In 1985, Hewerdine, who ran a record shop in Cambridge UK, formed The Bible, recruiting jazz drummer Tony Shepherd. They released an album of songs through the independent Norwich label Backs Records called Walking The Ghost Back Home.
The Bible became a fairly successful independent band, with a cult following spread mostly through word of mouth and live performances. Two tracks from the first album, Graceland and Mahalia, were released as singles, but did not achieve very significant sales. The album however was very well received by music pundits, and this brought the band to the attention of Chrysalis Records. Signing to Chrysalis, "Graceland" and another track, Honey Be Good, were (re)released as singles, and reached the lower end of the UK singles chart. A new album, Eureka, followed, but failed commercially. In 1988, Hewerdine decided to leave the group and pursue solo projects. Two former members went on to start Liberty Horses.
The Bible reformed for a tour in 1994.
Albums
* 1986 Walking The Ghost Back Home HAVENCD4 (re-released 1996)
* 1988 Eureka HAVENCD5 (re-released 1996)
* 1995 Random Acts Of Kindness HAVENCD8 1995 (odds & ends compilation)
* 1999 Dodo HAVENCD11 1999 (posthumous collection of the album that the reformed Bible might have made, but never did)
Sweetness
The Bible Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanderlust to kill the pain
You thought my love would save your soul
You feel apart you left me cold
What was sweet is now a sour taste... oh yeah
What was love now is laid to waste... oh yeah
When are you comin' back
When are you comin' back to me?
Your wine soaked cries and cocaine lies
The broken dreams in your bloodshot eyes
I pine for you
I need you so
I fall apart when you go
Distilled in the driving rain. oh yeah
When you gonna come back again .oh yeah yeah yeah
Sweetness, Sweetness, Sweetness
When are you comin' back
When are you comin' back
Sweetness, Sweetness, Sweetness
When are you comin' back
When are you comin' back to me?
Without the will or know-how, where will you go now?
Without the will or know-how, where will you go now?
Sweetness, Sweetness, Sweetness
When are you comin' back
When are you comin' back
Sweetness, Sweetness, Sweetness
When are you comin' back
When are you comin' back
When are you comin' back to me?
To me? To me?
The lyrics to The Bible's song Sweetness tell the story of a woman who is yearning for something more, trying to escape the pain inside herself through travel and substance abuse. She had believed that love would save her, but she has since fallen apart and left her partner feeling cold and alone. The chorus repeats the word "sweetness," almost as if the singer is calling out to her lost love, asking her to come back to him. He is consumed with thoughts of her - her cries and lies, broken dreams, bloodshot eyes. He loves her deeply but is left to pine for her, falling apart when she is gone.
The overall theme of the song seems to be the struggle and pain of addiction, both for the person suffering from it and for their loved ones. The use of the word "distilled" in the third verse suggests that the woman's addiction is like a potent liquor, intoxicating and all-consuming. The repeated question of "when are you coming back" emphasizes the sense of waiting and longing that comes with addiction, as well as the uncertainty and lack of control.
Overall, the lyrics to Sweetness are poignant and heartfelt, conveying the complicated emotions that come with loving someone who is struggling with addiction. The singer's yearning is palpable, and the repeated refrain of "Sweetness" adds a haunting quality to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Travelin' girl run away
A girl who travels constantly to escape her pain.
Wanderlust to kill the pain
Traveling to ease or forget the emotional pain.
You thought my love would save your soul
The girl believed the love of the person singing the song would heal her inner wounds.
You feel apart you left me cold
The girl left the person singing the song feeling empty, hurt, and abandoned.
What was sweet is now a sour taste... oh yeah
The relationship that started as something sweet is now bitter and unpleasant.
What was love now is laid to waste... oh yeah
The love they shared is now ruined and wasted.
Sweetness, Sweetness, Sweetness
The chorus repeats the word 'sweetness,' representing the affection and love they shared.
When are you comin' back
The person singing the song is waiting for the girl to return.
Your wine soaked cries and cocaine lies
The girl's drinking and drug use are leading her down a destructive path.
The broken dreams in your bloodshot eyes
The girl's eyes reveal her shattered dreams and the toll her lifestyle has taken on her.
I pine for you
The person singing the song longs deeply for the young girl.
I need you so
The person singing the song expresses how much they need the girl to be with them.
I fall apart when you go
The person singing cannot handle being away from the girl and falls apart.
Distilled in the driving rain. oh yeah
The girl's pain and troubles are intensified by harsh and challenging circumstances.
When you gonna come back again .oh yeah yeah yeah
The person singing the song is emphatically imploring the girl to return to them.
Without the will or know-how, where will you go now?
The person singing the song is recognizing that the girl is lost and directionless without their love or guidance.
When are you comin' back to me?
The chorus repeats once more, emphasizing the person's desperate longing for the young girl to return to them.
To me? To me?
Closing the song, the person singing the song is pleading specifically for the girl to return to them, to their love.
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.