"Bread and Butter" was the group's first hit. Written by Larry Parks and Jay Turnbow, the 12-bar blues reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1] It sold over one million copies in the U.S.[3][1] Three more singles followed in 1964 and 1965. "Run Baby Run (Back Into My Arms)" reached as high as number 12 that fall, but it was the trio's penultimate chart entry, although they remained with Hickory until 1972.[4] Brief stints at Buddah and Playboy followed before the Newbeats dissolved in 1974
Bread And Butter
The Newbeats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, he likes toast and jam
Ah, that's what his baby feeds him
Ah, he's her loving man
Well, I like bread and butter
I like toast and jam
That's what baby feeds me
Ah, he likes bread and butter
Ah, he likes toast and jam
That's what his baby feeds him
Ah, he's her loving man
Well, she don't cook mashed potatoes
She don't cook T-bone steak
She don't feed me peanut butter
She knows that I can't take
Ah, he likes bread and butter
Ah, he likes toast and jam
Ah, that's what his baby feeds him
Ah, he's her loving man
Well, I got home early one Monday
Much to my surprise
She was eating chicken and dumplings
With some other guy
No more bread and butter
Ah, no more toast and jam
He found his baby eating
Ah, with some other man
No, no, no
No more bread and butter
Ah, no more toast and jam
I found my baby eating
Ah, with some other man
No, no, no, no
No more bread and butter
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more toast and jam
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more bread and butter
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more toast and jam
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more bread and butter
The lyrics of The Newbeats' song Bread and Butter center around a man's preferences in food and his relationship with his partner. The man likes simple foods like bread and butter, and toast and jam that his partner feeds him, implying that their relationship is built on her caretaking and his dependence on her. The chorus repeats this sentiment with increasing emphasis on the man's love for his partner as being embodied in the food she feeds him. However, the song takes a darker turn towards the end. The man comes home one day to find his partner eating chicken and dumplings with another man, leading to a dramatic transformation of the song's refrain. The man who previously enjoyed his partner's simple food is now left with none of it, no bread and butter, no toast and jam, and no happy relationship with his partner.
The repetition of the lyrics in the song's chorus gives it a catchy, upbeat feel. The first half of the song speaks to the sweetness and contentedness of a loving relationship, while the latter half deals with the pain and sadness of losing that love. Despite covering the themes of love, food, and loss, the genre of the song is classified as a Bubblegum pop, which emphasizes simplicity and catchiness instead of heavy lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, he likes bread and butter
He enjoys simple things.
Ah, he likes toast and jam
He also enjoys other simple foods.
Ah, that's what his baby feeds him
His partner provides him with these simple foods.
Ah, he's her loving man
He is grateful for her affection and care.
Well, she don't cook mashed potatoes
His partner doesn't make certain foods.
She don't cook T-bone steak
She also doesn't cook more complex dishes.
She don't feed me peanut butter
She is aware of his food preferences and limitations.
She knows that I can't take
She understands his dietary needs.
Well, I got home early one Monday
He came home earlier than usual on a specific day.
Much to my surprise
He was taken aback by what he saw.
She was eating chicken and dumplings
His partner was consuming a different food than usual.
With some other guy
She was in the company of another man.
No more bread and butter
Things have changed and he can no longer enjoy his usual foods.
Ah, no more toast and jam
He can no longer enjoy those simple foods either.
He found his baby eating
He discovered his partner consuming a different food.
No, no, no
He expresses strong disagreement.
I found my baby eating
He, himself, saw his partner consuming the food with another man.
No more bread and butter
He reiterates that he can no longer enjoy his usual foods.
Ah, no more toast and jam
He reiterates that he can no longer enjoy those simple foods either.
No, no, no, no
He firmly rejects the current situation.
Ah, no more bread and butter
He reiterates again that he can no longer enjoy his usual foods.
No, no, no, no
He remains steadfast in his rejection.
Ah, no more toast and jam
He reiterates once more that he can no longer enjoy those simple foods.
No, no, no, no
He continues to express strong disagreement.
Ah, no more bread and butter
He emphasizes that he can no longer enjoy his usual foods.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jay Turnbow, Larry Parks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind