They recruited rapper Kermit and drummer Ged Lynch of the Manchester-based group The Ruthless Rap Assassins, plus guitarist Wags from The Paris Angels. Recording of new material started that year, although the group were not under contract. The key addition to the band was bassist and guitarist Danny Saber, who became Ryder's key musical foil.
In 1995 they signed to Radioactive Records (an imprint of major label BMG) and released their debut album, produced by Saber and Stephen Lironi. It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah immediately charted at number 1 in the UK, and spawned three Top 20 singles. According to Songfacts, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich listed it as his favorite CD of 1996.
Black Grape's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples. Ryder's lyrics seem to derive mainly from nonsense rhymes and humorous catch-phrases. The debut album received critical acclaim in Britain, riding high during the then fashionable Britpop wave but the group made little impact in the U.S..
The subsequent album, 1997's Stupid Stupid Stupid was less favoured and charted at number 11 in the UK. The group split in 1998 after Ryder fired the rest of band while touring.
The band reformed for a one-off live show, their first in over 10 years, for Get Loaded in the Dark at the Coronet, London, on April 1, 2010. Five years later, the band announced plans for a tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album. A reunion album, Pop Voodoo, was released in August 2017, although only Ryder and Kermit remained from the original lineup, with Youth handling bass, songwriting, and production duties.
Yeah Yeah Brother
Black Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eat and drink like you were
My brother
Brother
I would never, ever in this world
Believe you were a backstabber
Slash-slashing
And even when my back is turned
In despite of your crime
I will pay you no mind
Just leave you to die
Send me a wreath
It's over
You looked in my eyes
They said that you were my soul-mate
Best friend
When you leave things too long
She gets long gone
And its too late
Late
I told you pure lies
And left you to cry
Open the trunk
For the pineapple chunk
And I'm long gone lady
Lady long gone
It's frothy, man
Turn your car
It's over
You were the wise and wonderful
Extremely beautiful
Chick from out of nowhere
You were the wise and wonderful
Extremely beauftiful
Chick from out of nothing
One look in my face
And even when my back is turned
In despite of your crimes
We pay you no mind
Just leave you to burn
Lie down(?)
Send me a wreath
Send me two
Because I wuv you, wuv you, wuv you(?)
It's cool
It's cool
Turn your car
Send me a wreath
Send me a wreath
Send me two!
The lyrics to Black Grape's song "Yeah Yeah Brother" tell the story of betrayal and heartbreak. The persona of the song invites their friend to share a meal, calling them a brother and expressing trust in them. However, the friend is secretly a backstabber who has been harming them, yet the persona chooses to ignore the harm and let the friend suffer for their actions. The second verse details the persona's deception of their soulmate and the painful consequences that come with their dishonesty.
The song's lyrics explore themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption. The persona is hurt by the deception of their friends and lovers, feeling forsaken by the people they once trusted. However, they also betray others and leave destruction in their wake, suggesting that they too are flawed and in need of redemption.
Overall, "Yeah Yeah Brother" is a melancholic reflection on the fragility of human relationships and the importance of honesty and vulnerability in maintaining them.
Line by Line Meaning
You sit at my table
You are sitting at my table, implying we have an intimate relationship.
Eat and drink like you were
You eat and drink as if you are a part of my family.
My brother
I consider you to be like a brother to me.
Brother
Reiterating that I see you as a brother.
I would never, ever in this world
I can't fathom that you would be a backstabber.
Believe you were a backstabber
I don't think you would betray me.
Slash-slashing
Perhaps alluding to a violent end.
You eat in front of my face
You are eating in my presence.
And even when my back is turned
I'm assuming you are still acting the same way even if I'm not watching you.
In despite of your crime
In spite of whatever you might have done wrong.
I will pay you no mind
I won't give you any attention.
Just leave you to die
Metaphorically, I will abandon you.
Send me a wreath
A wreath is usually sent to commemorate someone's death, maybe the death of the relationship or the end of the deceptive games?
It's over
Our association has come to an end.
You looked in my eyes
You stared into my eyes deeply.
They said that you were my soul-mate
You acted as though we were meant to be together.
Best friend
You acted as my best friend and confidante.
When you leave things too long
If you wait too long, things will go wrong.
She gets long gone
The woman in question will likely depart if things go on for too long without resolution.
And its too late
Inevitability has set in, things can no longer be as they once were.
Late
Reiterating the state of the situation.
I told you pure lies
I fed you nothing but lies.
And left you to cry
I departed and left you to your own devices.
Open the trunk
I'm not sure what the trunk is supposed to represent in this context, possibly metaphorical.
For the pineapple chunk
Also not exactly sure of the meaning of this line, could be a reference to some kind of party food?
And I'm long gone lady
I have fled the scene, even if it left you behind.
Lady long gone
Reiterating that I have departed.
It's frothy, man
Unclear what this phrase has to do with anything.
Turn your car
Perhaps encouraging the target person to move on and drive away.
You were the wise and wonderful
Suggesting that the person I'm referring to was wise and amazing.
Extremely beautiful
Also complimenting them on their physical appearance.
Chick from out of nowhere
Perhaps this person came from a surprising or unexpected direction in my life?
Chick from out of nothing
Reiterating that this person seemingly came out of thin air into my life.
One look in my face
Even just seeing my face is enough for you to know where I stand.
In despite of your crimes
Regardless of whatever you may have done wrong.
We pay you no mind
I and those with me will ignore you.
Just leave you to burn
Again, metaphorically leaving this person to suffer for their misdeeds.
Lie down(?)
Not entirely clear what this part is saying.
Send me a wreath
Another reference to sending a wreath, possibly representing the person, the incident being commemorated, or both.
Send me two
Wanting to go all out, asking for two wreaths instead of one.
Because I wuv you, wuv you, wuv you(?)
Another unclear line.
It's cool
Everything is fine, despite the previous conflict.
Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
foekist
You sit at my table
Eat and drink like you were
My brother
Brother
I would never, ever in this world
Believe you were a backstabber
Slash-slashing
You eat in front of my face
And even when my back is turned
In despite of your crime
I will pay you no mind
Just leave you to die
Send me a wreath
It's over
You looked in my eyes
They said that you were my soul-mate
Best friend
When you leave things too long
She gets long gone
And its too late
Late
I told you pure lies
And left you to cry
Open the trunk
For the pineapple chunk
And I'm long gone lady
Lady long gone
It's frothy, man
Turn your car
It's over
You were the wise and wonderful
Extremely beautiful
Chick from out of nowhere
You were the wise and wonderful
Extremely beauftiful
Chick from out of nothing
One look in my face
And even when my back is turned
In despite of your crimes
We pay you no mind
Just leave you to burn
Lie down(?)
Send me a wreath
Send me two
Because I wuv you, wuv you, wuv you(?)
It's cool
It's cool
Turn your car
Send me a wreath
Send me a wreath
Send me two!
Dean Kinsman
In the top 10 albums of the 90s for me, indie at its finest.
daz
cooler than a penguins pocket
rex williams
i couldnt agree more !
miche turner
Black Grape is one of my fav bands great song thanks for putting it up and thanks to BG for making it!
Françoise Dupré
One of the most melodic songs I've ever heard, and that guitar...
foekist
You sit at my table
Eat and drink like you were
My brother
Brother
I would never, ever in this world
Believe you were a backstabber
Slash-slashing
You eat in front of my face
And even when my back is turned
In despite of your crime
I will pay you no mind
Just leave you to die
Send me a wreath
It's over
You looked in my eyes
They said that you were my soul-mate
Best friend
When you leave things too long
She gets long gone
And its too late
Late
I told you pure lies
And left you to cry
Open the trunk
For the pineapple chunk
And I'm long gone lady
Lady long gone
It's frothy, man
Turn your car
It's over
You were the wise and wonderful
Extremely beautiful
Chick from out of nowhere
You were the wise and wonderful
Extremely beauftiful
Chick from out of nothing
One look in my face
And even when my back is turned
In despite of your crimes
We pay you no mind
Just leave you to burn
Lie down(?)
Send me a wreath
Send me two
Because I wuv you, wuv you, wuv you(?)
It's cool
It's cool
Turn your car
Send me a wreath
Send me a wreath
Send me two!
Dona Crane
Love this song!
MrJez101
This takes me back to classic Mondays stuff. Just as cool now as Bob's Yer Uncle was back then. YOU know I own all the back catalogue. Sweet.
bellarina1294
What a awesome tune;))
Michael Craig
Total puke.