Sweet as Whole
Sara Bareilles Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

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



All comments from YouTube:

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.

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