Love, Served Me Chilli
Hello all,
Here are the lyrics to my latest song, Love, Served Me Chilli. It is a song of love found and lost, like all good love songs. Below the lyrics, is a short little explanation on the songwriting process. If you are musically inclined, you can view the chords for the song on the Lyrics/chords section of my website www.jamiemcpherson.com.au where you can also listen to some of my other songs and catch up with all the latest news. So, here is Love, Served Me Chilli -
Love, Served Me Chilli
Chorus
Love, served me chilli, this morning
No eggs, no bacon to fry
Love, served me chilli, every morning
Since you left and didn’t say, goodbye
She served me in a diner, in Austin
She was the prettiest little thing, I’d seen
She looked me once over, gave a laugh and poured my coffee
And said “Cowboy, where the hell have you been?”
“You’re dirty and dusty and you smell kinda bad
I bet you haven’t changed or washed, for a week
So get on out back, wash that face and comb your hair
And I’ll fix you up something special to eat”
Chorus
I went out to the washroom, cleaned up and combed my hair
Checked the mirror, then went back, to the scene
She lit up when she saw me and came in real close
And whispered “Cowboy, tell me where you’ve been?”
I’ve been out, thirty days, driving longhorn
Six months, on a rig in the sea
Sellin’ snake oil in Coleman, to your mama, don’t cha know
Where you look, now that’s where, I have been
Chorus
She laughed, bit her lip, and said “Handsome, tell me more
I love a man, that knows where he’s been
Eat your eggs, chew your bacon and drink that coffee real slow
And tell me cowboy, what have you seen?”
I worked in Houston, for them boys, building rockets
I worked in Roswell cutting up, ET
And last week, in Lubbock, I serviced your car
And honey, that’s just the start, of me
Chorus
We went home, she made breakfast, every morning
While I told her tall tales, about me
But when the tales ran out, so did my love
She left a note, addressed, to me
It said “Cowboy, it’s been fun, to see where you’ve been
You really have, entertained me
But I don’t cook my breakfast, for no honest man
So get used, to eating chilli, and beans
Chorus
Written 20th April 2012
Copyright Ó 2012 Jamie McPherson
So, what inspired the song? Well, I had the line “Love served me chilli this morning” just pop into my head. I thought it was a good metaphor for being a single man. No married or attached man would EVER be allowed to eat chilli (chilli con carne) for breakfast. There is a sadness in a man that would 
So, I sat down and started to write the story as it progressed in my head. The first thing I thought of was that it did have to centre around breakfast. You just can’t leave it at an opening line. So, what better way than have him find a woman who will cook him breakfast. But, what would compel a woman to do that? What would hold her there? That’s when the idea of having him tell her tall tales about himself every morning, that she would enjoy hearing and indulging in. As Tikarma rightly pointed out when I played it for her, a bit of One Thousand Nights and One Night. I didn’t think of it at the time, but it is quite true.
But, it is also a story of love lost. What could precipitate the ending of this relationship? I thought the logical thing would be that the tall tales ran out. After all, that’s what kept her there in the first place. No stories, no breakie
The song needed a setting, and I thought the place most synonymous with chilli, is the state of Texas. It wouldn’t make sense to have it take place in Australia. So, all the towns and cities in the song are in Texas. I like a good geographic journey in my songs. And, of course, my sense of humour always prevails with the line about cutting up ET in Roswell. I can’t help it being a cheeky bugger
So, the song is a ballad in 3/4 time. A bit of alternative country style. All up, it only took me a bit over an hour to write both lyrics, chords and melody. Just a quick flash of inspiration. Who knows when I’ll get the chance to record it, but hopefully not too far away. I picture this one with just vocals and either guitar or piano accompanying it. Well, I hoped you enjoyed the lyrics any way.
Beannachd leibh,
Jamie
April 23, 2012 at 2:45 am
Hi Jamie,
What a flash of inspiration indeed! Congratulations and well done! I hope too, soon you’ll be able to get it recorded.
and I like your use of details in your locations. You and E.T. ohhh my, where will it lead you!? *lol*….
I do like the concept of a guy in effect having to buy his breakfast with tall tales and yes as I said a Thousand Nights and One Night did indeed pop into my head. There is an old world whimsy in the theme and I can recall many a working man going no-where without his breakfast in the morning . They say the way to man’s heart is through his stomach, but I think for some their love is measured in bacon and eggs *cheeky grin*.
I do agree this kind of theme doesn’t quite suit Australia, maybe next time
Being very lucky to hear it being played I too like the rythmn of the song. It’s easy to sway to, late into the night with a last beer before heading off with your partner into the dark.
Again, congratulations! Another great gem of a song.
Yours always in love and with much pride in you achievements.
Tikarma
♥♥♥
xoxoxo
April 23, 2012 at 8:46 am
Hi Tikarma,
Thank you for your very lovely comment. Sometimes, when it hits, there is no stopping it!
Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to get recording. 
I’m glad you like the concept. It’s always good if you take something somewhere new. I think the Thousand Nights analogy was just perfect. I hadn’t thought of that.
Yes, it does harken back to an older time when people could take the time out for a propper breakfast. Now, life is all to rush rush, and a coffee from the McDonalds drive through is all they get these days. I thought the saying from most women was “A way to a mans heart is through his chest with a big knife”?
But yes, it’s those things that you do for someone that shows them they are loved. Does that mean I get a fry up on the weekend? ♥
Might have to look at something a bit more Australian on the menu next time
I’m glad you liked the use of the details in the locations. I do enjoy that sense of place when writing. To me it is one of the fundimentals. Part of why your poems always work so well. Hey, I saw Roswell on the map and couldn’t let that one go 
I’m glad you liked the rythm of the song. Yes, I think that would be the perfect setting
Once again, thank you for your lovely comments and for all your support.
With allmy love and pride to, always and forever,
Jamie
♥♥♥