“Bartender” by James Blunt

In “Bartender”, James Blunt is singing to an ex-girlfriend. The setting is that the two of them are chillin’ together – enjoying conversation, dancing and drinks – in some kind of bar. In the corner of the establishment there is a couple who appear to be having some type of fight, as in the guy has said something which caused his lady to cry. This is particularly noteworthy to the singer as it basically represents what he and said ex went through.

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for James Blunt's Bartender at Lyrics.org.

But on this particular occasion he and the addressee, once again his ex-girlfriend, are actually having a good time. They do so by focusing on “the future” as opposed to what went wrong in the past. And going back to the story of the couple fighting in the corner, James is happy that his ex has opted not to harp on their past relationship, as they ‘both know it was him who got it wrong’. Or stated differently, he hurt her – just as the guy in the corner is hurting his girlfriend – and messed up their romance in the process.

So basically as the night progresses, the singer and the addressee are, as stated earlier, enjoying drinks together. And the more intoxicated they become the higher the probability of them ‘falling back in love’. So by the time the bar is closing, James is requesting that they spend the night together. This is because despite the two of them having been separated for some time, she ‘still blows his mind’. That’s another way of saying that he is greatly attracted to her.

So conclusively this is a song about the narrator hooking up with an ex-lover. And the “bartender” serves a key role as it is he or she who is actually ‘pouring some love’, as in making it possible for them to relate via the alcohol being served, which is lightening their mood. So the implication is that if they were not drunk, then they probably would have some type of beef.

Lyrics of "Bartender"

Facts about “Bartender”

This is the second and final single from Blunt’s fourth-studio album, 2017’s “The Afterlove”. The song itself came out via Atlantic Records UK on 10 March 2017.

Teddy Geiger and Daniel Parker served as both writers and producers of “Bartender”. And the other writers are Steph Jones and of course James Blunt.

The music video to this track had Declan Whitebloom as its director.

“Bartender” charted in Belgium, where it made it onto the top 20 of the Ultratip Wallonia.

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