Longpigs, from Sheffield, were one of the more memorable bands who rose to … Read Full Bio ↴Longpigs, from Sheffield, were one of the more memorable bands who rose to fame on the fringe of Britpop in the 1990s, comprising Crispin Hunt (vocals), Richard Hawley (guitar), Simon Stafford (bass) and former Cabaret Voltaire member Dee Boyle (drums). The band name refers to the literal translation of the word for 'human' or 'person' from cannibal tribal language.

The group initially signed with Elektra Records in 1993. However, just before they released their first single, two tragedies struck the band. Lead singer Hunt was seriously injured in a car accident resulting in his being in a coma for three days. Shortly after, the UK arm of the record label closed its doors leaving the Longpigs' future in doubt. Elektra set a price of £500,000 to release them from their contract.

The Longpigs contract was purchased by U2's new record label, Mother Records. The band had a series of fortunate gigs, including opening for Echobelly, Supergrass and finally Radiohead in early 1995. Their first singles, Happy Again, She Said and Jesus Christ did little in the charts. The band played the 1995 Reading Festival and subsequently, new track All Hype was featured on the compilation CD Volume 14: Reading '95 Special.

Their next single, the poppy Far, managed to hit the UK Top 40. In March 1996, this was followed by the ballad On & On which received considerable radio play and hit the UK Top 20. The song had a guitar riff remarkably similar to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. In April 1996 the band released their debut album The Sun Is Often Out, which was declared one of 1996's 50 best albums by both Q Magazine and Melody Maker. On the heels of their newfound success, the band then repackaged and re-released She Said which hit the UK top 30 in June 1996.

The band waited more than two years to release their next material, an eternity in the Britpop world. Their second album, Mobile Home, was released in 1999, with singles including Blue Skies and The Frank Sonata. Despite briefly reaching the UK top 20, the album failed to achieve any notable success. Dee Boyle left the band, and shortly after Mother Records folded in 2000, the rest of the band split up. Guitarist Richard Hawley went on to tour with Pulp.

In late 2004, Hunt lent his voice to the self-titled album by pop/electronic supergroup Mayonnaise on the Lunaticworks/BMG label. Richard Hawley has a flourishing solo career and has also worked with Jarvis Cocker in the electro group Relaxed Muscle. Hunt has since been seen recording with a new band, Gramercy with the help of Dylan Rippon (producer of albums by Emma Townsend) and Nigel Hoyle, once of Britpop-rockers Gay Dad.

Sweetness
Longpigs Lyrics

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Sweetness
I want you near this
Sweetness
With all that healing
You take these spiders lifely
Your short stem to happy families

One of us should tear it up

And one of use should cut the cord
Bouldered in this fat collapsed
And rushed upon the street is way out

Sweetness your hair is silver
The best place I've ever been in
Take these as long as a sentence
With you these fictions whispers
One of us is good enough to
Bowl and fin and cut the cord
Spit it out that shiny mouth
And rush upon the street
Is a way out

Used to last for a thousand years
Flushed with tears, millionaires
Should've been seen as a monument
But it was not meant
Was hell bent

Sweetness
Was I too local
You and your care for travel,
I leave, the disco's slow now
Sudden with teardrops shining

One of us should tear it up
One of use should cut the cord
Bouldered in this fat collapsed
And rushed upon the street is a way out

Used to last for a thousand years
Like these tears, millionaires
Should've been seen as a monument

But it was not meant
Was hell bent

Overall Meaning

The song "Sweetness" by Longpigs is a melancholic and introspective piece that talks about the beauty of the world and its fleeting nature. The lyrics use metaphors that are open to interpretation, but primarily convey a sense of longing and wistfulness. The line "sweetness, I want you near this" suggests a desire for comfort and companionship, while "with all that healing, you take these spiders lifely" implies that the singer is haunted by dark and troubling thoughts that they want to escape from.

The theme of wanting to escape is reinforced in lines like "one of us should tear it up, and one of us should cut the cord" and "and rushed upon the street is way out". The song suggests that the world is transient and fleeting, and that it's difficult to hold on to moments of sweetness and happiness. The line "used to last for a thousand years, like these tears, millionaires" is particularly poignant, suggesting that although fleeting, moments of happiness can be more precious than anything money can buy.

Line by Line Meaning

Sweetness
Addressing someone by a term of endearment

I want you near this
Expressing a desire for closeness and intimacy

Sweetness
Addressing someone by a term of endearment

With all that healing
Referring to the positive impact the person has on the artist

You take these spiders lifely
Metaphorically representing problems and difficulties as spiders that the person helps the artist deal with

Your short stem to happy families
Describing the person as a source of stability and happiness

One of us should tear it up
Suggesting that action needs to be taken to make a change

And one of us should cut the cord
Suggesting that a connection needs to be severed

Bouldered in this fat collapsed
Feeling overwhelmed and weighed down by difficulties

And rushed upon the street is way out
Expressing a desire to escape and find a new path forward

Sweetness your hair is silver
Complimenting the person's appearance

The best place I've ever been in
Describing how the person makes the artist feel

Take these as long as a sentence
Asking the person to accept something difficult or challenging

With you these fictions whispers
Suggesting that the person makes the singer feel safe and able to reveal secrets

One of us is good enough to
Implying that one of the people in the relationship is better equipped to handle certain things

Bowl and fin and cut the cord
Referring to making decisive actions and changes

Spit it out that shiny mouth
Urging someone to speak honestly and truthfully

And rush upon the street
Again expressing a desire to escape and move forward

Is a way out
Indicating that change is necessary for growth and improvement

Used to last for a thousand years
Reflecting on the past and how things used to be different

Flushed with tears, millionaires
Using figurative language to describe the intensity of the emotions associated with past experiences

Should've been seen as a monument
Reflecting on how the past should have been valued and viewed as significant

But it was not meant
Acknowledging that things did not turn out as hoped

Was hell bent
Conveying a sense of unwavering determination and defiance, despite obstacles

Was I too local
Expressing concern that the singer is not worldly or sophisticated enough for the person

You and your care for travel
Noting the other person's interest in seeing and experiencing new things

I leave, the disco's slow now
Leaving a situation that has lost its excitement or appeal

Sudden with teardrops shining
Suddenly becoming emotional or upset, shedding tears

Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLLIN W. YORK, LYNFORD MARSHALL, JEPHTER WASHINGTON MCCLYMONT, CLIVE MAURICE HUNT, R. JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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