The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jamβs original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the bandβs songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
For artists called "Jam", please see http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Jam.
The Bitterest Pill
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You look the picture of contented new wealth
But from the onlooking fool who believed your lies
I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows, yeah
When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me
The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place
Now I watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life
Twisted and broken-down, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
βThe Bitterest Pillβ is a melancholic song by The Jam that depicts the aftermath of a lost love, a relationship that seemed to be going perfectly until the singer finds out his partner has betrayed him. The opening lines convey how the singer sees his ex-partner as having moved on with another man, marrying him and living a life of privilege while he suffers. The chorus contains the line βFor the bitterest pill is hard to swallow,β which refers to the difficult truth that the singer must accept that his ex-girlfriend has moved on and abandoned him. However, he still loves her and cannot accept that she is gone.
The second verse is a recap of how the girl entered the singerβs life, providing comfort when he fell on hard times. The line βThe wheel of fortune broke, you fell to meβ represents how the singer felt when his girlfriend entered his life, giving him hope and happiness. But as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the girl has left the singer for another man, and he is left hurt and numb. The final lines of the song express the singerβs pain and bitterness, wishing that he could escape these feelings but knowing that they will stay with him indefinitely.
Line by Line Meaning
In your white lace and your wedding bells
You appear to be living your best life, having achieved your dreams of a blissful marriage.
You look the picture of contented new wealth
From the outside, you and your spouse seem to be happy and financially secure.
But from the onlooking fool who believed your lies
I, who was foolish enough to fall for your deceit, can see through your facade.
I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
I regret my involvement with you so much that I would rather be dead than continue living with the pain.
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The truth about how you used and hurt me is almost too difficult to bear.
The love I gave hangs in sad-colored, mocking shadows, yeah
The affection that I gave to you now seems pointless and foolish, making me feel even worse.
When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me
When your luck ran out, you came to me for help and support.
Out of grey skies to change my misery
You appeared out of nowhere to relieve my pain and sadness.
The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place
You filled the void in my life with your love and affection.
Now I watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room
Now that you're gone, I'm left with nothing but loneliness and emptiness.
The bitterest pill is mine to take
I am the one who has to live with the devastating effects of our relationship.
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
No matter how long I suffer, I will never be able to hate you more than I do now.
Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life
As time passes, my life continues to change and evolve.
Twisted and broken-down, no days with sunlight
But these changes have not been positive, leaving my life dark and depressing.
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
Your impact on my life was significant, but it has left me feeling lost and hopeless.
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
You broke your promise of love and loyalty, leaving me alone and betrayed.
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill
No matter how long I suffer, I will never feel worse than I do now because of you.
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more hate
No matter how long I suffer, I will never be able to hate you more than I do now.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vortigan07
In your white lace and your wedding bells
You look the picture of contented new wealth
But from the on-looking fool who believed your lies
I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me
Out of grey skies to change my misery
The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place
Now watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took it for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more ill
Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life
Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
What a song, what a songwriter!
@danielpalmersofficial
What a song, I love Paul Weller. βοΈπ
@ash231266
Weller just churned out the classics at this point in his career - this is a favourite of mine - tear-jerking beauty we can all relate too - brilliant stuff!
@rajnirvan3336
A song that helps you get through anything that has upset you in life
@rickyhowell1618
Brings back great 80s memories, great great band !!
@Vortigan07
In your white lace and your wedding bells
You look the picture of contented new wealth
But from the on-looking fool who believed your lies
I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me
Out of grey skies to change my misery
The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place
Now watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room
For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took it for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more ill
Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life
Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
What a song, what a songwriter!
@charlesmcwilliam5785
Best Jam song, end of!
@eagle16v
The saddest most beautiful song ever??
@paulmetz1963
No, that's probably Lindsey Buckingham say goodbye to you π€πͺ
@sallyjoan
@@paulmetz1963 no, it's this one.
@patrickenglish5168
I was 20 when this final EP was released in the US. It is as great now as it was in my younger years.