Sweetness

Album: Bleed American (2001)
Charted: 38 75
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Songfacts®:

  • This is about having strong feelings for a person who doesn't feel that way about you. When you are near that person you get a special "sweet" feeling. "The sweetness will not be concerned with me" is saying that that person doesn't feel the same way. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Chrus - Toronto, Canada
  • In a Songfacts interview with Jimmy Eat World frontman Jim Adkins, he said of this song: "It's just about feeling unfulfilled and where you're looking for relationship validation. It's a scene that I come back to a lot. You know, if that's where you're hoping and wishing to get your sense of happiness and self worth, you're going to be searching forever.

    You can know that and you can believe it and you can take it in, but sometimes you're lonely. And it's hard, and you forget the truth behind it. Everybody just kind of comes back to that sometimes. You've got to remind yourself."
  • There are two versions of this song, one in which the lyric is "Strap from your tether unwinds," the other "String from your tether unwinds;" however the lyric is officially documented as "Strap." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Olene - Upper Nazareth, PA

Comments: 21

  • Justin from California LOL I totally visualized tether ball. Spinning free, tether unwind, up and outward to bind, sing it back (when the other player hits the ball bs k the other way)
  • Anonymoushowever u relate to it at the time, that's what it means to u. How the author originally related to it is not it's absolute "meaning." That's true of any art. What makes this song beautiful is multiple emotive interpretations align (not by coincidence, but because it's a good writer's craft).
  • Espe2m1 from ConnecticutDescribes recent relationship with my dream girl
  • Real from CanadaI feel as if this song is about liking somone he's not exactly supposed to. Refering to them as sweetness. As if they are carefree and also unaware of his existence. Yet he still gets pleasure from the freeness he admires.
  • Vanessa from New YorkI thought it was about a Dead Show.
  • Marty F from MtlSweetness = Music ....and spinning free and not caring about anything while listening to it.
  • Phil Kessel from Lindsay, OnThis song was on NHL 03! One of the best songs on any NHL Game!
  • Jeff from Kingston, TnThe Denver Broncos and ESPN did Terrell Davis's retirement video to this song highlighting some of his best plays.
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnThis is my favorite song from this incredible band. Everything just fits like a glove.
  • John from Galloway, Njthis is the song of my life right now...this song is amazing...
  • Kristen from Pittsburgh, Pathe studio version of this song which can be found as a bonus song on the band's album clarity, says "string from your tether unwinds" while the song on bleed american says "strap"
  • Morphine from London, EnglandI had no idea it was about this.

    I think this is one of their best songs.
  • Amanda from New York, NyI actually thought the song was about how they got to the top and famous but i guess it would be about sadness?... But anyways this is a really goos and catchy song i love skate bourding to this song everywhere..
  • Robyn from Granbury, Txto me this song sounds like a big huge metaphor. It sounds like he is relating a break up to childrens games like tether ball and hide and seek. think about it. "Strap from your tether unwinds" thats the relationship ending. "I was spinning free" hmmm... "I won't play your hide and seek game" She obviously likes to play mind games like all girls do.
  • Xavier from West Lafayette, InOh man. I'll be damned if this song doesnt hit the nail right on the head about my love life all through high school.
  • Lennonfan11 from Regawrhhrh, Icelandwas that last person talking about "the middle"?
  • Casie from Denver, CoIm not sure what it really means but,I just moved to the Philippines. I was that girl that ive always wanted to be. The different girl from the rest,my name is Cassandra,it means boys helper,its a thing where i always hang with boys,i dont know why but i think i understand them well. i was a rebel,i had a band i was a punker but at the same time i got good grades,weird for a punker but yea. I fell in love,i really felt it,it hard but yea. We started to be bfs and i moved across the world. It hurts so bad to in a high level and fall so fast that u begging to 0. Well now Im here in the Philippines with no friends,getting bad grades by the different language. So yea,this song describes me,everyone tells me that it takes some time little girl that im only in half way there in the middle of this ride to get use to the enviorment,well im 13 so i guess. No friends,people saying things behind my back because im new,i had millions of friends and now i dont.I try my best. So this song mean so much to me that the first time i heard it i was like ok woaw. this is freaking me out because its like someone made a song about me or something because it totally describes me. Right now im in a really rough time knowing that i had everything and now i just lost it. Well im happy that someone inspired me so if u want to talk with me add me or email me at casiesilver@yahoo.com or buffyfan2004@hotmail.com Thanks!
  • Olga from Newmarket, CanadaI think this song is amazing, it has a catchy beat an the meaning is sad but still makes an awesome song.
  • Ginette from Richmond Hill, CanadaSome of this song sound like someone struggling with drugs, "I was spinning free with a little sweet and simple numbing me", "Yeah, stumble 'til you crawl/Sinking into sweet uncertainty." No matter what, it's a great song.
  • Mark from Ruston, LaThis is a fun song to play with my band. It gives off a strange vibe because the chord progression and sound of the song seems happy, but the meaning is somewhat sad and sorry.
  • Annabeth from Kutztown, PaThe singer really likes a girl, and is in the "floating on a cloud" stage, but then realizes the girl doesn't want to be with him. The middle part is him questioning her to find out how she feels about him.
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