He grew up in Glasgow and attended Shawlands Academy. John Martyn moved to London from Glasgow in the mid 1960s. He made his initial recorded impact in 1967, at the age of 19, with his debut album London Conversation. He then quickly became an integral part of the British music scene, incorporating Folk, Blues, and Jazz into his unique sound.
In the late 60s to early 70s he was close friends with Nick Drake, for whom he wrote the song Solid Air. The album of the same name remains an extremely moving album, as does the later Grace and Danger which documents his divorce from his wife Beverley with whom he recorded several albums (as John & Beverley Martyn).
During the 70s John lived in Hastings on the South Coast of England. Whilst in Hastings he released, amongst others, the Live At Leeds album which he sold from his own house. Also during his time in Hastings John tried to help Paul Kossoff put his life back together.
A long held alcohol problem didn't prevent Martyn from releasing twenty-two albums. In 2003 he contracted an infection that resulted in the amputation of part of a leg, an episode documented in the 2004 BBC documentary "Johnny Too Bad". He recovered, however, and continued to play, record and tour. In 2008, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards. He has influenced many songwriters and guitarists and is an artist whose stature only grows with time. He worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, David Gilmour and Levon Helm.
Sadly, he passed away on 29th January 2009.
A tribute album entitled Johnny Boy Would Love this…a Tribute to John Martyn was released on 15 August 2011, comprising cover versions of his songs by various artists who he had worked with or influenced.
Save Some
John Martyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Save some
Just save some
Won′t you save some for me
Please save some
Won't you save some for me.
Oh, I felt so crazy when I read your little letter
Every day I wake up, now I feel a little better
Cos the way I live I′ll never be alone.
Save some
Try to save some for me
Oh Won't you save some
Please save some for me.
I told my friends about us, and the way you feel about me
Through your teeth with every second word
I felt you like Ophelia in a repertory failure
Demented in a theatre absurd.
Oh but I saved some
You didn't get it all, ′cause I
Save some for me
Yes, I save some
Ooh tell you, I save some for me.
Should you read about me when you read your silly papers
Just pretend you never knew my name
Should I ever feature you when you
Talk to your, talk to your, talk to your neighbours
Tell them that I never played the game.
Cos I saved some
You didn′t get it all
Cos I saved some for me
Oh yes, I saved some
(I cheated on the side)
Yes I saved some for me.
Yes I saved some
You didn't get it all, didn′t get it all
Cos I save somed for me
Yes I saved some
Oh darling, saved some for me.
Just a little bit, just a little bit for me
Just a little bit, saved some
Won't you save some
Won′t you save some for me
In John Martyn's song "Save Some," the singer pleads with his lover to save some love for him, even if their relationship is ending. He recounts the pain he felt upon receiving a letter from his lover saying she would never return home. However, he also acknowledges that he will never be alone because of his lifestyle. He then reveals that he didn't give his lover all his love, but saved some for himself, hinting at perhaps infidelity and a sense of self-preservation.
The lyrics suggest a complicated and tumultuous relationship, but also a sense of self-awareness and self-preservation. The singer is aware of his own flaws and the flaws in the relationship, yet still desires to hold onto some shred of love, even if it is only for himself.
Overall, "Save Some" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the complexities of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Save some
Asking someone to save something for them
Save some
Asking someone to save something for them
Just save some
Asking again for someone to save something for them
Won't you save some for me
Repeating the request for someone to save something for them
Please save some
Politely asking for someone to save something for them
Won't you save some for me.
Repeating the request for someone to save something for them
Oh, I felt so crazy when I read your little letter
He was upset when he read a letter from someone
Saying you were never coming home
The letter stated that the person was leaving and not coming back
Every day I wake up, now I feel a little better
He's coping with the situation and feeling a little better every day
Cos the way I live I′ll never be alone.
He won't be alone because of the way he lives
Try to save some for me
Asking for someone to try and save something for them
Oh Won't you save some
Asking again for someone to save something for them
Please save some for me.
Politely asking for someone to save something for them
I told my friends about us, and the way you feel about me
He shared information about someone they both knew with his friends
Through your teeth with every second word
The person he talked about wasn't entirely truthful
I felt you like Ophelia in a repertory failure
He felt like the person he talked about was acting and it wasn't believable
Demented in a theatre absurd.
The situation felt insane and ridiculous
Oh but I saved some
He saved something for himself
You didn't get it all, ′cause I
She didn't know about everything he saved for himself
Save some for me
Asking again for someone to save something for them
Yes, I save some
Reaffirming that he saved something for himself
Ooh tell you, I save some for me.
He's telling them that he kept something for himself
Should you read about me when you read your silly papers
Talking about the possibility of being featured in the news
Just pretend you never knew my name
Asking the person to pretend not to know him
Should I ever feature you when you talk to your, talk to your, talk to your neighbours
Talking about the possibility of doing something that would catch the person's attention
Tell them that I never played the game.
He's asking for the person not to reveal anything about him
You didn′t get it all
The person he talked about didn't get everything about him
Cos I saved some for me
Reaffirming that he kept something for himself
Oh yes, I saved some
Reaffirming again that he kept something for himself
(I cheated on the side)
He cheated the person he talked about in some way
Yes I saved some for me.
Reaffirming again that he kept something for himself
Yes I saved some
Reaffirming again that he kept something for himself
You didn't get it all, didn′t get it all
The person he talked about didn't know everything about him
Cos I save somed for me
Reaffirming again that he kept something for himself
Oh darling, saved some for me.
Referring to the person he asked to save something for him
Just a little bit, just a little bit for me
Asking for them to save just a little for him
Just a little bit, saved some
Asking for them to save just a little for him
Won't you save some
Asking again for someone to save something for them
Won′t you save some for me
Repeating the request for someone to save something for them
Writer(s): John Martyn
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.