A Taste of Honey – On the Rocks

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by Scott and Marlow

This was one of six cover songs The Beatles included on their first UK album, Please Please Me. It was part of their concert repertoire in 1962 and 1963.
Songwriters Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow wrote this as the theme to a play by Shelagh Delaney that was made into a movie in 1961. This instrumental version was recorded by piano player Martin Denny and won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme. Marlow added lyrics so Tony Bennett could sing it. Alpert’s version is instrumental.

In 1966, Alpert received Grammys with his version of the song in three different categories: Best Instrumental Arrangement; Best Instrumental Performance, Non-Jazz; and Record of the Year. In addition, Larry Levine (the engineer for this song) received a Grammy with Alpert’s version for Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical.

[Am] A taste of honey. [C] Tasting much [G] sweeter than [Am] wine.
[Am @ (3/4)]
[Am] Winds may blow o’er the [C] icy [G] sea. I’ll [Am] take with me the [C] warmth of [G] thee. [Am] A taste of honey. [C] Tasting much [G] sweeter than [Am] wine. – – – [Am 4x @ 3/4 time]

(change timing 4/4)
[C] I will [D] return. [Am] I will [D] return.
I’ll come [C] back for the [G] honey and you [Am]

[Am -> 3/4] [Am] four measures for rhythm.
I [Am] dream of your first [C] kiss and [G] then, I [Am] feel upon my [C] lips [G] again. A taste of [Am] honey. [C] Tasting much [G] sweeter than [Am] wine.

[Am @ 3/4 time] – – – – I’ll [Am] leave behind my [C] heart to [G] wear. And [Am] may it e’er [C] remind you [G] of [Am] A taste of honey. A [C] taste much [G] sweeter than [Am] wine. – – – – [Am 4x @ 3/4 time]

(change timing 4/4)
[C] I will [D] return. [Am] I will [D] return.
I’ll come [C] back for the [G] honey and you [Am] {Am -> 3/4}
[Am] four measures for rhythm purposes.

Yours [Am] was the kiss that [C] awoke my [G] heart. There [Am] lingers still though we’re [C] far [G] apart – [Am] a taste of honey. [C] A taste much [G] sweeter than [Am] wine

He [Am] ne’er came back to his [C] love he [G] missed. And [Am] so she died dreaming [C] of his [G] kiss. His kiss of [Am] honey. A [C] taste more [G] bitter than [Am] wine

(change timing 4/4) [C] I will [D] return. [Am] I will [D] return.
I’ll come [C] back for the [G] honey . . . . . and [Am -> 3/4] you.