Build Me Up Buttercup

Album: Build Me Up Buttercup (1968)
Charted: 2 3
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  • 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 store, I can't take any more
    It's not you, you let me down again (hey, hey, hey)

    Baby, baby, try to find (hey, hey, hey)
    A little time and I'll make you happy (hey, hey, hey)
    I'll be home, I'll be beside the phone waiting for you
    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
    Build me up (build me up) buttercup, don't break my heart

    To you, I'm a 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 you treat this all? (Hey, hey, hey)

    Baby, baby, I try to find (hey, hey, hey)
    A little time and I'll make you happy (hey, hey, hey)
    I'll be home, I'll be beside the phone waiting for you
    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
    Build me up (build me up) buttercup, don't break my heart

    I-I-I need you (I need you) more than anyone, baby
    You know that I have from the start
    So build me up (build me up) buttercup, don't break my heart Writer/s: Mike D'Abo, Tony Macauley
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 26

  • John from TorontoSomeone said the vocalist sounds "shaky". The original vocalist for The Foundations, Clem Curtis, established a vocal style for the band with his unpolished, raspy, you could say shaky, singing style. Check out their early big hit "Baby Now That I've Found You" and the follow up "Back On My Feet Again" and you'll hear what I'm talking about. "Build Me Up Buttercup" features a different vocalist, Colin Young. I believe he was trying to maintain that vocal style, since it was a feature of the band's sound.
  • Ronsha from New JerseyHere from all those Geico advertisements.
  • Edwin Cuna from Sin CityNobody should need to beg for love from their partner. Ever. Period.

    If you have to beg for love, you are in a bad relationship. This behavior isn’t something that should have to be done in any relationship. It’s a sign that your partner isn’t as dedicated as you are and that the feelings may not be equal.

    A relationship is supposed to be a true partnership, and it requires two people to complete it. Both partners should work together to show affection or overcome issues. If only one partner is doing this, there is going to be a never-ending cycle of negativity.

    If you find yourself in a relationship in which you have to ask for attention and affection, it’s a bad relationship. Your partner should be putting in as much energy as you are. Otherwise, you’ll be forcing the relationship along by yourself.

    Aside from making you feel empty and lonely, there are many other reasons you should never beg for love. If you have to beg, it’s a sign that you aren’t their priority and likely never will be. You must think first about yourself and your well-being and decide that it’s time to move on.
  • Agressoca from CanadaAn australian group called the Valentines with some guy named Bon Scott covered it as well.
  • Babbling Babette from Tulsa OkThanks to Barry (Sauquoit,NY) for the info. Love it. Today (01-16-15) I heard this song on the radio again. And I swear that I too notice a wavering in the lead singer's voice on this song. I agree with Bubblesk (Memphis TN) on that. What caused it??? I'm not going batty am I?? No. Love this song. It is in my Dad' s record collection of 50s and 60s singles & that's where I heard it from when I grew up in the late 90s. I got the song on a later 60s hits compilation CD & the vocalist's wavering voice is still on there! Guess I'm not crazy after all. But then....... I also love their other big one, "Baby Now That I Found You". I wonder if any of The Foundations are still alive? The Sixties were way way way back there!
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnBuild Me Up, Buttercup is also played at Angels Stadium during the seventh inning stretch. The fans sing along on the part that goes "Hey hey hey!"
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 16th 1969, "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations peaked at #3 (for 3 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on December 29th, 1968 at position #84 and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 8 of those 15 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    And on February 24th, 1969 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
    After spending three weeks at #3 on the Top 100, it then fell to #4 and remained there for two weeks...
    Their next biggest hit, "Baby, Now That I've Found You", just missed making the Top 10, it peaked at #11, and stayed there for three weeks before falling to #12.
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaTo the singer: seriously, dude, dump the b--ch!
  • Jan from Villas, NjIt was recently made into a musical by Tony Macauly. Great show, saw the premier in Cocoa Florida. Look for it.
  • Bubblesk from Memphis, TnWhat a fab song from 1968! Loved it when I saw the movie "There's Something About Mary" too cause it brought back a lot of memories. Someone said the lead singer on the record sounds like his voice is shakey. So I listened to it on a CD compilation of Golden Oldies & it actually does sound strange. A kind of wavering in his voice. Or could it be just poor recording production? Guess we'll never know for sure. Does anyone out there know??? Anyway, I remember seeing photos & an article about The Foundations in Song Hits magazine back in 1968 and wondered if they were from England since their teeth looked so poorly. But I still love the song!
  • Elmer from Westville, OkOWWW! Love the Foundations & love this song from 1968! Is it just me or does the lead singer sound like he has a shakey voice or slight tremble to his vocalizations? Or could it be the production quality? Anyway, it's a terrific song & brings back a lot of good memories. It's just that question I still have all these years about the lead singer & that trembling vocalization.
  • Jim from Morgantown, WvGo to YouTube and do a search for Julia Nunes. She does a version of this on ukulele that I just absolutely love.
  • Rhett from North Bend, Walove this song....it has also become attached with bpd (borderline personality disorder)....ie...emotional vampires...
  • Rod from Gainesville, FlInteresting that the other memorable song, Baby Now that I've Found You was written by Mccauley who wrote this. They are both very catchy and have more meaning than the typical pop tune. In each the singer wants and needs the person sung about more than she needs him. Very cute the way they did a video of the whole cast, singing in various vignettes, this song at the end of There's Something About Mary. I especially like the cops! And the teenaged, blue-tuxedoed Ben Stiller!
  • Katy from Lyndon, VtThis song was also in Shallow Hal.
  • Wayne from Salem, VaI am 48 years old. My older sister bought this 45 single when it was first released in 1968-69'. It was on UNI records. I like it alot,a real bouncy tune. Every time I hear it. It takes me back to the first time I heard it. It is one of those timeless songs. They play it alot on your oldies stations. Is a bit sad that you only here this and "Baby Now That I've Found You" on the radio. They were a multi-racial UK group (The Foundations). The above column about David Essex (Rock On). Says he did "Easier Said Than Done" is wrong. That was done by a group called The Essex. Who were american. That is from the early 60's.
  • Mavis from Suva, FijiI love this song, every time i hear it it gives me this picture of that T.V series little house on the pr airy.
  • Mark from Augusta, GaTry this - listen to Build Me Up Buttercup, then listen to Lit's Addicted. It's the same song written in a completely different tone.
  • Charles from Portland, InI got a bet going, did William Shatner ever sing this song?
  • Alex from Austin, TxThis song was covered by The Goops. The Cover was used in the movie Mallrats. A music video for the cover was made which featured Jay and Silent Bob.
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaThere was a scene in a Red Dwarf episode, that this song was played for a musical montage type flashback -- it's been stuck in my head ever since!
  • Meredith from Wauwatosa, WiI agree with Pete from Australia. I also love seeing the cast of There's Something About Mary singin this song! I especially love seeing BRETT FAVRE OF THE GREEN BAY PACKERS sing along!!!!! Who knew he was a movie star too? (Ha ha!)
  • Sarah from Kennewick, WaI love this song, I love 1968 tunes!!
  • Eric from Milwaukee, WiDuring the 4th quarter of Badger games at the University of Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium, they play this song. The student sections sing along, and the sound system always cuts the song off a few lines before the end, at which point the students all finish off the lyrics a cappella, usually in perfect unison. It's a trip to hear!
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiai love it too, loved it when the cast of Something about Mary , sang it at the end
  • Caitlin from Upper Township, NjI just love this song. It's so cute!
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