Breakfast in America (song)



"Breakfast in America" is the title track from Supertramp's 1979 album of the same name. It was a minor hit on the singles charts in the US but was a Top 10 hit in the UK.

The song was written by Roger Hodgson before Supertramp were formed, during his late teens, but is jointly credited to him and his bandmate/songwriting partner Rick Davies. Davies wanted Hodgson to re-write the by-then over a decade old lyrics, but Hodgson refused, feeling that they were too intrinsic to the song and captured the innocence of his adolescence. The lyrics tell about a person who has never been to America and fantasizes about it. After Supertramp started performing the song during a "reunion" tour without Hodgson, Hodgson pointedly told reporters that Davies initially "hated" the song and that he believed Davies did not play on the recording at all. However, in other interviews, Hodgson has credited Davies with creating the vocalized retort line, "What's she got? Not a lot."

The 2005 song "Cupid's Chokehold" by Gym Class Heroes heavily utilizes the melody of "Breakfast in America" and features Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump performing the opening lines of the song as a refrain.

The song was also sampled in Drake's "Stunt Hard" and James Blunt performed a live version of the song which featured on the deluxe edition of his second album All The Lost Souls.

Personnel

 * Roger Hodgson: piano, lead vocals, harmonium, electric guitar
 * Rick Davies: harpsichord, backing vocals
 * John Helliwell: clarinet, backing vocals
 * Dougie Thomson: bass
 * Bob Siebenberg: drums
 * Slyde Hyde: trombone, tuba