"The Sweet Escape", which features elements of doo-wop, New Wave, and ska music, is an apology for a fight between two lovers and describes a dream of a pleasant life for them. As the album's title track, its title was chosen to help market Stefani's music and fashion lines.
Although it was released as the second single from Stefani's second solo album in 2007, it had been sent to U.S. radio in December 2006. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #93 in December 2006, and it peaked at #2 in April 2007 behind Akon's subsequent single "Don't Matter". The song spent 15 consecutive weeks in the top ten and remained on the chart for over nine months, listed at #3 on the year-end chart.
The song was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2008 Grammy Awards but lost to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)".
The Sweet Escape
Gwen Stefani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woo hoo, yee hoo
Woo hoo, yee hoo
Woo hoo, yee hoo
If I could escape
I would, but first of all let me say
I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way
It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator
Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold
If I could escape (escape)
And recreate a place as my own world (own world)
And I could be your favorite girl
Forever, perfectly together
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape)
If I could be sweet (be sweet)
I know I've been a real bad girl (bad girl, I try, I try)
I didn't mean for you to get hurt
(Whatsoever) we can make it better
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet?
(Sweet escape, sweet escape)
Woo hoo, (I wanna get away) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (to our sweet escape) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (I wanna get away) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (yeah) yee hoo
You held me down
I'm at my lowest boiling point
Come help me out
I need to get me out of this joint
Come on, let's bounce
Counting on you to turn me around
Instead of clowning around, let's look for some common ground
So, baby, times getting a little crazy
I've been getting a little lazy
Wait on you to come save me
I can see that you're angry
By the way the you treat me
Hopefully you don't leave me
Want to take you with me
If I could escape (escape)
And recreate a place as my own world (own world)
And I could be your favorite girl
Forever, perfectly together
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape)
If I could be sweet (be sweet)
I know I've been a real bad girl (bad girl, I try, I try)
I didn't mean for you to get hurt
(Whatsoever) we can make it better
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet?
(Sweet escape, sweet escape)
Woo hoo, yee hoo
Woo hoo, (if I could escape) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (if I could escape) yee hoo
Woo hoo, yee hoo
'Cause I've been acting like sour milk all on the floor
It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator
Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold
If I could escape (escape)
And recreate a place as my own world (own world)
And I could be your favorite girl
Forever, perfectly together
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape)
If I could be sweet (be sweet)
I know I've been a real bad girl (bad girl, I try, I try)
I didn't mean for you to get hurt
(Whatsoever) we can make it better
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet?
(Sweet escape, sweet escape)
Woo hoo, (I wanna get away) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (to our sweet escape) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (I wanna get away) yee hoo
Woo hoo, (yeah) yee hoo
Woo hoo, yee hoo
Woo hoo, yee hoo
Woo hoo, yee hoo
The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani is a song about wanting to escape from the problems in the relationship and imagining a perfect world with her partner. The song starts with a chorus of "Woo hoo, yee hoo" and then she apologizes for her behavior, and agrees that she has been acting like sour milk all over the floor. She blames her cold behavior on her partner's negligence in shutting the refrigerator, which has caused her to feel distant and disconnected from him. She wishes to escape this reality and create a place of her own where she and her partner can be perfectly together.
Gwen Stefani sings about how she wants to be sweet and tries to make amends for her mistakes, hoping that her partner can help her out of the relationship rut. She wants to escape the problems and recreate a place of her own where everything is sweet and perfect. She asks her partner to understand her situation and suggests that they can make things better by finding common ground. The song implies that Gwen Stefani is aware of her past mistakes and committed to improving the relationship with her partner by escaping the issues together and starting anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo hoo, yee hoo
Expressing excitement and anticipation.
If I could escape
Expressing a desire to leave a current situation.
I would, but first of all let me say
Acknowledging a need to address past actions before leaving.
I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way
Apologizing for past behavior that has been harmful or unpleasant.
'Cause I've been acting like sour milk all on the floor
Describing one's behavior as distasteful or undesirable.
It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator
Blaming others for one's own negative behavior.
Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold
Connecting past behavior to a potential cause or reason.
And recreate a place as my own world (own world)
Desiring a fresh start in a new environment.
And I could be your favorite girl
Expressing a desire to be loved and valued by someone.
Forever, perfectly together
Longing for a lasting and harmonious relationship.
And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet?
Questioning whether a positive change would be well-received by a significant other.
I know I've been a real bad girl (bad girl, I try, I try)
Admitting past mistakes and expressing a desire to improve.
I didn't mean for you to get hurt
Expressing regret for causing harm to someone else.
(Whatsoever) we can make it better
Remaining hopeful that there is a path forward to improve a situation.
You held me down
Describing a feeling of being trapped or constrained in a current situation.
I'm at my lowest boiling point
Feeling frustrated and overwhelmed with one's current circumstances.
Come help me out
Reaching out for support and assistance.
I need to get me out of this joint
Expressing a strong desire to leave a current environment.
Come on, let's bounce
Encouraging someone to leave with them and move on to a new situation.
Instead of clowning around, let's look for some common ground
Suggesting a way to work together to find a solution or compromise.
Baby, times getting a little crazy
Acknowledging that things have become difficult or stressful.
I've been getting a little lazy
Admitting to not putting in enough effort to address the current situation.
Wait on you to come save me
Placing responsibility on someone else to rescue them from a difficult situation.
I can see that you're angry
Recognizing that someone is upset or frustrated.
Hopefully you don't leave me
Expressing a fear of being abandoned or left behind.
Want to take you with me
Expressing a desire to include someone in a new and better situation.
(if I could escape)
Repeating the desire to leave a current situation.
Woo hoo, (I wanna get away) yee hoo
Repeating the excitement of potentially leaving a current environment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Aliaune Thiam, Gwen Stefani, Giorgio Tuinfort
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hattybee9136
no one:
7 yr old me: deep breath youvebeenactinglikesourmilkfellontheflooritsyourfaultyoudidntshuttherefridgoratormaybethatsthereasonivebeenactingsocold
@PepperDoom
also 27 yr old me: deep breath youvebeenactinglikesourmilkfellontheflooritsyourfaultyoudidntshuttherefridgoratormaybethatsthereasonivebeenactingsocold
@pablindiesel
33 yr old me: causwkdkfjdiwjfjdksbfididbckfiejfisifjcididbcisifjdowkcocold
@honeys.9579
🎶😆🤣
@sensualcreationistofinfini8082
You've been acting cold cuz you didn't shut the fridge. It's okay. We can rewire your fridge, turn it into a heater, then you'll emanate warmth again. ☺
@raynam7229
looooooooool
@n1knak
Gwen Stefani: Akon can you sing a verse for me
Akon: Woooohoooo Yeeeehooooo
@TheJohnharrell
Bahaha!
@WilliamBerube
I want to get awayyyyyyy
@jaxbriggs3887
To our sweet escape