“Sometimes It’s a Bitch” is Track 1 on Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks (1991), Stevie Nicks‘ first retrospective release.
About the Song
Co-written by Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Falcon, “Sometimes It’s a Bitch” was one of three new songs recorded for Timespace. Stevie initially had reservations about singing the song because of the word “bitch.” Jon deferred to the meaning of the song about life’s trials and tribulations and eventually convinced Stevie to record the song. Modern Records had similar reservations about the song’s title, issuing the song as “Sometimes (It’s a Bitch)” in its radio marketing campaign.
Lyrics
Well I’ve run through rainbows and castles of candy
I cried a river of tears from the pain
I try to dance with what life has to hand me
My partner’s bring pleasure…my partner’s bring pain
There are days when I swear I could fly like an eagle
And dark desperate hours that nobody sees
My arms stretched triumphant on top of the mountain
My head in my hands…down on my knees
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes it’s a breeze
Sometimes love’s blind…and sometimes it sees
Sometimes it’s roses…and, sometimes it’s weeds
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes it’s a breeze
I’ve reached in darkness and come out with treasure
I’ve laid down with love and I woke up with lies
What’s it all worth only the heart can measure
It’s not what’s in the mirror…but what’s left inside
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes it’s a breeze
Sometimes love’s blind…and sometimes it sees
Sometimes it’s roses…and, sometimes it’s weeds
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes it’s a breeze
You gotta take it as it comes
Sometimes it don’t come easy
I’ve run through rainbows and castles of candy
And I’ve cried a river of tears from the pain
I tried to dance with what life had to hand me
And if I could…I’d do it all over again
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes it’s a breeze
Sometimes love’s blind…and sometimes it sees
Sometimes it’s roses…and, sometimes it’s weeds
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes it’s a breeze
Sometimes the picture just ain’t what it seems
You get what you want…but it’s not what you need
Sometimes it’s a bitch…sometimes…it’s a breeze
Well it’s a breeze…it’s a breeze…it’s a breeze…
(Billy Falcon/Jon Bon Jovi) © Universal Music Publishing Group
Release
Modern Records released “Sometimes (It’s a Bitch)” as the the lead single from Timespace with an accompanying promotional music video. The single performed moderately well, reaching No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on Mainstream Rock. Its peak position on various charts is shown in the table below:
| Chart Name | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 56 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart | 40 |
| Australia (ARIA Singles Chart) | 18 |
| German Singles Chart | 55 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 39 |
