Sharleen Spiteri (vocals, guitar), Ally McErlaine (guitar) and Johnny McElhone (bass) have survived all line ups.
Sweet Child O' Mine
Texas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where evrything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see his face
It takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Ooooh Sweet love of mine
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
His hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Ooooh Sweet child o' mine
Ooooh Sweet love of mine
Ooooh Sweet child o' mine
Ooooh Sweet love of mine
Ooooh Sweet child o' mine
Ooooh Sweet love of mine
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet Child
Where do we go now
(repeat)
The first verse of Sweet Child o' Mine begins with the singer reflecting on a woman's smile that takes them back to childhood memories. The memories are marked by the freshness of everything, as if the world was brand new and unspoiled. The singer goes on to describe how the sight of this woman's face can transport them to a special place, and how if they were to stare at it for too long, they would likely break down and cry. The chorus repeats the phrase "Ooooh sweet child o' mine" several times, emphasizing the deep emotional connections and love the singer has for this woman.
The second verse continues with a description of the woman's striking blue eyes, compared to the blueness of the sky before rain. The singer fears seeing any pain in those eyes, possibly because of the intense love and protectiveness they feel for this person. The mention of the person's hair being a warm safe place where the singer could hide from thunder and rain reinforces the sense of comfort and safety this person brings. The chorus is repeated twice more before a final section asks the question, "Where do we go now?" repeated three times, followed by one final "Sweet child" before the song ends.
Overall, Sweet Child o' Mine is a tribute to the intense love and connection someone can feel for another person. The use of childhood memories and sensory descriptions like colors and weather helps to reinforce both the depth of this connection and the way it makes the singer feel. The repetition of the chorus and the final section asking "Where do we go now?" also suggest a sense of uncertainty or longing for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Her smile reminds me of a feeling that I had during my childhood.
Reminds me of childhood memories
Her smile makes me think of pleasant memories from my childhood.
Where evrything
During my childhood, everything was simple and uncomplicated.
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Everything was untainted, like the brilliance of the clear blue sky.
Now and then when I see his face
Occasionally, when I look at him, it reminds me of my past.
It takes me away to that special place
It mentally transports me back to a happy memory.
And if I stared too long
If I look at him for an extended period…
I'd probably break down and cry
I may be overcome with emotion and begin to cry.
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
Her eyes are as blue and unspoiled as the sky.
As if they thought of rain
Her eyes perceive the storms to come.
I hate to look into those eyes
I do not want to observe something unpleasant because it hurts me to do so.
And see an ounce of pain
I do not want to perceive a tinge of agony in them.
His hair reminds me of a warm safe place
His hair sends me back to a time when I felt content and sheltered.
Where as a child I'd hide
In my childhood, I'd retreat there to hide.
And pray for the thunder
During thunderstorms, I'd pray that it stops.
And the rain
I hope the rain goes away too.
To quietly pass me by
So that I can avoid the rough weather.
Where do we go
What direction should we go?
Where do we go now
Where should we go now?
Sweet Child
Oh darling
Where do we go now
Where are we supposed to go now?
(repeat)
The line is repeated often because they are unsure of where to go.
Contributed by Hailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.