Sugar and Spice

Album: Knees and Elbows (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This angst-ridden ballad finds the 12-year-old singer dejectedly reflecting on what society expects from tweens like her. "Inject my soul with darkness. I tried to be sugar and spice," she rasps, "but I'm melancholy and can't do anything right. Take a swing at me, I'll fight to the death, my light is bright." What happened to the upbeat little girl who sung about paying "no attention to them haters?"
  • The song was premiered through Willow's official Soundcloud and Tumblr pages. Interestingly in an Emo way, the singer's username on the sites has been registered as Arbre Mort, which translates as "dead tree." She signs off her Arbre Mort profile with "Maulheureux Bound," the first word being French for "misery."
  • The song's haunting rhythm was borrowed from Radiohead's "Codex," a track from their 2011 album The King of Limbs.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."