In the rock (and roll) community, Bill Monroe may be best known via one of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings at Sun Records, that of Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. Patsy Cline also made a highly regarded version of this song.
Sugar Coated Love
Bill Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took a bite and then I looked to see what I had ate
I found I had a cinder all covered up in white
That old sugar coated love is something I can't bite
You say you are leaving me for another man
He has all the wealth and charm and not my kind of brand
Baby I fell down on my knees a pleading for your love
You called me your sugar plum, your baby and your pet
Said I was your Romeo and you my Juliet
I thought you were my angel, my little sugar dove
You sure had me fooled, babe, with that sugar coated love
In Bill Monroe's song "Sugar Coated Love," the lyrics describe a relationship that is both sweet and deceptive. The metaphor of sugar coating is used to suggest that the love given is not genuine, but instead has been disguised to appear desirable. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the sweetness he was given, having taken a bite only to realize it was just a cover-up for something less desirable; a cinder. The next verse shows that the singer's partner is leaving him for someone else, which comes as a shock to him, ultimately asking himself how he ever allowed himself to fall for something that was not real.
The third verse reveals that the partner had given him many pet names like "Sugar Plum" and "Romeo," which ultimately gave him the impression that it was real love. However, the feelings of deceptiveness remained since the love given was sugar-coated. The lyrics highlight how love can be deceiving and often comes at a price. The song encourages listeners to take time to evaluate their relationships carefully, to avoid falling for the surface-level sweetness of sugar-coated love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugar coated love, you gave me on a plate
You gave me love that seemed perfect, but it was only a disguise
I took a bite and then I looked to see what I had ate
I accepted your love, but soon realized it was not true love
I found I had a cinder all covered up in white
What I thought was true love was just an illusion, hidden behind a sweet exterior
That old sugar coated love is something I can't bite
I cannot continue to accept love that is deceitful and untrue
You say you are leaving me for another man
You have found someone else who you think is better suited for you
He has all the wealth and charm and not my kind of brand
The new man you have chosen is not someone I would want to be
Baby I fell down on my knees a pleading for your love
I begged you to stay with me and not leave me for another
Can't understand what I saw in a sugar coated love
I cannot comprehend why I fell for your deceitful love and stayed with you
You called me your sugar plum, your baby and your pet
You used endearing terms to make me think you loved me more than you truly did
Said I was your Romeo and you my Juliet
You compared our love to the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, but it wasn't true
I thought you were my angel, my little sugar dove
I believed you were the perfect partner for me, but it turned out to be false
You sure had me fooled, babe, with that sugar coated love
Your love fooled me, and I regret accepting it because it was not true love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAY MILLER, JOHANN JR. STRAUSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Wall
Bill Monroe and Carter Stanley together is classic bluegrass by two of its greatests.
SteveGaines
Carter Stanley is the lead vocalist....Bill always said..."CARTER STANLEY WAS THE BEST LEAD SINGER I EVER HAD"
Budnipper82
Great Tune! I got a radio up in my blueberry bush to keep the birds out. I had it tuned in to Saturday morning bluegrass while pickin' blueberries and heard this song... I broke down and cried under the blueberry bush... still haven't fully recovered yet. Is Carter Stanley also singing in this song? He was on the tune I heard.
kcs764
This was recorded on the same day (7-6-1951) in Nashville as were "Gert Down on Your Knees and Pray", "You're Drifting Away", and "Cabin of Love," Rudy Lyle played banjo, Gordon Terry played fiddle, aqnd Howard Watts played bass fddle. Terry played in Faron Young's band later.
brian blaylock
you got that right!!!