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.

Precious
Bernard Butler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't hold me to these words
Cos to you they could mean anything
But to me they are my everything
I need to spin the world

Don't hold me to these words
Cos they'll hurt you more than melodies
But to me they're more than empathy

I cling to every verse

Don't drive along these roads
Cos they'll take you to a precious glade
Where troubled minds release their pain
And never tell a soul

Don't hold me in your arms
Cos I needed that more yesterday
But I need you now and I'll not complain
Just don't read every word

If you feel the same
You should let it all out now
And if you feel the same
Then you should let me know right now

Inside I'm open
I just never learnt how to get it all out

Inside I'm all hope
I just never learnt how to get it all out

Overall Meaning

The song "Precious" by Bernard Butler is a melancholic and emotional track that speaks of the turmoil of the human mind and the need for release. The opening lyrics suggest that the words are deeply personal and meaningful to the singer, but may not hold the same significance for the listener. He acknowledges that the words might even be hurtful to others. However, to him, they are everything and he desperately needs to express them.

The lyrics convey a sense of isolation, suggesting that the only place where troubled minds can let out their pain is in a "precious glade" that cannot be easily accessed. The singer seems to hold back from physical intimacy, advising his lover not to hold him too tightly, but expressing a need for emotional support. He is willing to open up to her but is afraid of being misunderstood or judged.

In the chorus, the singer encourages his lover to speak out about her feelings, suggesting that he is willing to listen to her, to comfort her and to share her pain. The line "Inside I'm open, I just never learnt how to get it all out," may be interpreted as a confession of personal struggle or it could be a reference to his fear of revealing too much about himself.

Several interpretations of the song have been put forward, with some suggesting that it is autobiographical and others that it is a reflection on relationships in general. The slow and solemn melody, combined with Butler's soulful vocals creates a powerful and emotive listening experience that resonates with many.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't hold me to these words
Please don't take my words for granted

Cos to you they could mean anything
Because your interpretation may not match mine

But to me they are my everything
But to me, they hold immense value and meaning

I need to spin the world
I need to change the world with my words

Cos they'll hurt you more than melodies
Because my words hold more pain than a melody could

But to me they're more than empathy
But to me, they hold more emotion than just empathy

I cling to every verse
I hold on tight to every word I write

Don't drive along these roads
Please don't go down these paths

Cos they'll take you to a precious glade
Because they'll lead you to a special place

Where troubled minds release their pain
Where people can express their pain and troubles

And never tell a soul
And keep it all to themselves