Chords + Lyrics | Build Me Up Buttercup
Intro
| C | E | F | G |
| Csus4 C | Ddim7/E E (E7) | F | G | G |
Chorus 1
| Csus4 C | Ddim7/E E (E7) |
Why do you build me up (build me up). Buttercup, baby.
| F | G7 G6 G |
Just to let me down (let me down). And mess me around.
| Csus4 C | Ddim7/E E (E7) |
And then worst of all (worst of all). You never call baby.
| F | G7 (G6) |
When you say you will (say you will). But I love you still.
| C | C7 |
I need you (I need you). More than anyone, darling,
| F | Fm |
you know that I have from the start.
| C | G | F Em Dm C | G |
So build me up (build me up), Buttercup, don’t break my heart.
Verse 1
| C G | Bb F | C |
“I’ll be over at ten”, you told me time and again but you’re late.
| F |
I wait around and then (ba-dah-dah).
| C G | Bb F | C |
I went to the door, I can’t take any more it’s not you.
| F C/E |
You let me down again (Hey, hey, hey).
Bridge 1
| Dm | G F |
Baby, baby, I try to find (hey, hey, hey).
| Em | A G |
A little time and I’ll make you happy (hey, hey, hey).
| F | D7 | G |
I’ll be home, I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you.
| N.C | N.C | G |
Ooh ooh, you ooh ooh.
Chorus 2
Why do you build me up (build me up). Buttercup, baby.
Just to let me down (let me down). And mess me around.
And then worst of all (worst of all). You never call baby.
When you say you will (say you will). But I love you still.
I need you (I need you). More than anyone, darling,
you know that I have from the start.
So build me up (build me up), Buttercup, don’t break my heart.
Verse 2
To you I’m a toy, but I could be the boy you adore.
If you’d just let me know (Ba-dah-dah).
Although you’re untrue, I’m attracted to you all the more.
Why do you treat me so? (Hey, hey, hey).
Bridge 2
Baby, baby, I try to find (Hey, hey, hey).
A little time and I’ll make you happy (Hey, hey, hey).
I’ll be home, I’ll be beside the phone waiting for.
You ooh ooh, you ooh ooh.
Chorus 3
| Csus4 C | Ddim7/E E (E7) |
Why do you build me up (build me up). Buttercup, baby.
| F | G7 G6 G |
Just to let me down (let me down). And mess me around.
| Csus4 C | Ddim7/E E (E7)|
And then worst of all (worst of all). You never call baby.
| F | G7 (G6) |
When you say you will (say you will). But I love you still.
| C | C7 |
I need you (I need you). More than anyone, darling,
| F | Fm |
you know that I have from the start.
Outro
| C | G | A | A7 |
So build me up (build me up), Buttercup, don’t break my heart.
| D | D/F# | G | Gm |
I need you (I need you). More than anyone, darling, you know that I have from the start.
| D | A | G F#m Em D |
So build me up (build me up), Buttercup, don’t break my heart.
Build Me Up Buttercup Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Build Me Up Buttercup. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, horns, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
Let’s go through all the sections in Build Me Up Buttercup—they contain some fascinating harmonic twists.
Chorus
The chorus (and intro) builds exactly as the title suggests, ascending through C – E7 – F – G. For those familiar with progressions, this sits firmly in the key of C, featuring a mediant major (IIIx) followed by the classic IV – V movement.
Next comes a textbook shift—F – Fm (IV – IVm)—before resolving to C – G. Next, we descend through F – Em – Dm – C. It’s a perfect musical reflection of the lyrics: “Build me up, mess me around, don’t break my heart!”
The chord extensions can look overwhelming, but once you’ve studied the TAB (available further down this guitar lesson), they’ll serve as a guide for incorporating the melody lines within the chords.
Verse
The verse steps outside the key, introducing a bVIIx, moving C – G – Bb – F – C – F. You could also interpret this as a “climb to the V chord”, first in C, then in F—an elegant trick that keeps the harmony fresh.
Bridge
The bridge starts on the II chord: Dm – G – F, followed by Em – A – G, where the A acts as a VIx chord. Before returning to the chorus, we get F – D7 – G, with D7 functioning as a IIx (the dominant of the dominant), creating a strong pull toward G.
Outro
The outro is where everything unravels—beautifully, if you can pull it off!
| C | G | A | A7 |
| D | D/F# | G | Gm |
| D | A | G F#m Em D |
Here, the key modulates from C to D—a brilliant studio idea but notoriously tricky live. Many bands stumble here, as the song fades out mid-progression. My suggestion: end on the fast chords of a normal chorus but in the new key.
This way, you can hand your bandmates a chart (see below) and keep everyone on the same page—not just for the outro, but throughout.
To get detailed information on how to play these chords, you’ll need TAB—fnd it further down this lesson.
When you’ve got your parts together, use the chord chart below to keep the entire band locked in.
Build Me Up Buttercup Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
I’ve made two versions of this chord chart available for you to download—one as a straightforward PDF, and the other in iReal Pro format.
If you’re using the iReal Pro app, you can easily change the key, which is especially useful here since Build Me Up Buttercup moves outside the key so frequently.
Build Me Up Buttercup | TAB
Let’s work out how to play all sections of this tune, assuming no keyboards are available.
Intro
We start with the basic chords, then move into the richer, more colourful extensions. Play along with the backing tracks to fully grasp what’s happening.
Chorus
The chorus follows the same concept as the latter half of the intro. The G chord uses extensions as well.
When the G returns, move up to the 5th of the C chord. Practice slowly for a smooth flow.
Verse
The verse is simpler. Start by playing on beats 2 and 4, then gradually increase intensity.
Bridge
Keeping the bridge sparse emphasises the rhythmic hits that sync with the backing vocals. Avoid overplaying to maintain impact.
Outro
The outro begins at the end of the chorus. Watch the transitions carefully. The A7 triplets are important, and I’ve suggested an ending that fits smoothly with the chord chart.
Once you can play all this TAB, try it with the backing tracks, using only the chord chart as you play along with The Foundations.
The Foundations’ signature song
Following their earlier hit Baby, Now That I Found You, Build Me Up Buttercup marked the band’s second major success. By this time, they had a new lead singer, and tensions were beginning to rise—but their success kept them together.
The single charted at #1 in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and reached #2 in the U.K., cementing its status as a smash. Written by producer Tony Macaulay—who also crafted their previous hit—it became the song most closely associated with The Foundations, helping to hold the band together and later reunite them.
Study the chords, lyrics, and chord chart above to see how The Foundations’ defining song was constructed!
Build Me Up Buttercup Chords: Continue Learning
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