Save It For Later by The English Beat

Album: Special Beat Service (1982)

Charted: 47 106

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English Beat singer/guitarist Dave Wakeling told Songfacts about 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 the full Dave Wakeling interview.)
When performing their 1994 song "Better Man" in concert, the American rock band Pearl Jam often play it as a medley together with this song. Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder released a solo version in 2024 that was used on the season 3 episode of The Bear, "Next."
"Save It For Later" was the first single from The English Beat's third album, Special Beat Service. In America, it's one of their most popular songs, but in the UK they're better known for songs like "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Too Nice To Talk To."

"Save It For Later" charted in America - barely - at #106. Their only other song to chart there was "I Confess" at #104.

Comments: 8

Ber Da Bird from Tri-peaks MinnesotaThere are certain songs that can express the nature of my being during unpleasant or heady times. Save It For Later fit the bill when I figured out and asked a female friend was having an affair. She first lied. Had her lover text me. Began discrediting me any way she could for fear I would reveal her secret. It was simple. We never were friends. I text her a short message wrapping it nicely together and told her, Save It For Later was written for women just like her. I feel great. Without guilt or separation anxiety over losing a partner. And the Beat goes on.
Boomer from Nysubtlety salacious? "Just hold my hand while i come"
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 23rd 1983, the English Beat performed "Save It For Later" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
It did not chart on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, but did reached #58 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Eb from Fl Keys, Fl"Just hold my hand while I come...to a decision on this."
:::Sigh:::great song
Dave from Flushing, NyHey Jack, I recall hearing the song as well at Max's. I remember the guy who wrote it. He looked to be about 15. Arrogant little punk.
Jack Paultry from New York, NyI recall hearing a similar song in New York (CB'S?) back in the mid 1970's. Maybe it was the drugs I waz doing at the time.
Sam from Seattle, WaThis song is in the 1996 movie "Kingpin"
Justin from Woodstock, NyPete Townsend performs an acoustic version of Save It For Later on his 1986 album "Deep End Live," and Pearl Jam often sing a portion of it in concert, when playing their song Better Man.

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