In The Beautiful South, Heaton shared the lead singer's role with Hemingway and female singer Briana Corrigan to create a trio of lead vocalists. This set-up helped to characterise the bittersweet kitchen sink dramas played out in Heaton's often-barbed songs.
The band's music might sound like bubbly, catchy, lightweight pop but Heaton's sour, savage and amusing worldview on everything and anything (alcoholism, religion, sex, politics and, mostly, the down side of relationships) is always lurking beneath the surface of the quirky melodies. The tastes and smells of the local pub are never far away either, with the band gaining a reputation for boozing. The band's first album was Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989) and spawned the hits Song For Whoever and You Keep It All In. The release of 1990's Choke album saw the band claim its only Number 1 hit to date, A Little Time. 0898 followed in 1992, with hits including Old Red Eyes Is Back.
In 1994, after Corrigan quit the band when she saw Paul's lyrics for the forthcoming album Miaow, St Helens supermarket shelf-stacker, Jacqui Abbott, was brought on board to fill in. Heaton had heard her sing at an after show party in St Helens and remembered her vocal talents.
Jacqui's first album with the band was Miaow in 1994. Hits included Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud) and a cover of Fred Neil's Everybody's Talking, previously popularised by Harry Nilsson. The end of that year saw the release of Carry on up the Charts, a "best of" compilation consisting of the singles to date plus new track One Last Love Song. The album was massively successful and it is said that 1 in 7 homes in the UK owns a copy.
Blue Is the Colour (1996), Quench (1998) and Painting It Red (2000) followed with varying success. Jacqui also quit the band in 2000. After a second Greatest Hits album Solid Bronze in 2001, they recorded Gaze in 2003 with yet another female vocalist, Alison 'Lady' Wheeler. Wheeler was still in place for 2004's Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs, an album of unusually arranged cover versions including Livin' Thing, You're The One That I Want, Don't Fear The Reaper and I'm Stone In Love With You. In 2006 the band released their tenth studio album, Superbi.
The band broke up in January 2007, releasing the statement: "The Beautiful South have split up due to musical similarities. The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music."
Former members of the group have since played Beautiful South songs together as 'New Beautiful South' and more recently 'The South'.
In 2007, Mercury Records released Soup: The Best of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, a compilation album containing 7 hit singles by The Housemartins ("The Housemartins Condensed") and 15 tracks The Beautiful South ("Cream of The Beautiful South").
You're Only Jealous
The Beautiful South Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It could have been the wine we drank last night
Possibly the palace needs a second coat of paint
But that doesn't condone setting it alight
Why does the butler look so smug?
And the gardener, well he looks even worse
He's sent me every flower that he's dug
You're only jealous, Ah Ah
You're only jealous, Ah Ah
You're only jealous, Ah Ah
You're only jealous, Ah Ah
Perhaps it is the quantity of acres that we own
It could be their allotment's only small
Maybe we should reconsider giving them a wage
But a taste of money is worse that none at all
The parlourmaid's a deadly quiet lass
Never really comes out of her shell
But every time I talk to her, she offers me a glass
Of a drink that she never drinks herself
You're only jealous
Stir it up
Of the company I keep and the stars you never meet
Of the caviar they eat whilst you're chewing at your wheat
Of the hours that they sleep whilst you're sweating in the heat
Of the masses at their feet and the tongue between their cheek
Think of stronger than the weak
Think of vulture and its beak
Think of oil, think of sheikh, think of lord and comfy seat
Think of admiral and fleet, think of public school elite
Think of leaders and their sheep
Think of butchers and their meat
Think of leaders and their sheep
Think of butchers and their meat
Think of leaders and their sheep
Think of butchers and their meat
The Beautiful South’s song “You’re Only Jealous” is a satirical take on social and economic inequality. The lyrics depict a wealthy and privileged individual who is ridiculed by those who are in subordinate positions but who are in a way envious of their position. The song opens with the suggestion that the reason why their surroundings are burnt down is perhaps due to their own negligence or indulgences, yet the servants around them appear to be secretly pleased with the outcome. The singer begins to feel paranoid that their staff may harbor some resentment towards them, based on their social status.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more aware of their entourage’s envy and jealousy towards their way of life. They are aware of how much larger their property is compared to the allotment of the disgruntled gardeners or how much more lavish their meals are compared to their employees’ simple diet. Even the parlourmaid, who is usually reserved, tries to offer them a drink as if they don't drink cocktails themselves. The chorus is repeated multiple times, as if to drill in the message that their staff's behavior is due to jealousy towards them.
Overall, the song is a caustic commentary on the way that class and wealth can alienate people and create friction between people. The message is clear: even when one is surrounded by luxury and extravagance, it doesn't necessarily mean happiness or genuine admiration from those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Perhaps it was the holiday we spent abroad last year
Maybe you're envious because I can travel and have experiences that you can't.
It could have been the wine we drank last night
You might be resentful because I can afford indulgences that you can't.
Possibly the palace needs a second coat of paint
Maybe you're jealous of my material possessions, like my house.
But that doesn't condone setting it alight
Of course, burning down my possessions wouldn't be justified by your envy.
Why does the butler look so smug?
Do you wonder if the staff like me more than they like you?
And the gardener, well he looks even worse
Maybe you're jealous because no one wants to be around you and you're alone in your resentment.
He's sent me every flower that he's dug
Does it bother you that the gardener gives me special attention and tokens of appreciation?
And have you ever seen a chauffeur drive a hearse
It seems like you're grasping at straws to criticize everything about my life.
You're only jealous, Ah Ah
All of your criticisms stem from your own jealousy.
Perhaps it is the quantity of acres that we own
Maybe you're resentful of my wealth and property ownership.
It could be their allotment's only small
You might be jealous because you don't have the same amount of land or resources.
Maybe we should reconsider giving them a wage
Are you suggesting that I'm stingy with workers or that I don't deserve what I've earned?
But a taste of money is worse that none at all
I understand that having a little can be better than having none at all - but I've earned what I have, and it's not my responsibility to give it away to those who haven't earned it themselves.
The parlourmaid's a deadly quiet lass
Imagine you're jealous of someone whom you perceive as being meek, quiet, and non-threatening.
Never really comes out of her shell
It might be that she's shy, or that she doesn't feel comfortable around everyone in the house.
But every time I talk to her, she offers me a glass
Maybe you're envious that I'm able to interact with others so easily and have them do things for me.
Of a drink that she never drinks herself
Perhaps you don't understand why someone would offer a drink that they don't indulge in - perhaps it's just being polite or trying to make me feel welcome.
Stir it up
Maybe you're trying to create conflict or cause a scene by stirring up trouble between us.
Of the company I keep and the stars you never meet
It's possible that you're jealous of the people I'm able to associate with and the opportunities that you're not presented with.
Of the caviar they eat whilst you're chewing at your wheat
Perhaps you're resentful because my life seems more luxurious or extravagant than yours.
Of the hours that they sleep whilst you're sweating in the heat
Maybe you're envious that I can enjoy a leisurely lifestyle while you work hard in difficult conditions.
Of the masses at their feet and the tongue between their cheek
Maybe you're bitter because it seems like everyone is on my side and I can get away with things that you can't.
Think of stronger than the weak
Perhaps you're jealous of people who are more successful or influential than you are.
Think of vulture and its beak
Are you comparing me to a vulture, indicating that I'm taking advantage of others to build my own success?
Think of oil, think of sheikh, think of lord and comfy seat
Maybe you're fixated on the idea of wealth and power, and feel like it's unattainable for you.
Think of admiral and fleet, think of public school elite
Perhaps you feel like the elite in the world are simply born into success, rather than working hard for it like I did.
Think of leaders and their sheep
Are you suggesting that I'm leading people who blindly follow me without questioning my motives?
Think of butchers and their meat
Are you comparing me to someone who profits from the labor of others, without actually getting their hands dirty?
Think of leaders and their sheep
Maybe it feels like the only reason I'm successful is because people are unwilling or unable to challenge my authority.
Think of butchers and their meat
In your mind, my success might stem from exploiting the hard work of others for my own benefit.
Contributed by Callie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@juliocesarmartinezlopez238
I love
@JoeMama-gj7id
Incredible that this song is so obscure. I heard it 25 years ago, and I have to search for it everytime I think of it Curious...