A METAPHOR? 🎵 Squeeze - Black Coffee in Bed REACTION

[@PaulKeil]

Don't think it had anything to do with a black girl guys. I remember this coming out and nothing was ever said about being related to a black girl, he was just inspired by a coffee stain on a book. Sometimes black coffee is just black coffe.

[@acornsucks2111]

Some people see race under every rock.

[@eddiebirdie1545]

Yup a break up song nothing more albeit beautifully done.

[@jerrykeck1494]

No they were thinking of HUMBLE PIE, black coffee

[@alrivers2297]

To be fair, the video could imply that. Because the other woman looks black or half black

[@veekatore8983]

Its about her leaving him and her coffee stain reminds him of her but even tho hes back out on the hunt, that coffee stain does remind him of her and hes trying to find someone new..that all! We loved it and even olayed it in our band in the 80s. It got the girls and guys together..everytime..lol

[@shannonbennett987]

She drank coffee in bed, set her cup on his notebook. They broke up and the stained page reminds him of her and the breakup.

[@efraimrojas1343]

That's exactly it. Breakup songs and romances gone wrong are a common theme in Squeeze songs. What a great band I saw them multiple times in the 80's

[@chetcarman3530]

Brad has gone 100% completely over the top on this one! 🤣🤣🤣

[@vrvaughn]

Yep… completely missed the mark

[@groovygregsmith]

We should make Brad our leader it would be a right laugh

[@TheSpanishInquisition87]

Squeeze is a great 80's band. "Pulling Mussels from a shell" and "Up the Junction" are fun.

[@Trish-ql9kz]

That being Clapham Junction SW9 where I lived in the 80’s ... teenage years

[@petershelton3324]

Don't forget "Cool for Cats"!

[@davidhutchinson5233]

Tempted is another great tune as well.

[@tierbore1985]

An always underrated songwriting duo, Difford and Tilbrook. That's Elvis Costello and Paul Young on backing vocals btw

[@CarlGorn]

One of my favorite Squeeze songs, simply because of how the organ and bass line give it such a throwback Motown vibe, while the backup harmonies kind of steer it in a Temptations direction. A timeless banger.

[@howiedavis2316]

Hard to believe this song is 40 years old, dang, I remember when this came out, 1982, like it was yesterday. My how time has flown.

[@acornsucks2111]

81

[@howiedavis2316]

@@acornsucks2111 Yes, it was recorded in 1981, but seeing as how I was not at the studio when they were recording it, it was Released April 9, 1982.

[@timmistorey5989]

Great reaction. But if you want to see a black coffee metaphor watch "Humble pie , Black coffee " it's fantastic. And again guys. Congratulations on beautiful Jack. You are the sweetest family keep loving each other the way you do and you guys will have a wonderful life xx

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, you’ll love their "Another Nail in My Heart", "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)" and "Cool For Cats" !!! edit- Glenn Tilbrook on lead vocals.

[@RealShamanX]

Don't forget the fruit song... LOL

[@surlechapeau]

@@RealShamanX that was their first Squeeze song.. LOL

[@mkmstillstackin]

"Another Nail in My Heart", great song!

[@alisonrodger3360]

Such a great back catalogue of songs that are little vignettes of ordinary life. Tempted ((By The Fruit of Another) Pulling Mussels Take Me I'm Yours Up The Junction

[@notanotherenigma7759]

Yep, these are the cream.

[@notanotherenigma7759]

Oh, and another great version of Take Me I'm Yours, check out Tim Currys version. Your welcome.

[@d-2793]

I saw Squeeze open for Bowie. This is one of my favorites. Up the junction is another great tune

[@bobschenkel7921]

Saw that same tour in Philly, The Glass Spider Tour, at the old Vet Stadium, which has been demolished thankfully. Great show, Peter Frampton showed up with Mr. Bowie, fourth row on the field, very close.

[@jameslynch5249]

I saw these guys in 1979, they were frigging Excellent. Rocked the join out.

[@seanhunter1063]

'Tempted by the Fruit of Another', 'Labelled with Love' and 'Up the Junction' are fantastic tracks.

[@LynnThompsonAuthor]

Squeeze had so many good songs back in the day! Love them!

[@notanotherenigma7759]

Tempted... That was their best. Having said that, I was in a band many, many years ago that did Cool For Cats. I use to sing it, and still have a soft spot for the song.

[@stevewright2972]

I saw these guys two years ago at a local Casino. They got Three encores. Glen Tillbrook (Blonde Haired Guy singing and playing guitar for this song) and Chris Difford (Brown Haired Guy playing Guitar) wrote this song. Great Tune.

[@ed.z.]

backing vocals on "Black Coffee in Bed" were actually performed by guests Paul Young and Elvis Costello. Glenn Tillbrook stated that "[t]he backing vocals by Elvis [Costello] and Paul Young were the icing on the cake." Of the song's guitar solo, Tilbrook stated, "It’s sort of a very 1960s, Motown-influenced solo. But I love the idea of a key change for the solo. And also for it to be quite jazzy, which the song wasn't." (Wikipedia)

[@Straydogger]

Great song but he never says "black coffee in bed" during the song. I hear "Coffee in bed." Google the lyrics. Chris Difford stated, ""the lyric was inspired by my picking up my notebook one day and seeing a coffee stain on it, which inspired the first line. It was a very vivid image for me and inspired this song of loss and regret. Difford also said that "lyrically it was attractive to [a country] kind of metre. The fact that Glenn put a soul melody to it shows the unique quality of our writing."

[@MrPaistepete]

My favorite song by them.

[@mkmstillstackin]

Can't say enough about this band! Great musicians, a litany of hits, with extremely well-crafted lyrics. As others have said "Up the Junction" (a MUST listen) and "Pulling Mussels From a Shell" are incredible songs! I would also add "Hourglass" to the list, but there are many others.

[@adampecsek]

Difford and Tilbrook (Squeeze's two songwriters) are, to my mind, up there with Lennon and McCartney in terms of songwriting prowess. Those early Squeeze albums just had soooooo many fantastic pop songs. Lyrically, medlodically, harmonically. It's all brilliant. Oh, and this song has absolutely nothing to do with dating a Black woman. The narrator is bucking himself up to get back on the dating scene and claiming - unconvincingly, so he's deceiving himself somewhat - that he doesn't miss his ex after seeing something that reminds him of her, which is the coffee stain. That's it Also, congrats!

[@metallicatt316]

I loved this song back when it came out. Good memory.

[@sonnyjames8922]

Another you may have fun analyzing is "Lips Like Sugar" by Echo & The Bunnymen" from 1987.

[@Johnny_Socko]

Gotta admit I never thought of this song the way Brad described, but I now I can see how the video might give you that hint!

[@soundhealer6043]

My fave bit of this tune was always those backing vocals "Out with a fireeeeend". I'd giggle every time, and me and my mates used to imitate it, great times the '80's.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Interesting take on these metaphors lol

[@joepimentel306]

Wish I got a dollar for every time this played on MTV

[@jimmymac4559]

“Up the Junction” would be a favorite of yours.

[@eddiebirdie1545]

Jimmy, Brads head would explode trying to find a meaning 😂.

[@markclaypool5414]

Up the junction!!! Oh please do it 😂

[@sharonsnail2954]

@@eddiebirdie1545 Ain't that the truth 🥵🤯

[@craigshipley666]

Brad, if you were a superhero you would be "The Over Thinker". Able to infer and insert meanings that never exited. I do love your guys reactions. You really compliment each other and make it fun.

[@peterrogers6503]

I grew up with Squeeze in South east London a great local band.

[@edwardcrews2952]

Great band, great song

[@TZ61]

The rest of the song is good too. I love that lyrical guitar solo. Difford and Tillbrook were called the new Lennon and McCartney more than once back in the late 70s, early 80s.

[@veekatore8983]

If you like this, you have no clue how fun and amazing the 80s were. We were a part of it..We Lived it. Not through a phone.. Bands like 60s -80s toured and tickets were cheap. Miss it..

[@highpath4776]

A Chris Difford Lyric, Glenn's Musical Arrangement. But part of the Paul Carrack on Keyboards era of Squeeze and his influence permeates the piece

[@keithvirgin771]

UP THE JUNCTION One of the best songs ever written

[@nobbycheeseman2915]

Please do "Labelled with Love" by Squeeze. It's a great song with super lyrics that tell a story.

[@tonygallo2361]

congrats with ur new baby..god bless

[@lightsideofthemoon13]

My sister loved this group. Brings back memories.

[@bryanforis1839]

Manny years of singing together makes they can’t handle real life are talking to each other and make good music

[@EgbertWilliams]

Squeeze is great. Try some XTC too. "Mayor of Simpleton" is a great one.

[@deeg8849]

4:50. Gimmie a break. Black guy stretch city. Perfect example when the perceptive Lex allows hubby to speak

[@barbarabahrdh67hall-nx4is]

I realized I was old yesterday when I went to the grocery store and Squeeze was playing, it finally happened......

[@CaptainCowboy476]

One of the first songs that pulled me into being obsessed with music

[@JoeBlow_4]

No, it's not about dating a black girl. Too funny.

[@fredshred5194]

Take me I'm yours, my favourite Squeeze tune. Just for the weirdness, and that keyboard hook

[@dustygatrell-ru7tg]

Never heard this dudes got a good voice.

[@ProfessorMystery77]

Need to check out Pulling Mussels from the Shell

[@highpath4776]

Features backing vocals from Elvis Costello & Paul Young (so I read elsewhere)

[@Kairon111161]

A lot of people here said Brad was off the mark on his analysis of the possible metaphor -- but actually, I remember at the time this came out, and I was in my early 20's, that that was definitely the idea many of us were given by the video -- and remember, music videos and MTV were still a relatively new phenomenon, and the videos released along with the songs had tremendous power to shape our perception of the songs -- and we knew it at the time, that it was different than music had ever been in our lifetimes. So I'm gonna say that a LOT of us thought, from the video of this song, that YES, he broke up with his white wife, and was having "black coffee" in bed -- that beautiful model that played the other woman.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Take it to the bridge Throw it overboard See if it can swim Back up to the shore No ones's in the house Everyone is out All the lights are on And the blinds are down

[@scottblakey1603]

Elvis Costello on back ground vocals.

[@wpollock1]

I always thought that it meant that he is looking at the "stain on his notebook" which "means nothing to" him regarding is former love, but now he is with his new women, and she has "lips full of passion and coffee in bed"...obviously he is sleeping with her and now is better off. He sings "From the lips without passion/To the lips with a kiss/There's nothing of your love/That I'll ever miss" He has moved on...😀

[@aks4204]

Such a great song

[@LJ-ze6ro]

No ...he was just having a cup of coffee in bed ...no hidden meaning behind it

[@todwest]

"Annie, Get Your Gun"

[@peterpan770]

Squeeze rocks!

[@arthurimhof2427]

Great Band ,Great song.. Check out Annie get your gun from them.. the song that introduced me to them back In the day

[@richardgonzales4815]

Check out:” BLACK COFFEE “ by BLACK FLAG!

[@acornsucks2111]

I think all there music is about drugs.

[@joemachine4714]

80s college music 🎶

[@mrkleen9511]

That was easy to figure out

[@CadillacL]

I love this song

[@steverusso177]

MTV memories.

[@charlesberton2581]

This is the first time Brian got the meaning of the song before I did. And most of the time, he's been off, but this time he nails it. Always loved this song. Thanks, cats. And congratulations again on the new baby!

[@ed.z.]

Could this be regarding a black cup of coffee and the stain that may or not remind him??

[@bruceroberts2407]

If you want to talk about metaphors; look at "Pulling muscles from a shell"

[@willfromyadkinville]

Glenn Tilbrook; ‎Chris Difford‎. they were on the level of Paul Macartney and John Lennon level! just that good!

[@acornsucks2111]

I watched this video years ago and never even thought black coffee meant race, but it could be.

[@walterlewis1526]

Elvis Costello produced and did back-up vocals

[@jamielandis4308]

Squeeze is always a happy sounding group though their songs are often a bit sad.

[@GenXSlackerShow]

very nice... more Squeeze

[@cmholmes1067]

Brad😆🤣😂

[@RaySawhill]

I don’t think it had anything to do with skin color, just remembering a former lover. Fwiw, this is my favorite Squeeze track. Gorgeous video too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3-pZqpqpbWSe9E

[@robmyers1730]

Have you guys done any songs by Crowded House?

[@scottstewart5784]

I think she dumped him, and he's saying he's over it. But he's singing about her, so...

[@vinman5432]

Here's another song where a White guy digs a Black girl; Renegade Soundwave's "Biting My Nails"

[@robertbagley9199]

Just a break up song guys, the coffee stain on his note book mentioned at the start, reminds him of drinking black coffee in bed with her.

[@acornsucks2111]

Why pay attention to the lyrics when you can try to cook up something racial?

[@fidge54]

Brad you have got to be effing KIDDING me! Wow! And Lex buys into this nonsense?? HOLY CRAP!

[@symostyle]

Hey guys, check out Joe Cocker - lets get stoned live at Woodstock 69 u wont regret it I promise!

[@acornsucks2111]

no

[@acedenison]

This guy is a straight up nerd. Look up the lyrics, trick

[@yummycakes9613]

Let me put you on game react to your new favorite artists his music is so down your wheel house bubby galloway struggle jennings i am numb

[@charlierussell6577]

.... or maybe she used to enjoy coffee in bed.... hence the stain on his notebook..... Now she's gone and that coffee stain is all that is left.

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

😂👍

[@R777-RLM]

That was incitive Brad. I know this song, and that went right over my head. Hope things are well.

[@jameslynch5249]

I highly advise you to dig deeper into their catalog, They're definitely heavily influenced by the Beatles. Their live performances were even better than their studio recordings

[@tourdefacre9687]

Its a break up song - non specific. Ridiculous that you would suggest otherwise.

[@mdeodar]

Howz baby Jack doing??

[@s3dwi]

Firstt

[@sarahlouise7163]

black girl?? 🤣 no. just black coffee. hence the black coffee stain on the notebook. stop it. i dunno what else to say, mate. anyway, another brilliant English band.

[@valiantv2897]

Black friend, you cant be serious

[@gregstilwell7760]

A couple better Squeeze songs..'Hourglass', Cigarette of a Single Man' and 'Some Fantastic Place'

[@kinksfan9781]

Of course, you meant to include "IMO" after the word "songs." For me, 'Labelled with Love' and 'Up the Junction' were among their best. But there's a huge catalogue of great songs to choose from!

[@benshafer5198]

Just listening to ‘Cigarette’ yesterday. Great track!

[@livingdeadgirl1542]

First 😀😃

[@Grizazzle]

No, it's not a metaphor.

[@mikelundquist4596]

What?! Really? Good grief.

[@saratemp790]

I think the video gives the lyrics a double meaning of race.

[@acornsucks2111]

It would have been better if he used two white women, now Brad is playing the racecard.

[@markmenotti203]

I’ve never seen the video before; I only knew the good music. I just thought of it as a break up song. But Brad has some insight given the video…perhaps?

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Take it to the bridge Throw it overboard See if it can swim Back up to the shore No ones's in the house Everyone is out All the lights are on And the blinds are down