A WAITRESS IN A COCKTAIL BAR…

Mike Lucey on a Sidewalk with a Breedlove Acoustic

It’s part of a very famous song.

In 1981 Human League released the song Don’t you Want Me to great acclaim and with one of the most easily recognizable lines in the song “You Were Working as a Waitress in a Cocktail Bar.” It just goes to show the power of a great lyric.

The song uses a verse-pre-chorus-chorus song structure followed by another verse-pre-chorus-chorus flowing into an outro that simply repeats the chorus over and over again. The chorus is simple and repetitive pointing back to the title.

Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh

One of the things I find interesting about the song is that the pre-chorus is actually quite lengthy by today’s standards. It does however provide good variation from the verse and builds excitement heading into the chorus.

Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back, or we will both be sorry

According to MusicRadar.com https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/synth-icons-linn-electronics-inc-lm-1-drum-computer-598857 the song also featured a Linn Electronics LM-1 drum computer, using drum samples that sounded better than anything else on the market at that time. The LM-1 also incorporated a shuffle feature imparting a natural groove to it.

Overall, the song is very simple, repetitive and reminds of the of song writing style of the Beatles. Outwardly simple, repetitive and catchy. Listen and learn from every song you hear.

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