Born on April 26, 1974 in Massillon, Ohio, a small town 20 miles south of Akron, Patrick Sweany turned professional in the late '90s. First, he became a fixture at regional blues festivals, then in 1999 he put out his debut I Wanna Tell You on Ayao Records. Sweany switched from acoustic to electric in 1991, assembling a band that notably featured Dan Auerbach, a guitarist who would later gain fame as the leader of the Black Keys. Over the next few years, he ground away on the blues circuit, releasing henryfordbedroom on Ayao in 2003.
In 2006, Sweany signed with Nine Mile, releasing the Dan Auerbach-produced album C'mon C'mere that year. Auerbach also produced 2008's Every Hour Is a Dollar Gone. Sweany relocated to Nashville 2009, releasing That Old Southern Drag in 2011.
By this point, Sweany's career started to gain momentum due to his appearances on streaming services. Close to the Floor appeared in 2013 and Daytime Turned to Nighttime arrived in 2015. Sweany expanded his sonic horizons on Ancient Noise, a 2018 album recorded at Sam Phillips Recording.
Them Shoes
Patrick Sweany Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're more than most of all my loves gone wrong
My mind should be the way
Most people say that I should just move on
My mind is focused on
Things past and gone when I have no control
I can't forget there used to be
I used to see but now no more
Think I'm living in a past life
In a past life, too
It's a kind of thing that
Catches up to you
I guess I just believe that
It's the thing to do
So here's a little feedback
You gotta wear those shoes
No one said it would be easy
Sometimes it is hard to do
It isn't like the TV
You see the cold hard truth
And the things you see in movies
Just don't come true
So here's a little feedback
You gotta wear your shoes
I will live a half-life
It'll have to do
Now you can have a love life
You have loved me, too
You can see me in the evening
When the weather's cool
But here's a little feedback
You gotta wear the shoes
The song "Them Shoes" by Patrick Sweany is about a person who is haunted by the memories of past experiences, particularly failed relationships. The first verse talks about how his mind is filled with ghosts of loves gone wrong, and how his focus is on things that he cannot control, like the past. The chorus talks about how living in the past can catch up with you and how you have to wear the metaphorical shoes of dealing with those memories in order to move forward. The second verse talks about how things are not as easy as they appear on TV or in movies, and how the truth is often much harder to face. The song ends with the singer accepting that he will have to live a half-life, while his former lover can move on and have a love life.
The lyrics of the song are very introspective, dealing with themes of regret, loss, and acceptance. The metaphor of "Them Shoes" is used throughout the song to underscore the idea that dealing with past experiences is like wearing shoes that don't fit properly, and that you have to keep wearing them until you can find a way to make them fit better. The song is very emotional, with a soulful vocal delivery and a bluesy guitar sound that fits the mood of the lyrics perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
My mind is filled with ghosts
My mind is constantly occupied by memories of my past relationships
They're more than most of all my loves gone wrong
The memories of these past relationships are more powerful and impactful than any of my failed romantic endeavors
My mind should be the way
Most people suggest that I should move on from these memories
Most people say that I should just move on
I am often advised to forget about my past and focus on the present
My mind is focused on
Despite my efforts to move on, my mind still fixates on the past
Things past and gone when I have no control
I cannot change or control the past, yet my mind continues to dwell on it
I can't forget there used to be
I cannot shake the memory of what once was
I used to see but now no more
I am no longer able to see those memories in the same light
Think I'm living in a past life
I feel like I am stuck in the past, unable to move forward
In a past life, too
This feeling of being trapped in the past is not new to me
It's a kind of thing that
This is a common experience for many people
Catches up to you
Eventually, this fixation on the past can become overwhelming
I guess I just believe that
Personally, I hold onto these memories as a part of who I am
It's the thing to do
I believe that holding onto these memories is the only way to move forward
So here's a little feedback
Here is some advice I have for you
You gotta wear those shoes
You have to accept and embrace the memories of your past, no matter how painful they may be
No one said it would be easy
Moving on from the past is a difficult process
Sometimes it is hard to do
It can be challenging to let go of our past experiences and move forward
It isn't like the TV
The process of moving on is not always as easy as it is portrayed in popular media
You see the cold hard truth
Facing the reality of our past relationships can be difficult, but it is necessary for growth
And the things you see in movies
The idealized portrayals of moving on in movies are often unrealistic
Just don't come true
The movies often paint an unrealistic picture of the process of moving on from past relationships
I will live a half-life
I feel as though I will never be fully present in my current life while still holding onto memories of the past
It'll have to do
However, I have come to accept that this is the best I can do for now
Now you can have a love life
My fixation on the past should not prevent others from living their lives and experiencing love
You have loved me, too
Despite my struggles with moving on, there have been people in my life who have loved me
You can see me in the evening
I am still present in the world and capable of forming connections with others
When the weather's cool
Even in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances, there is still potential for warmth and connection
But here's a little feedback
Once again, here is some advice I have to offer
You gotta wear the shoes
You must accept and embrace the memories of your past relationships in order to move forward and find happiness in the present.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Patrick Sweany
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind