And I will stroll the merry way
And jump the hedges first
And I will drink the clear
Clean water for to quench my thirst
And I shall watch the ferry-boats
And they'll get high
On a bluer ocean
Against tomorrow's sky
And I will never grow so old again
And I will walk and talk
In gardens all wet with rain

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing
My, my, my, my, my sweet thing
And I shall drive my chariot
Down your streets and cry
Hey, it's me, I'm dynamite
And I don't know why'
And you shall take me strongly
In your arms again
And I will not remember
That I even felt the pain.
We shall walk and talk
In gardens all misty and wet with rain
And I will never, never, never
Grow so old again.

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing
My, my, my, my, my sweet thing
And I will raise my hand up
Into the night time sky
And count the stars
That's shining in your eye
Just to dig it all an' not to wonder
That's just fine
And I'll be satisfied
Not to read in between the lines
And I will walk and talk
In gardens all wet with rain
And I will never, ever, ever, ever
Grow so old again.
Oh sweet thing, sweet thing
Sugar-baby with your champagne eyes
And your saint-like smile


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by madakazam, littlebig8

Sweet Thing Lyrics as written by Van Morrison

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Sweet Thing song meanings
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49 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    Astral weeks is the best album Van ever created. This song is obviously about love, but he's singing to a lover that has brought him back to plain and simple innocent childhood ("And I'll be satisfied not to read in between the lines"). He promises that he'll never return to his previous state of adulthood. The whole song rings with innocence and purity and hope that only a child could feel.

    majiion April 10, 2004   Link
  • +5
    Lyric Correction

    Looks like someone messed up and put the lyrics for Spanish Rose here instead of Sweet Thing...

    And I will stroll the merry way And jump the hedges first And I will drink the clear Clean water for to quench my thirst And I shall watch the ferry-boats And they'll get high On a bluer ocean Against tomorrows sky And I will never grow so old again And I will walk and talk In gardens all wet with rain

    Oh sweet thing, sweet thing My, my, my, my, my sweet thing And I shall drive my chariot Down your streets and cry Hey, it's me, Im dynamite And I don't know why And you shall take me strongly In your arms again And I will not remember That I even felt the pain. We shall walk and talk In gardens all misty and wet with rain And I will never, never, never Grow so old again.

    Oh sweet thing, sweet thing My, my, my, my, my sweet thing And I will raise my hand up Into the night time sky And count the stars That's shining in your eye Just to dig it all and not to wonder That's just fine And I'll be satisfied Not to read in between the lines And I will walk and talk In gardens all wet with rain And I will never, ever, ever, ever Grow so old again. Oh oh sweet thing, sweet thing Sugar-baby with your champagne eyes And your saint-like smile....

    slightlyaddictedon September 27, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    beautiful.the best part is, "and i shall drive my chariot down your streets and cry." i canot wait until a boy can feel this way about me.

    Empirer85on August 15, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This is the song for my wife and me. On one of our first dates we both discovered we were Van Morrison fans and eventually Sweet Thing became our song. I feel that the song is about stopping at nothing to come to the woman you love. And also about finding peace, comfort, acceptance, and shelter in someone. I met my wife shortly before being deployed to Iraq, and the song found new resonance to me.

    Seahawkfanon March 19, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Van the Man will go down in history with Shakespeare, Shelly and Keats for this one.

    Mojo Workingon August 01, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I sat on a hill in a field with my best friend, looking out over a stream under a full moon, listening to this song. two days later he died. i've heard a lot of interpretations of this song, but to me it's the loss of innocence, of something special. i will never grow so old as i did after he died. but this song to helps me picture a time we'll be sitting in a field together again. one of the most moving, beautifully written and instrumented songs i know.

    AntyFarrantyon September 13, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The song gives me chills - it stirs the heart and soul to think of a love so profound and deep and pure and sacred! VAN is THE MAN!

    VANTHEMANon March 19, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    "And I shall drive my chariot down your streets and cry 'hey its me I'm dynamite and I don't know why'" I get chills when he starts the "hey it's me" line, his voice is amazing.

    Desi333on May 31, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I am going to play this song at my wedding.

    RobtheNaugleon April 15, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    man i love this.

    sofreshon March 17, 2005   Link

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