. Beautiful.