The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
If you're listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
String from your tether unwinds (string from your tether unwinds)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
Up and outward to bind (up and outward to bind)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Are you listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
So tell me what do I need (tell me what do I need)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
When words lose their meaning (when words lose their meaning)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Yeah, stumble 'til you crawl
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sinking into sweet uncertainty
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
(Are you listening)
(Are you listening)
If you're listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
If you're listening (are you listening)
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
If you're listening (are you listening)
And I'm still running away (I'm still running away)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
I won't play your hide and seek game (your hide and seek game)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
What a dizzy dance
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
This sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
String from your tether unwinds (string from your tether unwinds)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
Up and outward to bind (up and outward to bind)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Are you listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
So tell me what do I need (tell me what do I need)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
When words lose their meaning (when words lose their meaning)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Yeah, stumble 'til you crawl
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sinking into sweet uncertainty
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
(Are you listening)
(Are you listening)
If you're listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
If you're listening (are you listening)
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
If you're listening (are you listening)
And I'm still running away (I'm still running away)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
I won't play your hide and seek game (your hide and seek game)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
What a dizzy dance
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
This sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
Lyrics submitted by MestUpNFG, edited by jackbatman
Sweetness Lyrics as written by Richard E. Burch James Christopher Adkins
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When I first heard this song, they played it over an ad for the GSA's Day of Silence at my high school. I was a freshman at the time, and I was just starting to question my sexuality. So for me - and I'm not saying this was J.E.W.'s intent - it relates to the thoughts and fears of LGBT teens in general.
"If you're listening/ sing it back" is about the teen trying to reach out to the world, to find anybody out there who understands what they're going through. The sweetness is the simplicity of ordinary straight high school love and relationships - something LGBT teens have a much harder time finding. Basically, this song is about struggling with your own complex emotions, and the push and pull between wanting to run and hide and wanting to shout it to the world. It's about questioning everything you always took for granted about yourself.
Anyways, whether you agree with me or not, this song has some seriously powerful emotion to it.