As a young musician wanting to make a name for himself, Sweet set off to Athens, Georgia in the mid '80s, to attend college and join the vibrant Athens music scene, most famous as the home base for R.E.M. and The B-52's. Sweet worked with R.E.M. leader Michael Stipe at this time, joining Stipe's sister in a band called Oh-OK and then forming another band, The Buzz of Delight. Before long he was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.
One album, Inside, was released by Columbia in 1986 to little success.
Sweet was then picked up by A&M Records where he released his second album, Earth (1989), again without commercial success. This period marked a personal and professional low point for Sweet, as A&M lost interest and his marriage failed.
Sweet quickly recovered, and put together a new band including Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine, Greg Leisz, Lloyd Cole, and Fred Maher. The new group spent 1990 putting together Sweet's next work, originally titled Nothing Lasts.
In 1990, A&M released Sweet from his contract, and he signed with rival Zoo Entertainment. The album, still under construction, was retitled Girlfriend and released in October 1991. This album featured a classic set of pop-rock songs, was considered by many to be an artistic breakthrough and quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales (spawning a top-10 single with the title track). The video for the title track was aired on MTV and MuchMusic and features Japanese animation (commonly known as "anime"), of which Sweet is a fan. The animated clips in the video for "Girlfriend" are taken from the movie Space Adventure Cobra, and the video for "I've Been Waiting" uses clips of the show Urusei Yatsura featuring the character Lum, of whom Sweet has a tattoo.
Sweet's follow-up album, 1993's Altered Beast, was borne out of an apparent determination not to become mainstream. A more diverse and less immediately accessible album than Girlfriend, the album divided fans and critics who had mixed reactions to emotionally intense and brooding tracks like "Someone to Pull the Trigger" and "Knowing People."
In 1995, Sweet released, 100% Fun, a darkly ironic title alluding to a quotation from Kurt Cobain's suicide note: "The worst crime I could think of would be to pull people off by faking it, pretending as if I'm having 100% fun." The album mixed bouncy pop style with darker lyrics, including a leadoff track, the self-deprecating "Sick of Myself". The track has frequently been covered live by fellow '90s power poppers The Posies.
Decidedly out of the musical mainstream, Sweet would issue a few more albums in the second half of the decade and maintain a devoted core of fans, but critical acclaim and chart success would be hard to come by.
Sweet's international success had been somewhat limited by his fear of flying; however he gained a significant following in Japan and his most recent album, Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu, was a Japan-only release in 2003.
In 2000, Sweet worked with the Canadian band Delerium, to release the song "Daylight" that appears in their album Poem.
In early 2002 he formed the supergroup The Thorns with Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge.
He released a new album of solo material, Living Things in late 2004, though the material on the album was recorded in 2002.
In April 2006 he partnered with Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs to release a collection of 1960's classics, titled Under The Covers. Featuring their take on such widely known '60s hits as "Monday, Monday," and "The Kids Are Alright", the album represented a return to the accessible and melodic approach associated with Sweet's early breakthroughs.
He is featured in the release in November of 2006 of the Activision and Red Octane Play Station 2 game, Guitar Hero 2. His hit song "Girlfriend" is featured on the hit game.
Dark Secret
Matthew Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of a heart that's filled with fear
And if the world won't understand you
You can make it disappear
'Cause there's a dark secret
Carry with you
Carry with you
On the outside, doesn't show
And oh, they think that they defy you
They are slaved to what you know
It's a dark secret
Carry with you
Carry with you
And it's a dark secret
Carry with you
Carry with you
And it's a dark secret
Carry with you
Carry with you
It's a dark secret
Carry with you
It's a dark secret
Carry with you
It's a dark secret
Carry with you (dark secret)
The lyrics of "Dark Secret" by Matthew Sweet depict the burden of carrying a hidden truth that one can never reveal to the world. The song highlights the pain and fear associated with living with a secret that is considered unacceptable or taboo by society. The opening lines allude to the sickening feeling of having a weak heart that is consumed with fear. The following lines suggest that if the world does not understand one's secret, it can be made to disappear. This line implies that the burden of carrying the secret can be so overwhelming that one wishes to escape it completely.
The chorus underscores the weight of the secret, which is referred to as a "dark secret." The lines "deep inside, the way you hate them, on the outside, doesn't show" suggest that the singer's secret involves a deep-seated hatred that he/she is forced to suppress. The last lines of the chorus repeatedly emphasize that the singer must carry the dark secret with him/her always, highlighting the inescapable nature of the burden.
Overall, "Dark Secret" is a powerful song that captures the painful experience of living with a hidden truth. The lyrics are open to interpretation and can be applied to a wide range of secrets that individuals may feel compelled to conceal. The haunting melody and vocals coupled with the introspective lyrics make for a captivating listen that is both beautiful and poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
You are sickened by the weakness
You feel disgusted by the vulnerability and fragility of others.
Of a heart that's filled with fear
You dislike people who exhibit fear and insecurity.
And if the world won't understand you
If society can't relate to you or comprehend your emotions,
You can make it disappear
you'd rather hide your true self than be misunderstood.
'Cause there's a dark secret
Because you have a shameful, hidden truth that you carry.
Carry with you
You carry this secret with you at all times.
And deep inside, the way you hate them
You have a deep hatred for the people around you that contradicts your external demeanor.
On the outside, doesn't show
But this hatred remains concealed from others.
And oh, they think that they defy you
Others believe they possess the upper hand over you.
They are slaved to what you know
But you hold power over them, since you possess the secret knowledge.
It's a dark secret
Your secret is not just hidden, but also morally or ethically dubious.
And it's a dark secret
This secret is unpleasant and has negative consequences for you and others.
It's a dark secret
This secret is unspeakable and would damage your reputation if revealed.
Carry with you
You keep your secret to protect yourself and your reputation.
It's a dark secret
Your secret is a weight that you carry with you at all times.
Carry with you (dark secret)
This dark secret is a constant presence in your life and influences your behavior.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW SWEET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind