Current and Former Members include: Pat Fish aka The Butcher (founder), Max Eider (founder), Steve Valentine, Owen Jones, Curtis E. Johnson, Pat Beirne, Gabriel Turner, Dooj Wilkinson, Dave Henderson, Paul Mulreany, Richard Formby, Alex Green, Alex Lee, David J, Graham Fudger aka Felix Fudger, Julian Poole, Kevin Haskins, Kizzy O'Callaghan, Laurence O'Keefe, Nick Burson, Rolo McGinty, Colin, Sonic Boom, Alice Thompson, Peter Astor, Peter Crouch, Rodney Allen, and Joe Allen.
Official Website: http://www.jazzbutcher.com/htdb
Girlfriend
The Jazz Butcher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We had to get drunk, it was the only thing we could do
Well, it's funny 'coz I thought that it could have turned out quite romantic
But it isn't like that, which is fine, 'coz it means I can stand it
Chorus:
My best friend's girlfriend... I've got a girlfriend
You know it only ever makes me down
Oh look, it's easy,
You come round my house, give me information, then you go home
Well, it sure beats talking all that foolish rubbish on the telephone
But I don't know about all the implications of all this,
I just feel so-so,
But it's a measure of a feeling that I can't identify
that I can let you go
Chorus
Something's got a hold on my heart and it's making me down
You left me singing
"Don't sleep in the subway darling,
Don't standing in the pouring rain, Maureen."
The Jazz Butcher's song "Girlfriend" is a bittersweet take on the complexities of relationships. In the opening verse, the singer describes lying on the floor with a girl who is not his girlfriend, but someone else's. They got drunk because it was the only thing they could do, but despite his hopes for a romantic moment, it didn't turn out that way. Despite the disappointment, the singer can "stand it," suggesting that he's grown accustomed to this kind of disappointment.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "My best friend's girlfriend... I've got a girlfriend, and you're somebody's girlfriend, too." This repeated phrase adds to the complexity of the situation. The singer is cheating on his girlfriend, but the girl he's with is also involved with someone else. This shared guilt only serves to heighten their bond, despite the fact that it makes him feel down.
In the final verse, the singer sings, "Something's got a hold on my heart and it's making me down," suggesting that he's caught between feelings of love and guilt. The final lines relate to a song called "Don't Sleep in the Subway" by Petula Clark, in which she advises a loved one not to sleep in the subway or stand in the pouring rain. It's unclear who Maureen is, but the reference adds another layer of nostalgia and longing to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am, I'm just lying on the floor with you
I am lying on the floor with you and feeling nothing significant about it
We had to get drunk, it was the only thing we could do
We had to drink alcohol because we could not think of anything else to do
Well, it's funny 'coz I thought that it could have turned out quite romantic
I thought lying on the floor with you could have been romantic but it's not
But it isn't like that, which is fine, 'coz it means I can stand it
It's not romantic but I'm okay with it because I can tolerate the situation
My best friend's girlfriend... I've got a girlfriend
My best friend has a girlfriend, and I have a girlfriend too
And you're somebody's girlfriend too
You have a boyfriend and that makes our situation complicated
You know it only ever makes me down
This situation only makes me feel discouraged and unhappy
Oh look, it's easy,
Easy-going conversation with someone who comes to my house
You come round my house, give me information, then you go home
You come to my house to share information and then leave
Well, it sure beats talking all that foolish rubbish on the telephone
Meeting in-person is better than talking rubbish on the phone
But I don't know about all the implications of all this,
I am not sure about the consequences of our actions
I just feel so-so,
I am not feeling anything special
But it's a measure of a feeling that I can't identify
I am not sure what I am feeling
that I can let you go
I am okay with letting you go and not worrying about the consequences
Something's got a hold on my heart and it's making me down
I am feeling down because something is bothering me emotionally
You left me singing
I am singing a song that reminds me of you
"Don't sleep in the subway darling,
I am singing a line from a song called "Don't Sleep in the Subway" by Petula Clark
Don't standing in the pouring rain, Maureen."
The next line of the song I am singing is "Don't stand in the pouring rain, Maureen"
Contributed by Madelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@unconditionalprong
RIP Pat Fish. Thank you for the great music!
@sandrasorriento9885
Absolutely Love the Jazz Butcher ....Brings me back to some classic times... Saw them LIVE back in the early 90's.. BRILLIANT
@mattiemclean9882
Ahh me too. I even made t-shirt with this exact artwork on the front. Pat Fish saw me wearing it in the crowd and said "wow! where did you get that t-shirt?" I said "I made it" He said "Thats dedication for ya!" I saw them loads after that (practically every show in London from 1989-1993)
@djhfan38
Fantastic album and this song is just one of the best for sure!
@avicenna799
Music doesn't get much better than this
@matmc71
i love the jazz buthcher! my mate did me a cassette of his own "best of" in 1989. played it till the ribbon broke!! is there a jazz butcher appreciation club?? if not, why not? LETS GO!!!xx
@plasticsoul9051
The greatest band....ever
@ayrtongonzales4845
EVER!
@samprock
Fantastic song!
@blasrosales7776
Love the jazz butcher