The English Beat – Save It For Later

Two dozen other dirty lovers
Must be a sucker for it
Cry, Cry, but I don\'t need my mother
Just Hold My hand while I come
To a decision on it

Sooner or later
Your legs give way, you hit the ground
Save it for later
Don\'t run away and let me down
Sooner or later
You hit the deck, you get found out
Save it for later
Don\'t run away and let me down
You let me down

Black air and seven seas and rotten through
But what can you do?
I don\'t know how I\'m meant to act with you lot
Sometimes I don\'t try
I just now, now, now, now ,now .....

Two dozen other stupid reasons
Why we should suffer for this
Don\'t bother trying to explain them
Just hold my hand while I come
To a decision on it


Lyrics submitted by ric0casek

Save It For Later song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +2
    General Commentnglish Beat singer/guitarist Dave Wakeling says of this song: "I wrote it when I was a teenager. I wrote it before The Beat (outside of the US, the group is known as The Beat) started. And it was about turning from a teenager to someone in their 20s, and realizing that the effortless promise for your teenage years was not necessarily going to show that life was so simple as you started to grow up. So it was about being lost, about not really knowing your role in the world, trying to find your place in the world. So, you couldn't find your own way in the world, and you'd have all sorts of people telling you this, that, and the other, and advising you, and it didn't actually seem like they knew any better. So it was like keep your advice to yourself. Save it - for later."

    Listeners often find salacious subtexts in songs when in fact, none exist. In this case, however, it does. Wakeling explains: "The actual hook line itself was just a dirty joke, I just thought it was hilarious that you could get in a song: 'save it – comma – for later – F-E-double L-A-T-O-R.' So I thought it'd be really neat to get that in a song and everybody would be singing it. I didn't know it was going to be a joke that lasted for 30 years." (Read Dave's full interview in the Songfacts Interviews. His website is davewakeling.com.)
    ohmson September 16, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General CommentOk, after a bit of thinking I think I've finally interpreted this song correctly. I think the song is from the perspective of someone talking to their unfaithful partner, a classic case of them either sleeping around or being untrue. He is saying that sooner or later, you'll get found out, and so save the anger, frustration, and bullshit for another time. Just be honest with me about whether out relationship can work out, and don't run away and leave me hanging.
    degree7on June 25, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think it's just about a guy reflecting on a history of bad relationships.
    endestewon November 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI am looking for some creative insight as to what these lyrics mean. I guess the most fitting lyric to me seems to be in the last verse: "Don't bother trying to explain them." And, don't worry, I'm not going to try... I am curious to hear any interpretations.
    ric0casekon April 15, 2002   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General CommentI was curious about this myself a few weeks ago, and I read on a Usenet post that this song was about heroin addiction. I'm not sure if this is true, but I love this interpretation of it: it gives such a dark meaning to a rather light, soothing pop song.
    contraversionon November 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHmmm not sure what it means myself either--but I did hear Pete Townshend from the Who do a solo cover of this song live, and he promised "extra points to anyone who knows what this song is about" So I guess he doesnt know either....I heard in passing somewhere that it has something to do with bisexuality....I dunno...great song in any case
    hangwire13on January 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwow, the lyrics make no sense to me, but the beat is awesome.
    wackydeli3on February 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMy guess is he's having sex with a prostitute or just a big slut

    "Two dozen other dirty lovers"
    That one's pretty self explanitory

    "Just Hold My hand while I come"
    Note the pause after come (cum). Looks like a double entendre to me.

    "Sooner or later
    Your legs give way, you hit the ground"
    Too much sex and your legs are going to eventually give out
    doortodooron May 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentOn a Pearl Jam bootleg I have they play this during "Betterman" as sort of a medley. That's actually how I ended up here. Sorry, no interpretation, though. I'm lame.
    GoatboyX2on June 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI would love to know what this means too. At an English Beat concert Dave (lead singer) did initmate something about fellatio.
    kisses4meon January 27, 2007   Link

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