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.
You Don't Love Me
Matthew Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The truth comes out at last
Once your heart would own me forever
Then this passed
And what a beautiful moment
As my heard comes apart
Drunk and in a manner of saying, wasted
You don't love me
You can't see how I matter in this world
Even though I loved you
You can't believe that
If you find something
You think might make you happy
Then I guess it's okay, I think it's okay
If you go away
Blown right out of my senses
I did not know what to do
Lost and badly wanting someone
To see me through
That's why I needed you
But you don't love me, you don't love me
You can't see how I matter in this world
Even though I loved you
You can't believe that
You think that leaving
Is what will make you happy
Then I guess it's okay, I think it's okay
If you go away
'Cause you don't love me
You don't love me
You can't see how I matter in this world
Even though I loved you
You can't believe that
You think that leaving
Is what will make you happy
Then I guess it's okay, I think it's okay
If you go away
'Cause you don't love me
You don't love me...
Matthew Sweet's song "You Don't Love Me" speaks to the heartbreak of unrequited love. The opening lines capture a moment of clarity and realization: "What a beautiful moment / The truth comes out at last." The singer's heart used to belong to the person they loved, but something has changed. The next lines, "Once your heart would own me forever / Then this passed," suggest that the relationship wasn't always one-sided, but now it is.
As the singer comes to terms with the fact that their love is unreturned, they are left feeling shattered and vulnerable, "Drunk and in a manner of saying, wasted." The repetition of the refrain, "You don't love me," emphasizes the painful truth that the singer must face. Despite the depth of their feelings, the other person cannot see how much they matter in the world.
The final lines of the song acknowledge the difficulty of letting go: "If you find something / You think might make you happy / Then I guess it's okay, I think it's okay / If you go away." The singer understands that the other person has to do what's right for them, even if it means leaving. At the same time, the repetition of "You don't love me" underscores the fact that this is not what the singer wants.
Overall, "You Don't Love Me" is a poignant portrayal of the pain of unrequited love. The song explores the complexity of emotions that come with realizing that someone you love doesn't feel the same way. The repetition of the refrain throughout the song drives home the message that the singer's heart is broken and that they can't make the other person love them.
Line by Line Meaning
What a beautiful moment
The moment when the truth is finally revealed is beautiful.
The truth comes out at last
Finally, the truth is out in the open.
Once your heart would own me forever
At one time, you felt like you would love me forever.
Then this passed
But those feelings have faded over time.
And what a beautiful moment
Ironically, despite the sadness, the truth was still beautiful when revealed.
As my heart comes apart
However, the truth has caused me great pain and heartbreak.
Drunk and in a manner of saying, wasted
I feel intoxicated and like a waste because of the hurt you have caused me.
'Cause you don't love me
The reason for my pain is that you don't love me anymore.
You can't see how I matter in this world
It's hard for you to understand just how important I am to this world.
Even though I loved you
Despite my love for you.
You can't believe that
You refuse to believe that I am important.
If you find something
If you discover something or someone else.
You think might make you happy
Something that you believe will bring you happiness.
Then I guess it's okay, I think it's okay
You feel that it's okay to leave me behind for this happiness.
If you go away
Leaving me behind is what you must do for your own happiness.
Blown right out of my senses
You've hurt me so much that I feel like I've lost my grip on reality.
I did not know what to do
You've left me so lost and confused.
Lost and badly wanting someone
I feel lost and in need of someone to help me through this pain.
To see me through
Someone to be there and help me get through this difficult time.
'Cause you don't love me, you don't love me
Once again, the truth of your lack of love is emphasized.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW SWEET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
livertic
Girlfriend album blew me away, very melodic ,brilliant. Play nearly all on guitar now. 50 Year old dude from Melbourne OZ. ROCK ON !
Tim Wireman
Matthew Sweet is one of the most underrated musicians!
S0nikU4ik Blis
loved loved loved loved this song! he is the golden boy of tru artistic/power pop rock and he was one of those artists that the average listener couldn't understand.. think it's awesome that he's stayed somewhat underground for most of his career... Girlfriend and 100% Fun was his real mainstream-y-esque era... but we won't hold that against him :- )
Makati Mazz
Very underrated songwriter! I have a cover version of Winona on my YouTube channel. Thank you Matthew for all the great songs.
Foo3112
I remember him coming to my town back during the 100% fun tour and i wanted to go but I didnt for whatever reason. I really wish I did go to that and see him during that era. This guys awesome
SuprousOxide
Remember really feeling this song, at another stage of my life. Beautiful and sad
Castor Denston
You guys race the vocals a little in the beginning, but you fall into the groove and sound wonderful. I'm no troll, and I ain't got nothin' out there like you do. Great. I'll look for you guys.
thinwhiteduke11
Wow Matthew Sweet's changed - would never have recognised him. Still a most beautiul song though.
Lord West
Pretty state of the art
Matt_Dylan
awesome John Deere hat ,I wish Matthew Sweet was my friend.fell in love with his music over 30 years when i first purchased Inside on cassette at a little shop in Raleigh in 1987