Born on April 26, 1974 in Massillon, Ohio, a small town 20 miles south of Akron, Patrick Sweany turned professional in the late '90s. First, he became a fixture at regional blues festivals, then in 1999 he put out his debut I Wanna Tell You on Ayao Records. Sweany switched from acoustic to electric in 1991, assembling a band that notably featured Dan Auerbach, a guitarist who would later gain fame as the leader of the Black Keys. Over the next few years, he ground away on the blues circuit, releasing henryfordbedroom on Ayao in 2003.
In 2006, Sweany signed with Nine Mile, releasing the Dan Auerbach-produced album C'mon C'mere that year. Auerbach also produced 2008's Every Hour Is a Dollar Gone. Sweany relocated to Nashville 2009, releasing That Old Southern Drag in 2011.
By this point, Sweany's career started to gain momentum due to his appearances on streaming services. Close to the Floor appeared in 2013 and Daytime Turned to Nighttime arrived in 2015. Sweany expanded his sonic horizons on Ancient Noise, a 2018 album recorded at Sam Phillips Recording.
Your Man
Patrick Sweany Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish I had it in me it's hard to Understand
Something to hold on to instead of Graspin' at the strands
I wish that I could be your man
Now the hand the rocks the cradle baby Surely rules the home
Baby's never satisfied by being left Alone
We're better off without you though it Seems like it's a sin
Guess I'm getting' used to it
Supply don't meet demand
I wish that I could be your man
Now some stayed and some ran
Some made some big plans
Some hurt and some don't, some can And just won't
Hurts me it's no joke, some got their Hearts broke
Everybody needs somebody and I don't Like it at all
I wish that I could be your man
I wish I had it in me it's hard to Understand
Something to hold on to instead of Graspin' at the strands
I wish that I could be your man
I wanna see some kids ride bikes up And down the street
I want someone to kiss me man, when I'm in bed asleep
No one wants to wait around, well I'm Outracing sand
No one wants to see you when you
See 'em when you can
Guess I'm getting' used to it
Supply don't meet demand
I wish that I could be your man
Now some stayed and some ran
Some made some big plans
Some hurt and some don't, some can And just don't
Hurts me it's no joke, some got their Hearts broke
Everybody needs somebody and I don't Like it at all
I wish that I could be your man
I wish I had it in me it's hard to Understand
Something to hold on to instead of Graspin' at the strands
I wish that I could be your man
In Patrick Sweany's song "Your Man," he expresses his desire to be with someone, to be someone's man. He talks about how it's hard to understand why things don't seem to work out for him in relationships, and how it hurts him that everyone needs somebody, but he doesn't have anybody. He mentions how it's hard to hold on when there's nothing coming in, and that he's getting used to the idea that supply doesn't meet demand. He wishes that he could have something or someone to hold onto rather than grasping at the strands and feeling empty.
The song touches on the theme of loneliness, the idea that everyone needs someone to hold onto, but the reality that it's not always easy to find that person. Sweany talks about how some people stay and some people leave, how some make big plans and others don't, and how some people's hearts get broken while others are seemingly unfazed. He wishes that he had it in him to be someone's man and to have someone to hold onto.
Overall, "Your Man" is a poignant exploration of the pains of loneliness, the desire for love and companionship, and the struggle to find someone to hold onto in a world where demand often outweighs supply.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish that I could be your man
The singer wishes that he could be with the person he loves and have a committed relationship.
I wish I had it in me it's hard to Understand
The singer wants to be the kind of person who can commit to a relationship, but finds it difficult to do so.
Something to hold on to instead of Graspin' at the strands
The singer wants a relationship that is stable and reliable, rather than one that feels uncertain and precarious.
Now the hand the rocks the cradle baby Surely rules the home
The caregiver is the most important person in a household.
Baby's never satisfied by being left Alone
Children need attention and care from their caregivers in order to feel secure and happy.
We're better off without you though it Seems like it's a sin
Some people may be better off not being in a relationship, even though society may view being single as a negative thing.
Holdin' on is hard to do with nothin' Coming In
It's difficult to maintain a relationship when there isn't enough emotional or tangible support from the other person.
Guess I'm getting' used to it
The artist is becoming accustomed to being alone and not in a committed relationship.
Supply don't meet demand
There is a mismatch between what the artist wants in a relationship and what is available to him.
Now some stayed and some ran
Some people choose to stay in a relationship, while others choose to leave.
Some made some big plans
Some people have big goals and aspirations for their lives.
Some hurt and some don't, some can And just won't
Some people are capable of hurting others, while some are not. Some people are capable of committing to a relationship, while others are not.
Hurts me it's no joke, some got their Hearts broke
Heartbreak is a real and painful experience.
Everybody needs somebody and I don't Like it at all
The singer recognizes that everyone needs someone to love and be loved by, but feels that he is unable to find that connection.
I wanna see some kids ride bikes up And down the street
The singer desires a happy and wholesome domestic scene, such as children playing outside.
I want someone to kiss me man, when I'm in bed asleep
The artist wants to be with someone who cares for him and is affectionate towards him, even when he's not actively seeking attention.
No one wants to wait around, well I'm Outracing sand
The artist feels that he is always running out of time and that others don't want to wait for him to settle into a committed relationship.
No one wants to see you when you See 'em when you can
Others may only want to see the singer when it's convenient for them, rather than making a sustained effort to connect with him.
Contributed by Jackson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.