About The Song
“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” was written by Jim Croce, an American folk rock singer, it is an uptempo, strophic story song. Released in 1973 as part of Croce’s album “Life and Times,” the song topped the Billboard Hot 100, spending two weeks at No. 1 in July 1973. Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1973.
The song narrates the tale of Leroy Brown, portrayed as the “baddest man in the whole damn town” in the hardscrabble section of Chicago. Leroy Brown is depicted as a big, dangerous man, admired by women and feared by men. With its catchy tune and vivid storytelling, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” remains one of Jim Croce’s most enduring hits.