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.
YES
Bernard Butler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How I've been
You can't help someone recover
After what you did
So tell me am I looking better?
Have you forgot
Whatever it was that you couldn't stand
About me about me about me?
Because
Yes I do feel better
Yes I do I feel alright
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
To offer
You wanna know me now
How I've been
You can't help someone recover
After what you did
So tell me am I looking better?
Have you forgot
Whatever it was that you couldn't stand
About me about me about me?
Because
Yes I do feel better
Yes I do I feel alright
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got to offer
Because
Yes I do feel better
Yes I do I feel alright
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
To offer
On and on and on and on and on and on and has no-one said
Stay away, stay away I'm better
Ye-ea-ea-ea-yes!
Ye-ea-ea-ea-yes!
Ye-ea-ea-ea-yes!
Ye-ea-ea-ea-yes!
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got.
The lyrics of Bernard Butler's song "Yes" address a person who has caused the singer pain in the past, now attempting to reconnect with him. The singer questions this person's sincerity and reminds them of the hurt they caused, implying the damage cannot be easily undone. However, the chorus reveals that the singer has moved on and feels better despite the pain inflicted upon him. In fact, he feels well enough to reject this person's advances and tell them what they can do with their offerings.
The repeated "ye-ea-ea-ea-yes!" in the last lines of the song can be interpreted as a confident affirmation of the singer's newfound strength and independence from the negative influences of the past. Instead of giving in to vulnerability or desperation, the singer asserts his capabilities and power to control his own life. The song thus resonates with the theme of self-growth, healing, and letting go of toxic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
So you wanna know me now
You are showing an interest in me now
How I've been
Inquiring about my state of being
You can't help someone recover
You are incapable of aiding me in my recovery
After what you did
Due to the actions you have taken previously
So tell me am I looking better?
Inform me if my physical appearance has improved
Have you forgot
Did you forget about
Whatever it was that you couldn't stand
The things that you found intolerable about me
About me about me about me?
Concerning me
Yes I do feel better
I am indeed doing well
Yes I do I feel alright
Yes, I feel okay
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got to offer
I am in a sound enough mental and emotional state to reject any attempts you make to reconcile with me
Because
For the reason that
On and on and on and on and on and on and has no-one said
The situation has been drawn out and has not been resolved by anyone
Stay away, stay away I'm better
You should stay distant from me since I am doing better without you
Ye-ea-ea-ea-yes!
An expression of enthusiasm or agreement
I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with what you got.
I am emotionally stable and confident enough to reject any offer you might make
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bernard Butler, David McAlmont
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gren2463
One of THE most underrated songs of the last gazillion years. Bloody fantastic!
@Benjooooo77
One of the best and most accurate descriptions i ever heard was a music critic who said that when MacAlmont opens his mouth a cathedral falls out of it, his voice is amazing
@sueCollins
I never tire of this song. Loved it back in the day, and love it now. It still gives me goose bumps. Its the whole package, the voice, the strings, everything. One word..WOW
@Kainlarsen
This was my decade... and it will never come again. Ever.
@UncommittedAddict
Blur? Oasis? THIS defined the 90's, for me. Stunning song.
@arita2006
How can a breakup song sound so beautiful? Pure perfection.
@tokyosigsy
I have been listening to this all day - it's incredible, the vocal, the arrangement, the crescendo, the swell of the song, it keeps going, the lyrics, the performance - that guy fascinates me.
@robtaylormusic
One of the best songs ever... Spector did this in his dreams... Butler is a hell of a producer but the voice of David McAlmont is where its at... this band deserved better than they got... 10 years too early I guess...
@jamsams
One of my favourite all time songs. So much power in a song. Blows me away every time.
@anfieldlegend
this will never get old, its pure genius.....