♫ Build Me Up Buttercup ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under music

Tonight, I saw this song mentioned on Twitter, and just the mention of it made my toes start tapping.  I was sure this was one I had never played here before, but as I searched the archives just to be sure, I found that at the request of my soul-sister Patty, I played it in May 2019 … well, it’s been almost two years, so it’s time for a redux.  I don’t know about you, but my spirits could use a bit of a toe-tapping, upbeat song tonight!

Released in 1968, this was written by Mike D’Abo and Tony Macaulay. D’Abo was lead singer of Manfred Mann, and Macaulay was a successful songwriter who also wrote The Foundations hit Baby Now That I’ve Found You as well as songs by The Hollies, Andy Williams and The New Seekers.  This song was first offered to David Essex, who turned it down because he didn’t like the title!

This hit #3 in the U.S., #2 in the UK, and #1 in Canada.

Build Me Up Buttercup
The Foundations

Why do you build me up (build me up) buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around?
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) buttercup, don’t break my heart

“I’ll be over at ten, ” you told me time and again
But you’re late, I wait around and then (bah dah dah)
I went to the door, I can’t take any more
It’s not you, you let me down again

baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey) a little time and I’ll make you mine
(Hey, hey, hey) I’ll be home
I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh

Why do you build me up (build me up) buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around?
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) buttercup, don’t break my heart

You were my toy but I could be the boy you adore
If you’d just let me know (bah dah dah)
Although you’re untrue, I’m attracted to you all the more
Why do I need you so?

baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey) a little time and I’ll make you mine
(Hey, hey, hey) I’ll be home
I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh

Why do you build me up (build me up) buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around?
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) buttercup, don’t break my heart

I, I, I need you more than anyone, baby
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) buttercup

Songwriters: Tony Macauley / Mike D’Abo
Build Me Up Buttercup lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

40 thoughts on “♫ Build Me Up Buttercup ♫ (Redux)”

  1. Pingback: ♫ Build Me Up Buttercup ♫ (Redux) – MobsterTiger

  3. Can’t sit still listening to this one! It’s funny how the lyrics are a little sad – the singer is frustrated – though in the end, he’s saying build me, don’t break my heart, Yet the music is so uplifting. Maybe Buttercup just wants to be footloose and fancy free. Maybe it doesn’t matter, cause it’s such a fun song regardless.

    Liked by 1 person

      • They were ‘our’ band! A mixture of West Indians, white Brits and a Sri Lankan, and we took to them straightaway. Their debut single, Baby Now That I’ve Found You, was #1 here, and this was the follow up. If you haven’t already featured them I also highly recommend The Equals, whose Baby Come Back was a massive hit here.

        Liked by 1 person

        • I didn’t know that! Obviously I didn’t do my homework on this one. It just didn’t seem like the kind of music you guys like. Oh, I do remember that song, and no, I haven’t featured them yet … thanks for the suggestion!

          Liked by 1 person

          • Soul music has long been popular here – lots of Motown and Stax acts have graced our charts, and other labels have picked it up too. And we have even had our own bands too 😉

            Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.