"Once Bitten Twice Shy" is an expression meaning that if you've been hurt, you are less likely to put yourself in that position again. In this song, Ian Hunter sings to a girl who seems to take up with lots of musicians. He knows from past experience that he can't count on her.
There's an interesting dynamic in this song, with the girl starting out as a typical groupie, but becoming something more when Hunter takes a shine to her. He first encounters her in the tour bus with the drummer. Before much action can take place between them, he claims her (benefits of being a lead singer, maybe) and takes her in. She soon learns that rock and roll is a hard life with lots of travel and heaters on the bus that don't always work. But as she gets the hang of it, she starts messing around with other guys, much to Hunter's dismay.
This was Hunter's first single after leaving Mott The Hoople in 1974. That group is best known for "All The Young Dudes," written and produced by David Bowie, who championed the group. Hunter's solo career got off to a good start. He toured both the US and UK in 1975, and "Once Bitten Twice Shy" rose to #14 in the UK. He wasn't able to follow it up with an other hit, and although his sales numbers faltered, he retained fervent fanbase and counted many fellow musicians as supporters; Mick Jones of The Clash and guitarist Mick Ronson were among his collaborators. In the '80s, he did production work for Ellen Foley and Generation X, and wrote a hit for Barry Manilow called "Ships."
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