Pop Soul Music

The song, written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod, was recorded by the Sixties British soul group The Foundations in 1968. It went to #1 on Cash Box, #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 in Canada, and #2 on the U.K. Singles Chart. They sold more than one million copies and earned an RIAA gold record.

The Foundations formed in London, England, in 1967. They were a diverse group, made up of musicians from different backgrounds (i.e., West Indies, British, Sri Lanka), of different ages, and from different musical styles (i.e., jazz, rock). For “Build Me Up Buttercup,” the lineup was Colin Young, Eric Allandale, Pat Burke, Tony Gomez, Peter MacBeth, Alan Warner, and Tim Harris.

The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Dominic; Shirley Scott; Busted; and You, Me, and Everyone We Know. Colin Young and The Offbeats released a version in 2003, with proceeds going to Milly’s Fund. Young had sung the lead vocals on the original with The Foundations. On this updated version, he is backed by a choir of policemen from the Surrey police force. The fund was a trust set up for the murdered school girl Amanda Dowler, for whom this song was favorite.

Here are the lyrics to “Build Me Up Buttercup” by 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

(Hey, hey, hey!) 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
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo

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

(Hey, hey, hey!) 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
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo

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-oo-oo 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”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations.