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.
Do It Again
Matthew Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I have to love you from afar
You'll do it again
Before we get too far
And I'll hurt you again
Baby if you'll hurt me one more time
'Cause love that's bad
You know breaking up is half of the fun
And who would want a dream
That can't be real
I'll do it again
I will let you take me for a ride
You'll do it again
Start opening then hide
And I'll hurt you again
Baby if you'll hurt me one more time
'Cause love that's bad
Is better than none
You know breaking up is half of the fun
And who would want a dream
That can't be real
I'll do it again
A love that's bad
Is better than none
You know breaking up is half of the fun
And who would want a dream
That can't be real
And I'll hurt you again
Baby if you'll hurt me one more time
'Cause love that's bad
Is better than none
You know breaking up is half of the fun
And who would want a dream
That can't be real
I'll do it again
I'll do it again
The lyrics to Matthew Sweet's song "Do it Again" captures the complexity of a toxic relationship. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, saying that if they have to love each other from a distance, they will. Matthew Sweet goes on to say that he is willing to do it again, to take the risk, to let the person back into his life, even if it means getting hurt once more. The chorus is notably bittersweet, saying that a bad love is better than none and that breaking up is part of the fun; it's a strange commentary on the nature of love and how we sometimes revel in our sufferings.
Matthew Sweet also notes the importance of dreaming, but being aware that sometimes what we want isn't real. The final verse of the song reiterates once more that he's willing to do it again, to accept the hurt, pain, and turmoil of a toxic relationship, as long as the person is willing to hurt him in return. The song's overall message is that even the most destructive of loves can be alluring and leaves us wanting more, no matter the cost.
Overall, Matthew Sweet's "Do it Again" is a powerful ballad that acknowledges the darker facets of love. The song is a poignant reflection on the complexity of the human experience, the deeply ingrained desire for companionship and attachment, even if it's unhealthy, and the hardships we'll bear in the pursuit of it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll do it again
I am willing to repeat the same mistake by loving you from a distance.
If I have to love you from afar
I will love you even though we can't be close to each other.
You'll do it again
You will repeat your pattern of starting to open up and then hiding again.
Before we get too far
Before we become too involved in a relationship that may not work.
And I'll hurt you again
I will cause you pain and heartache once again.
Baby if you'll hurt me one more time
If you will hurt me again, I will hurt you again in return.
'Cause love that's bad
Being in a dysfunctional or difficult relationship is better than being alone and not being in love at all.
Is better than none
It's better to have bad love than no love at all.
You know breaking up is half of the fun
Although painful, the excitement and thrill of a breakup is enjoyable in some way.
And who would want a dream
No one wants to have a dream that is impossible to achieve or is unrealistic.
That can't be real
A dream that cannot be realized or achieved in reality.
I will let you take me for a ride
I am willing to put myself in a situation where I may be manipulated or used by you.
Start opening then hide
You will show signs of being vulnerable and opening up, but then retreat or become emotionally distant.
A love that's bad
Being in an unhealthy or toxic relationship is better than being alone and not experiencing love.
And I'll hurt you again
I will cause you pain and heartache once again.
Baby if you'll hurt me one more time
If you will hurt me again, I will hurt you again in return.
I'll do it again
I am willing to repeat the same mistake of being in a dysfunctional relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW SWEET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind