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.
You've Got What It Takes
Bernard Butler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
push me away if you feel so inclined.
you've got what it takes.
I'll be brother, I'll be guide,
I'll take you home when you wanna hide,
you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes...
Clicking machinery, clicking tongues,
you've got what it takes, but nodbody knows.
You confide in me at the end of your days,
how you wish you'd written a book or a play,
you had what it takes, you had what it takes.
You've got what it takes...
Don't you feel so helpless, don't you feel so low.
And when you catch me crying,
you'll probably be the first,
so don't let nobody else know.
You've got what it takes...
In Bernard Butler's song You've Got What It Takes, he speaks to a lover who possesses a special quality that makes them stand out. The singer refers to this lover as a "rolling motor" who has the ability to push him away if they so desire. Butler tells this lover that they have "what it takes," and he will be there to guide them and take them home when they want to hide. The clicking machinery and clicking tongues could represent the pressures and noise of the world around them, leading the lover to question their accomplishments, but Butler reminds them that they have what it takes, even if nobody knows.
Towards the end of the song, the lover confides in Butler about their regrets, wishing they had written a book or a play. However, Butler reassures them that they already had what it takes to accomplish their dreams. He addresses the lover's feelings of helplessness and lowliness, telling them not to let anyone else know about their vulnerability. Despite all of this, Butler reminds the lover that they have what it takes, and he can see it in them.
Line by Line Meaning
Rolling motor, lover sublime,
Describing the lover as a powerful and all-consuming force
push me away if you feel so inclined.
If the lover needs space or decides to leave, let it happen
you've got what it takes.
The lover has innate qualities and abilities that make them great
I'll be brother, I'll be guide,
The singer will offer direction, support, and protection
I'll take you home when you wanna hide,
The singer will offer a safe haven when the lover needs it
you've got what it takes,
The lover has innate qualities and abilities that make them great
You've got what it takes...
The lover has innate qualities and abilities that make them great
Clicking machinery, clicking tongues,
The noise and judgement of others
ever wondered "What have I done?"
Feeling overwhelmed and questioning one's own actions
you've got what it takes, but nobody knows.
The lover's greatness is not widely recognized or appreciated
You confide in me at the end of your days,
When facing mortality, the lover confides in the singer
how you wish you'd written a book or a play,
Regret for not pursuing certain creative aspirations
you had what it takes, you had what it takes.
The lover had the ability and potential to achieve greatness
You've got what it takes...
The lover has innate qualities and abilities that make them great
Don't you feel so helpless, don't you feel so low.
Encouraging the lover not to give in to despair
And when you catch me crying,
The singer is vulnerable and emotional
you'll probably be the first,
The lover is the closest person to the singer
so don't let nobody else know.
Keep the singer's vulnerability and emotions private
You've got what it takes...
The lover has innate qualities and abilities that make them great
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bernard Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind