After graduating from UCLA in 2002, Bareilles performed at local bars and clubs. She issued two demos of mostly live tracks in 2003: The First One in April and The Summer Sessions in October.
In January 2004, Bareilles released her first studio album, Careful Confessions. She signed a contract with Epic Records' A&R executive Pete Giberga on April 15, 2005. The remainder of the year and early 2006 was spent writing and reworking songs for her upcoming album.
Her debut major-label album Little Voice came out on July 17, 2007.
Sweet as Whole
Sara Bareilles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got this sugary me stuffed up in my sleeve
And I talk of ponies and rainbows and things
And I'm just who you want me to be
But like most creatures down here on the ground
I'm composed of the elements moving around
And I grow and change and I shift and I switch
And it turns out I'm actually kind of a b****
By some piece of s*** a**hole we all sadly know
And I sit and I write while reminding you all
That mean songs are still better than going postal
And that guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b****
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
Oh a**hole
A**hole
A**hole
I see I've surprised you with some of my words
And I know that surprises, while fun, still can hurt
And I hate to think that I ruined the day
Of the dick and the queen of the high horse parade
But I'm sick and tired of your poisonous ways
Your toxin wasting perfectly good space
And I say what I think
'Cause it's more economic than drugs or a drink
That guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b****
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
And I won't let him in
Under my skin
You're a sad sack of s***
That's pathetic
Just a festering sore
Who will never be more than that
If I don't let it
And that guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b****
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
That guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b****
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
The lyrics of Sara Bareilles's song "Sweet as Whole" speak to the duality of human nature. There is a side of us that can be sweet and kind, but there is also a darker side that is quick to anger and can feel justified in lashing out at those who have wronged us. The song acknowledges this complexity, celebrating the ability to express anger and frustration through music rather than more destructive means.
The first verse presents the sweet side of the singer, the one who talks of ponies and rainbows, but also notes that this is not the whole story. The second verse is where the anger comes through, as the singer lets loose on someone who has provoked them. The chorus then repeats the idea that there will always be people who are assholes and bitches and that sometimes it is necessary to call them out on this fact.
The bridge then pivots away from this topic somewhat, as the singer turns to address the person who has made them feel angry. They refuse to let this person get under their skin, acknowledging that they are not worth the emotional energy that anger can bring.
Overall, "Sweet as Whole" is a song about the complexity of human emotions and the need to express our anger in healthy ways. It acknowledges that sometimes people will be mean and that we will be provoked, but also celebrates the power of music to help us process those emotions rather than letting them consume us.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I can be perfectly sweet
Occasionally I can appear to be kind and nice
Got this sugary me stuffed up in my sleeve
I tend to hide my true feelings behind a façade of sweetness
And I talk of ponies and rainbows and things
I engage in conversation about happy and positive topics to keep up appearances
And I'm just who you want me to be
I am willing to become whoever you expect me to be
But like most creatures down here on the ground
Similar to most people on Earth
I'm composed of the elements moving around
I am made up of various factors that are constantly in flux
And I grow and change and I shift and I switch
I evolve and transform as I progress through life
And it turns out I'm actually kind of a b****
I can be unpleasant, cynical, or difficult to deal with when provoked
But that only happens when I get provoked
My negative behavior is usually only triggered by someone or something irritating
By some piece of s*** a**hole we all sadly know
Someone who is widely recognized as an undesirable or aggravating person
And I sit and I write while reminding you all
I take time to reflect and express myself to an audience
That mean songs are still better than going postal
Composing music is a healthier way to cope with frustration than committing acts of aggression
That guy's an a**hole
That male is someone who is irritating or unkind
That girl's a b****
That female is someone who is unpleasant or difficult to deal with
Baby it's natural
It is normal and common
No gettin' away from it
It cannot be avoided or ignored
So sing it out with me
Let us all vocalize and express our negative feelings
And then let it go
Once we have acknowledged our emotions, we should release them
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
I am dismissing and rejecting someone who is acting unpleasantly
I see I've surprised you with some of my words
I have likely shocked or startled you through my speech
And I know that surprises, while fun, still can hurt
Despite being entertaining, surprises can also cause pain or discomfort
And I hate to think that I ruined the day
I do not want to imagine that I have made someone's day worse
Of the dick and the queen of the high horse parade
Of the people who act arrogantly or rudely towards others
But I'm sick and tired of your poisonous ways
I am exhausted by your harmful or detrimental behavior
Your toxin wasting perfectly good space
Your negative attitude is taking up valuable emotional energy that could be better spent elsewhere
And I say what I think
I express my honest thoughts and opinions
'Cause it's more economic than drugs or a drink
Speaking my mind is a more efficient way of dealing with negative emotions than self-destructive behaviors
And I won't let him in
I refuse to allow someone who is unkind or irritating to affect me
Under my skin
I do not want their negativity to become a part of my emotional state
You're a sad sack of s***
You are pathetic or pitiful
That's pathetic
Your behavior is shameful or pitiable
Just a festering sore
You are someone who is a source of constant irritation or frustration
Who will never be more than that
You cannot rise above your current negative behavior and mindset
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SARA BAREILLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jess SHOW
Sometimes I can be perfectly sweet
Got this sugary me stuffed in my sleeve
And I talk of ponies and rainbows and things
And I'm just who you want me to be
But like most creatures down here on the ground
I'm composed of the elements moving around
And I grow and change and I shift and I switch
And it turns out I'm actually kind of a bitch
But that only happens when I get provoked
By some piece of shit asshole we all sadly know
And I sit and I write while reminding you all
That mean songs are still better than going postal
And that guy's an asshole
That girl's a bitch
Baby, it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
Fuck that guy, he's just an asshole
Oh, asshole, asshole, asshole
I see I've surprised you with some of my words
And I know that surprises, while fun, still can hurt
And I hate to think that I ruined the day
Of the dick and the queen of the high horse parade
But I'm sick and tired of your poisonous ways
Your toxin wasting perfectly good space
And I say what I think
'Cause it's more economic than drugs or a drink
That guy's an asshole
That girl's a bitch
Baby, it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
Fuck that guy, he's just an asshole
And I won't let him in
Under my skin
You're a sad sack of shit
That's pathetic
Just a festering sore
Who will never be more than that
If I don't let it
And that guy's an asshole
That girl's a bitch
Baby, it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
Fuck that guy, he's just an asshole
That guy's an asshole
That girl's a bitch
Baby, it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
Fuck that guy, he's just an asshole
logicandcrazy
Sometimes I can be perfectly sweet
Got this sugary me stuffed up in my sleeve
And I talk of ponies and rainbows and things
And I'm just who you want me to be
But like most creatures down here on the ground
I'm composed of the elements moving around
And I grow and change and I shift and I switch
And it turns out I'm actually kind of a b**
But that only happens when I get provoked
By some piece of s*** a**hole we all sadly know
And I sit and I write while reminding you all
That mean songs are still better than going postalAnd that guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
Oh a**hole
A**hole
A**holeI see I've surprised you with some of my words
And I… I see I've surprised you with some of my words
And I know that surprises, while fun, still can hurt
And I hate to think that I ruined the day
Of the dick and the queen of the high horse parade
But I'm sick and tired of your poisonous ways
Your toxin wasting perfectly good space
And I say what I think
'Cause it's more economic than drugs or a drinkThat guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**holeAnd I won't let him in
Under my skin
You're a sad sack of s***
That's pathetic
Just a festering sore
Who will never be more than that
If I don't let itAnd that guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**holeThat guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
Meg Mc
"Sometimes I can be perfectly sweet
Got this sugary me stuffed up in my sleeve
And I talk of ponies and rainbows and things
And I'm just who you want me to be
But like most creatures down here on the ground
I'm composed of the elements moving around
And I grow and change and I shift and I switch
And it turns out I'm actually kind of a b**
But that only happens when I get provoked
By some piece of s*** a**hole we all sadly know
And I sit and I write while reminding you all
That mean songs are still better than going postal
And that guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
Oh a**hole
A**hole
A**hole
I see I've surprised you with some of my words
And I know that surprises, while fun, still can hurt
And I hate to think that I ruined the day
Of the dick and the queen of the high horse parade
But I'm sick and tired of your poisonous ways
Your toxin wasting perfectly good space
And I say what I think
'Cause it's more economic than drugs or a drink
That guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
And I won't let him in
Under my skin
You're a sad sack of s***
That's pathetic
Just a festering sore
Who will never be more than that
If I don't let it
And that guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole
That guy's an a**hole
That girl's a b**
Baby it's natural
No gettin' away from it
So sing it out with me
And then let it go
F*** that guy he's just an a**hole ".
Songwriters: Sara Bareilles
LeLe Skoob
I've never heard asshole sung more beautifully. 💕
Pecos Nick
Denis Leary competes
Joshua Chin
"as whole"** lmao
TheImmortalRain
My boss LOVES Sara Bareilles. She listens to this whenever she has a rough day with customers at work.
I have a cool boss.
Alex Κallianos
I'd get on well with your boss
Ash T
I hum this song when I am pissed. No one knows. Lol
I have a bunny bear
Hahahahaha 🧡 we love a cool boss
TheImmortalRain
Mark Rowley Unfortunately, my cool boss is no longer with me. My current one fits this song to a T though. 😒
Musicalnerd 96
Madeline Armstrong you have a very cool boss I do this at work and my team join in with it
Drew Gingrich
I've always loved/admired Sara for her grace and down-to-earth demeanor, but this song makes me have a whole new kind of respect for her. I think everyone can agree they have felt this way once or twice in life.