The Jam - The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow) 

Possibly the greatest Jam song ever. Remember when I first started going out aged 17 and this would always come on the jukebox in the pub's. Great times.

You can hear the Style Council sound starting to appearing in the last Jam songs. Weller oozing souls in this one.

I love The Jam, when I watch the videos I realise how I miss being a teenager

Heartbreaking, lyrical perfection. Blimey. Weller isn’t a songwriter..he’s a poet.

I was 17 and this track haunted me, I would sit in my room tears streaming down my face, it had a powerful effect on me then and still does today..

this song is brilliant im sure someone somewhere will agree

The best song I have ever heard, I was a massive fan 40 years ago even bigger fan now. The best 3 piece band ever in my view

Paul Weller is one of pop's finest songwriters. A real craftsman.

one of our greatest singer /songwriters ever.....his records will be played for years to come

Great tune,as the Jam got nearer the end you can hear how he's already thinking about the Style Council,and how it will sound.Genius.

Only my opinion as an 80's lad the best music ever , never beaten shame they split but maybe that made them more iconic. Me and the god Paul share the same birthday, thank you Paul for your genius music

So many memories being a young mod 54 now and still 100% mod.... Great song and a great era.

Completely blown away by just how good this song is, could possibly be the Jam at their brilliant best

No matter how old this song gets it still sounds great . Takes me back to the start of my teenage years

Simply the best British band of all time. If you want to know what is was like to grow up in the late 70s/early 80s in the UK, just read their lyrics.

the bitterest pill I had to swallow. was the end of the jam...the sound of a generation...damn

when I was younger I was in to all kinds of music but I loved the Jam I wasn't a mod or anything actually because we had nothing not a penny to scratch our asses with all I had was music from friends and when I found the jam they captured me like no other band for a long time I still like them to this day.

This song was perfectly made for “This is England 1996.” One of the greatest series ever shown on Channel 4 “. Shane Meadows always has the hand of the pulse”.

ive swallowed the bitterness many times...20 years on still gutted

To me is one of the best songs ever heard in my life, any time heard it, it always gets me! Such a beauty of song, the kind of song that heals you. All hail the king Paul Weller. A huge fan from Peru.

Legend in all his glory not one bad record ever made

Love this still listening in 2024 brings me back to my mod days

A real gem in the Jam catalogue.

Weller is a genius. The Jam are the worlds most underrated band.

An absolute classic.The modfather is a genius

He's not called The Modfather for nothing, absolute LEGEND.

Anyone else Paul has a look of Rodney trotter when he's got the mac on haha,love this tune

My fave Jam song , doesnt get mentioned much or ever played on any radio station , i love it though it has a certain melancholy i like...

The Jam should of Ended on this one.....Somebody will cover it. Real English soul on this one. We've All had a Pill.....Years later its still there stuck in ur throat... This song helps me Move on.... You have to.... We are all.the Same.... Cheers lads the Jam....All fine musicians Rick and Bruce a Big part of this band... Good luck everyone. Eamonn..

YOU WILL NEVER HEAR SONGS THIS GOOD LIKE THIS EVER AGAIN....

The days when i drove a gt 200 and thought id never get old 😊

I got my The Jam tattoo in April on my arm.They are my favorite band ever.I love them to bits.

Great song with Weller heading off into Style Council territory ... what a vocal.

One of Weller's finest songs.

What a fkn tune.You can hear him changing towards a sound more like The Style Council.Pure class.

What a song,what a performer, lyrics really mean something,this music will never come again,just re living my youth I'm 58, mow,wow,you never forget the happy days,music was good, atmosphere,we had it all 😊👍❤️

I think back in the day they were class, listening to them today I realise they were even better than class..

Amazing how Wellers voice became so soulful over the years

Incredible used to make me cry this song did; its bloody beatiful.

Paul should get a part in EastEnders..That cup smash off the table was excellent

In your white lace and your wedding bells You look the picture of contented new wealth But from the on-looking fool who believed your lies I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows When the wheel of fortune broke, you fell to me Out of grey skies to change my misery The vacant spot, your beating heart took its place Now watch smoke leave my lips and fill an empty room For the bitterest pill is hard to swallow The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows The bitterest pill is mine to take If I took it for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more ill The bitterest pill is mine to take If I took it for a hundred years, I couldn't feel any more ill Now autumn's breeze blows summer's leaves through my life Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight The dying spark, you left your mark on me The promise of your kiss, but with someone else For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows The bitterest pill is mine to take If I took it for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill!

One of the finest songs The Jam ever recorded. It just oozes cool and Paul Wellers lyrics are brilliant.

Just found this song; instant favourite! Poetic lyrics, amazing chords, beautiful strings and Miss Havisham from Great Expectations in the video to boot!

Probably my favourite The Jam song. I love it's meloncoly, retrospective vibe. A perfect note to end it on.

When I first heard this song back in the day, it instantly became one of the best things I'd ever heard. It still is. Pure poetry.

2024❤UK RESPECT. SHARED

A style council in the making here with this one 💙

They were untouchable then and still are now

One of the best songs ever

Was 16 when this came out...bought the LP . One of the best ever.

Such a fkn gorgeous song this! The strings are absolutely beautiful! Definitely in my top 3 fave Jam songs!

Such an amazing song. Weller is an unbelievable songwriter, lyricist musician and performer.

Thanks for the memories boys ... still re living them in August 2019

One of the most stunning songs ever

Brilliant song liked it for years

Amazing band, great tune. Love how they're trying not to laugh whilst 'seriously' acting. What a progression from 1977 to this...classy songwriting, superb instrumentation from all three. Fantastic lyrics and quality vocal from Paul.

Sometimes it takes time to rediscover bands and songs to appreciate just how wonderful they are

Paul Weller always looks so cool and stylish

There used to be a guy down our way with a black and purple Lambretta with beautiful graphics and the words "The Bitterest Pill" scripted in white over the engine cover. Fantastic pop song and a fitting end to the band's output.

Fucking brilliant. Classic Jam/Weller. Perfectly encapsulates the inevitable heartbreak of youthful love. God bless Paul Weller and his lyrics…

hard to believe musical youth stopped this classic from getting to no.1

Brilliant. Brilliant..paul weller is so talented..this takes me back year's..and those memories..absolutely fantastic 👏😘

When i heard this song recently it transported me instantly back to my school days, got me thinking about those care free days, great track

I was a mod in the 70s 80s quite often It was up caranby street use to talk with jam was absolutely outstanding The band I have seen well over 30 times

Beautiful, magnificent song. Obviously would not have been out of place on a Style Council album, but I'm glad the Jam got to do it just before they clocked off.

Thanks Paul for a brilliant youth and so memory youth of this era will never forget you

Without a doubt one of the best tunes from 1982. Totally gorgeous song. My God I love this song so much. This song fulfills my teenage years.

thank you weller for my youth

Love all by the jam,but this and private hell defo my faves

I haven't heard this for 30 years!!!

I’m not a big fan of the Jam or Weller but I could listen to this on repeat all day. Masterpiece of a song…

I've been humming this song alot recently as I split up with my wife as well but feel it was for the best

What a back catalogue of tunes second to none

IMO One of the best song Weller's ever written ☘

Women have come and gone kids have grown up the one constant in my life has been Paul Weller.

The dying spark, you left your mark on me The promise of your kiss, but with someone else

One of the most beautiful songs ever written. A classic!

I have heard this song over 2,000 times and i never get bored of listening to it.The Bitterest Pill is and always will be my favorite song of all time.

Paul Gambaccini sent me here from September 1982 to remind me just what an amazing track this was.

What a group they were, top tune

I could listen to this song forever and never ever get sick of it ....pure soulfullness in it's finest form

love the jam loved them in the 80s one of England's finest group's

Mrs H ... This song should get a Billion LIKES ..It a CLASSIC MASTERPIECE...🎶🎙

What a handsome chap Mr Paul weller is...The song is beautiful and is about what he was seeing & feeling at the time yes it's about a fickle woman who hurt him....But I'm sure we've all swallowed that bitter pill & I bet she is kickin herself now.

One of the best The Jam songs!!!!

Pure gold ,timeless classic,seems last yesterday even though it was many years ago, no group/singer will beat classic songs like this.

definitely one of their best, the lyrics are outta this world, off this planet truth be told. it's a masterpiece in many ways.....nuff said.....

What a song,a singer,performer,takes me back ,I made a mistake many years ago......and yes I'm still swallowing that pill,lyrics have so much meaning❤️☹️

A classic from the best band ever. 😎🎸👍

One of the best songs ever wells me up every time

Brilliant song and my favourite by The Jam. Brings back some happy memories of 1982.

PAUL HAS SUCH A UNIQUE VOICE LOVE THEM ❤️🦋🌈 THANKS THE JAM

The vocal harmonies in the bridge and chorus between Paul Weller and the female backing vocalist is beautiful. The song itself is great with good lyrics and hauntingly beautiful instrumentation but the vocals and vocal harmonies really makes this one of the jams best songs and it's without a doubt one of the best songs Paul Weller has written and his best vocal performance in my opinion.

Pure brilliance!

The Jam,I grew up on, nuff said!

The man is genius weller is lyrics just hit home

Makes me cry every time

One of the best songs they ever made.

A great song that never tires ❤

The different layers in the production are brilliant, the violin tells the story on it own.