It was originally written to appear on the album Clarity. The band played the song live many times during the Clarity tour, and a demo recording of it was included on the 2009 re-issue of Clarity.
The song is available as a downloadable song for the music video game series Rock Band as part of a Jimmy Eat World three-song pack, along with "Lucky Denver Mint" and "Futures".
The Sweetness
Jimmy Eat World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
String from your tether unwinds (string from your tether unwinds)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
Up and outward to bind (up and outward to bind)
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Are you listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
So tell me what do I need (tell me what do I need)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
When words lose their meaning (when words lose their meaning)
Whoa oh
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Yeah, stumble 'til you crawl
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Sinking into sweet uncertainty
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh (ah ahh ahh ahh ahh)
(Are you listening)
(Are you listening)
If you're listening
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
If you're listening (are you listening)
Sing it back
Whoa oh oh oh oh
If you're listening (are you listening)
And I'm still running away (I'm still running away)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
I won't play your hide and seek game (your hide and seek game)
Whoa oh (whoa oh)
Whoa oh
I was spinning free
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
What a dizzy dance
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh
This sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
The song "The Sweetness" by Jimmy Eat World appears to be a reflection on the singer's struggle to find personal identity and meaning in a world that seems to have lost its way. The opening lines appear to be addressed to an audience, asking them if they are listening, before calling on them to "sing it back". The second verse talks about the difficulty of finding personal meaning when "words lose their meaning" and there is a sense of uncertainty and confusion.
The chorus appears to be a declaration of independence, with the singer rejecting any attempts to control him or play games with him. He declares that he is "still running away" and will not "play your hide and seek game". The final verse brings everything to a close by acknowledging the "dizzy dance" of life and the fact that sometimes, there is no clear meaning or purpose. The sweetness of life will not be concerned with him, but he will continue to spin free.
Overall, "The Sweetness" is a poignant reflection on the human condition, capturing the sense of disillusionment and confusion that many people feel in the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you're listening
Asking if the audience is paying attention
Sing it back
Encouraging the audience to repeat and participate
String from your tether unwinds (String from your tether unwinds)
Sounds like the strings of a guitar being played, repeating the metaphor of unraveling or letting go of something holding you back
Up and outward to bind (Up and outward to bind)
Sounds like guitar chords being played, repeating the metaphor of letting go to bring something new together, almost like weaving something new
I was spinning free
Feeling unbound and unrestrained, good feeling
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Feeling happy and carefree, enjoying the moment without worrying about anything
Tell me what do I need (Tell me what do I need)
Asking what one should want or require
When words lose their meaning (When words lose their meaning)
When words stop making sense or communicating anything significant
Yeah, stumble 'till you crawl
Keep going, even if one has to crawl onwards
Sinking into sweet uncertainty
Feeling lost but the sensation almost feels good or enjoyable somehow
This sweetness will not be concerned with me (whoa oh oh oh oh oh)
The feeling of being happy and carefree is not something that will always be present, nor is it something one can control
I'm still running away (I'm still running away)
Running away from one's problems and escaping reality
I won't play your hide and seek game (Your hide and seek game)
Refusing to play someone else's game, ie not wanting to conform
What a dizzy dance
A metaphor for feeling like one is out of control or spinning around
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Christopher Adkins, Richard E Burch, Thomas Darrell Linton, Zachary Michel Lind
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fmparker4723
If you're listening (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Sing it back (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
String from your tether unwinds
(String from your tether unwinds)
(Whoa oh, woah oh)
Up and outward to bind
(Up and outward to bind)
(Whoa oh, whoa oh)
I was spinning free (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
Are you listening? (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Sing it back (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
So tell me what do I need?
(Tell me what do I need?)
(Whoa oh, whoa oh)
When words lose their meaning
(When words lose their meaning)
(Whoa oh, whoa oh)
I was spinning free (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
With a little sweet and simple numbing me, yeah
Stumble 'til you crawl (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Sinking into sweet uncertainty
If you're listening (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
(If you're listening, are you listening?)
Sing it back (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
(If you're listening, are you listening?)
And I'm still running away
(I'm still running away)
Whoa oh (Whoa oh)
Whoa oh (Whoa oh)
I won't play your hide and seek game
(Your hide and seek game)
Whoa oh (Whoa oh)
Whoa oh
I was spinning free (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
With a little sweet and simple numbing me
What a dizzy dance (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
This sweetness will not be concerned with me
No, the sweetness will not be concerned with me
No, the sweetness will not be concerned with me
Alguien de América Latina?
@ITalk69
This was one of my old ringtones!
@TCP303
I Havnt watched your videos in so longgg omg
@justin-ht9gy
How would you know? No one ever called you.
@Animationtronic
Fancy seeing you here nick
@katiestait8138
Same back in the old school days!! And and hey sandy from the adventures of Pete and Pete 😂 🤘✌️
@APEX4EVER
surprised to see you here
@balzenhazelnut
This was my little brothers favorite song off of NHL 2003, and now I'll wear his ashes around my neck as I see Jimmy Eat World in concert to play this live.
@RRyxn
thats where i know this song from, what a great way to honor your brother
@AmyJuneful
All my love to you. What a wonderful way to honor his memory.
@seanorange5633
That hit me straight in the feels............I'm gonna have to restart this song