‘Breakfast in America’ is the title track from English rock band Supertramp's 1979 album of the same name. Credited to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, it was a top-ten hit in the UK and a live version of the song reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1981. The lyrics tell about a person, presumably British, who dreams of visiting the United States.
According to Roger Hodgson, he wrote the song when he was 19 years old. Hodgson said that "I was dreaming and having fun one day and this song just flowed out. I think the lyric was written in about an hour, it just came out of me." Hodgson has credited Davies with creating the vocalized retort line, "What's she got? Not a lot." According to Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso, Hodgson started writing the song as a teenager, and Davies later "helped sharpen the lyrics."
In a Songfacts interview with Hodgson in 2012, he said that he put himself in character for the song, and was in a whimsical mood when he wrote it. Said Roger: "The line 'playing my jokes upon you,' I think that kind of sums up the song. It was just mind chatter. Just writing down ideas as they came - fun thoughts all strung together. And I do remember the Beatles had just gone to America, and I was pretty impressed with that. That definitely stimulated my dream of wanting to go to America. And obviously seeing all those gorgeous California girls on the TV and thinking, Wow. That's the place I want to go." Roger did go to California - he moved there in 1973 and has lived there ever since.
Billboard writer David Farrell praised John Helliwell's "Benny Goodman-flavoured clarinet solo." DeRiso rated it as Supertramp's 9th greatest song. Graff rated ‘Breakfast in America’ as Supertramp's 5th best song. Record World predicted that "AOR-pop radio will make sure that the live version would become a morning staple," noting Hodgson's "light and lively" vocal performance. Hodgson rated it as one of the top 10 songs he ever wrote.
This song was powered by an old pump organ. Hodgson explained: "I think I was 17 when I found this wonderful pump organ - a harmonium that you pump with your feet. I found it in this old lady's house in the countryside near where I lived in England. I bought it for £26, and when I brought it back I proceeded to write all these songs on it: 'Breakfast In America,' 'Two Of Us,' 'Soapbox Opera,' even the beginning of 'Fool's Overture' and 'Logical Song.' It's amazing what this instrument pulled out of me." A dazzling array of unusual instruments were used on this track, including some that rarely are heard on rock songs. Supertramp could be very musically adventurous thank to band member John Helliwell, who could play a number of instruments, including woodwinds.
Label – A&M
Songwriters – Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson
Producers - Supertramp, Peter Henderson
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Take a look at my girlfriend
She's the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend
I never seem to get a lot
Take a jumbo across the water
Like to see America
See the girls in California
I'm hoping it's going to come true
But there's not a lot I can do
[Verse 2]
Could we have kippers for breakfast
Mummy dear, Mummy dear?
They gotta have 'em in Texas
'Cause everyone's a millionaire
I'm a winner, I'm a sinner
Do you want my autograph?
I'm a loser, what a joker
I'm playing my jokes upon you
While there's nothing better to do, hey
[Instrumental]
[Verse 3]
Don't you look at my girlfriend (Girlfriend)
She's the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend (Girlfriend)
I never seem to get a lot (What she's got? Not a lot)
Take a jumbo across the water
Like to see America
See the girls in California
I'm hoping it's going to come true
But there's not a lot I can do, hey
Ba da da dum
Ba da da dum
Ba da da da dum
[Instrumental]