Like A Tattoo
Sade Lyrics


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He told me sweet lies of sweet loves
Heavy with the burden of the truth
And he spoke of his dreams
Broken by the burden
Broken by the burden of his youth

"Fourteen years," he said
"I couldn't look into the sun
She saw him laying at the end of my gun"
Hungry for life
And thirsty for the distant river

I remember his hands
And the way the mountains looked
The light shot diamonds from his eyes
Hungry for life
And thirsty for the distant river

Like the scar of age
Written all over my face
The war is still raging inside of me
I still feel the chill
As I reveal my shame to you

I wear it like a tattoo




I wear it like a tattoo
I wear it like a tattoo

Overall Meaning

The song Like A Tattoo by Sade is a melancholic ballad that tells a story of a love that has left an indelible mark on the singer. In the first verse, the singer talks about how her lover told her sweet lies of love that were heavy with the burden of truth. It appears that the lover spoke of his broken dreams and how they were shattered by the burden of his youth. The second verse talks about a young man who dies at the end of the singer's gun. The man was hungry for life and thirsty for the distant river, which seems to be a metaphor for an unattainable dream. The singer remembers the man's hands and the way the mountains looked. The light shot diamonds from his eyes, which could be interpreted as a sign of his joie de vivre.


The refrain of the song talks about how the war is still raging inside the singer. She wears the scar of age on her face, and it is like a tattoo that she cannot remove. She still feels the chill as she reveals her shame to the listener. The song seems to be a meditation on love, loss, and regret. The singer has been wounded by love, and her scars are permanent. The song's mood is somber, and the melody is haunting, which conveys a sense of melancholy and longing.


Line by Line Meaning

He told me sweet lies of sweet loves
He spoke false words of love and affection


Heavy with the burden of the truth
He struggled with the reality of his emotions


And he spoke of his dreams
He shared his aspirations for the future


Broken by the burden
Heavy responsibilities had crushed his spirit


Broken by the burden of his youth
The difficulties of his youth had marked and impacted him


Fourteen years, he said
He confided in me about his past experiences


I couldn't look into the sun
He couldn't face the brightness of life


She saw him laying at the end of my gun
She witnessed him facing death due to his actions


Hungry for life
He craved the fullness and richness of existence


And thirsty for the distant river
He desired something unattainable and far away


I remember his hands
I recall his touch and presence


And the way the mountains looked
I recollect the beauty of nature that surrounded us


The light shot diamonds from his eyes
His eyes sparkled with radiance and hope


Like the scar of age
Similar to a mark of time and experience


Written all over my face
Evident in my facial expression and demeanor


The war is still raging inside of me
Internal struggles continue to consume me


I still feel the chill
I'm still affected by the coldness of past events


As I reveal my shame to you
As I confess my regrets and flaws to you


I wear it like a tattoo
It's a permanent part of me, like a tattoo


I wear it like a tattoo
It's something that will never fade or disappear


I wear it like a tattoo
It's ingrained in my identity




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hale, Helen Adu, Stuart Matthewman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@reneep810

He told me sweet lies of sweet loves
Heavy with the burden of the truth
And he spoke of his dreams
Broken by the burden
Broken by the burden of his youth

"Fourteen years," he said
"I couldn't look into the sun
She saw him laying at the end of my gun"
Hungry for life
And thirsty for the distant river
I remember his hands
And the way the mountains looked
The light shot diamonds from his eyes
Hungry for life
And thirsty for the distant river

Like the scar of age
Written all over my face
The war is still raging inside of me
I still feel the chill
As I reveal my shame to you
I wear it like a tattoo
I wear it like a tattoo
I wear it like a tattoo



All comments from YouTube:

@chokewholeddotcom

This is not a song. It is an experience.

@jackygreen5630

You are absolutely right

@joaogachet6847

its sade.

@keisergimenez3327

FR

@inggyidontknow8429

mhm🙏

@user-rv8xf6ro1e

real

25 More Replies...

@senyah777

"I remember his hands and the way the mountains look." GETS ME EVERYTIME.

@amaliernning4110

Speak it!!😍😍😍

@christinadavis6216

Same, bro, it's gets me everytime

@sajahnaforeman5796

WORD! And " The light shot diamonds from his eyes.
Hungry for life And thirsty for the distant river"❤️🔥🥺

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