Bernard Butler (born on 1 May 1970, in Stamford Hill, North London), is a m… Read Full Bio ↴Bernard Butler (born on 1 May 1970, in Stamford Hill, North London), is a musician and record producer. He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, at the time an instant phenomenon in UK pop music. He co-wrote and played on every track until 1994, when he left Suede over personal tensions within the band during the recording of their second album, Dog Man Star.

Butler formed the duo McAlmont & Butler with David McAlmont. They released two singles, Yes and You Do. A compilation album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, was released after the split. Butler went on to release two albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers, before a second McAlmont & Butler album, Bring it Back, and two singles, Falling and Bring it Back.

Since then Butler formed a new band, The Tears with former Suede cohort, Brett Anderson. They released their highly anticipated debut LP, Here Come The Tears, produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include Refugees, which reached #9 in the UK charts, and Lovers.

In between his own projects he has played on and produced records by Sparks, Edwyn Collins, Aimee Mann, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth (of James), Manic Street Preachers, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch and The Libertines. He created the soundtrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub and Manic Street Preachers.

He helped shape the sound of newcomer Duffy in 2008. For his production work on her debut album Rockferry, Bernard won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards, and Producer Of The Year at the 2008 Music Producers' Guild awards.

I'd Do It Again If I Could
Bernard Butler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You and I've got something caught between our eyes
A figure of fun and a teller of lies
You and I need nothing more to taint our lives
Would I do it to you? Well I'll do it this time

I'd do it again if I could
I'd do it again if you told me I should
I'd do it again for you my love

Follow me and I'll do it again

You and I feel nothing - we're anaesthetised
When you've got no shame you've got nothing to hide
Just one click of your heels and I'd lend you my soul
Would I do it for you? Well I do what I'm told

I'd do it again if I could
I'd do it again if you told me I should

I'd do it again for you my love
Follow me and I'll do it again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I'd Do it Again" by Bernard Butler is a song about a tumultuous relationship that is based on lies and deception. The singer talks about how he and his partner have something caught between their eyes, which could be interpreted as a figurative way of saying they share a burden or issue that they cannot ignore. He also describes them as a figure of fun and a teller of lies, both of which suggest that their relationship is not built on honesty or true connections.

The chorus of the song, "I'd do it again if I could, I'd do it again if you told me I should, I'd do it again for you my love, follow me and I'll do it again" implies that despite the dysfunction of their relationship, the singer is willing to continue the cycle and repeat their mistakes. It's almost as if the singer is trapped in a toxic cycle that he cannot escape, and no matter how much he tries, he is bound to make the same choices and follow the same path.

Overall, "I'd Do it Again" is a reflection of a relationship that is built on instabilities and deception, where each partner is only in it for themselves. The song is a warning against falling into toxic relationship habits and continuing to make the same mistakes over and over again.

Line by Line Meaning

You and I've got something caught between our eyes
There is an unspoken understanding between us

A figure of fun and a teller of lies
We make fun of each other and lie to ourselves

You and I need nothing more to taint our lives
Our lives are already tainted

Would I do it to you? Well I'll do it this time
I will do something that may hurt you

I'd do it again if I could
I would repeat the same mistakes

I'd do it again if you told me I should
I would follow your lead, even if it leads to another mistake

I'd do it again for you my love
I would repeat my past actions for love

Follow me and I'll do it again
I would continue to make the same mistakes, even if it hurts us both

You and I feel nothing - we're anaesthetised
We have become numb to feelings

When you've got no shame you've got nothing to hide
When you are shameless, you have no need to hide anything

Just one click of your heels and I'd lend you my soul
I am easily influenced by you, even if it means sacrificing myself