• Published on 1963
• Author: Scott/Marlow
• Track 12 on “Please Please Me“

About “A Taste of Honey”

“A Taste of Honey” is a pop standard written by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow. It was first performed by Scott, and its title may have been inspired by the 1958 English play A Taste of Honey which reached Broadway in 1960.

The most famous version of this song was the instrumental cover by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on their album Whipped Cream & Other Delights, becoming a top ten hit in 1965 and winning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

“A Taste of Honey” was covered by The Beatles on their debut album Please Please Me. It was a favourite of Paul McCartney’s, and was included in the Beatles’ repertoire in 1962. John Lennon sometimes played around with the title, calling it “A Waste of Money”. (Satirist Allan Sherman actually recorded a parody song called “A Waste of Money”) The Beatles performed “A Taste of Honey” on many BBC radio shows, including Here We Go, Side by Side and Easy Beat.

Meaning of “A Taste of Honey”

The lyrics of “A Taste of Honey” convey a bittersweet sentiment. The narrator reflects on a past love and the feelings that linger, even after the relationship has ended. The taste of honey is used metaphorically to represent the sweetness of love, but also implies that it can be fleeting and leave a lingering memory.

Lines like “A taste of honey…Tasting much sweeter than wine” evoke the idea of the initial sweetness and pleasure of being in love. However, the lyrics also suggest a sense of loss and nostalgia for the time when that love was present.

“A Taste of Honey” is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and its lasting impact on our memories and emotions. It’s a song that captures the bittersweet nature of romantic experiences, reminding us that love, like the taste of honey, can leave a lasting impression even after it’s gone.

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead vocals, bass
• John Lennon – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• George Harrison – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Ringo Starr – brushed drums

How to play “A Taste of Honey” on guitar

In The Beatles’ version of “A Taste of Honey,” the guitar parts are relatively simple but integral to the overall sound of the song. The following video shows how to play the rhythm and arpeggiated guitar parts of “A Taste of Honey”:

How to play “A Taste of Honey” on bass

Paul McCartney’s bassline for “A Taste of Honey” is known for its melodic and walking style. It doesn’t simply follow the root notes of the chords, but incorporates passing tones and fills that add a melodic dimension to the song. In this video you have the bass tab of “A Taste of Honey”:

“A Taste of Honey” karaoke

If you want to practice singing “A Taste of Honey”, here’s the karaoke version of the song:

Lyrics of “A Taste of Honey”