The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Candy
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Salt is ocean tears
And you were my only weakness
For years and years and years
You little (yellow) sweetie
You were hiding in a jar
Now my mind is gone completely
Take off the lid and there you are
You're my can-dy
Can-dy
Well the devil, she made sweet candy,
Took six days and nights to dream
On the seventh day she rested,
Woke up early and made ice cream
Now the devil, she must be a dentist
With deep jawbreaker eyes
Red rope hair, gumdrop lips,
Cotton candy thighs
(Chaga lava) Stole my body
And aftertaste stole my mind
Left me dangling down defenseless
Then sweet candy she said goodbye
Now my teeth are worn and useless
My eyes too sunk to see
My tongue swelled up to twice its size
And all I want to do is eat
The song Candy by The Presidents of the United States of America is a playful and intriguing ode to the pleasures of eating candy. The opening lines liken the sweetness of sugar to the tears of the ocean, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of indulging in something that is so addictive yet ultimately not good for you. The singer admits that candy is their only weakness and that they can't resist its allure. The imagery of a yellow sweetie hiding in the jar is both playful and nostalgic, conjuring up memories of childhood treats.
The second verse introduces a character that is both alluring and dangerous - the devil who created candy. The use of 'she' adds a gendered perspective to the song, suggesting that the temptations of candy are feminine in nature. The description of the devil's appearance - deep jawbreaker eyes, gumdrop lips, and cotton candy thighs - is both sensual and ambiguous. The idea that the devil is also a dentist creates a contradiction in terms, highlighting the idea that indulging in candy has serious consequences for one's health.
The final verse sees the singer suffering the consequences of their love for candy. They feel as though they have been robbed of their senses and their body, and all they can do is eat. The repetition of the word 'eat' at the end of the song implies that the singer is trapped in an endless cycle of pleasure and pain, unable to break free from the addictive nature of candy.
Line by Line Meaning
The sugar's only sweetness,
Sugar is perceived as only a source of sweetness.
Salt is ocean tears
Salt is a symbol of sadness or hardship, like ocean tears.
And you were my only weakness
For years and years and years
The singer had been emotionally attached to the person referred to as 'you' for a long time, which made the person their only vulnerability.
You little (yellow) sweetie
You were hiding in a jar
The person 'you' is being referred to as a sweetie (candy) that was kept hidden in a jar.
Now my mind is gone completely
Take off the lid and there you are
The discovery of the candy has overwhelmed the person to such an extent that they feel like their mind is blown off when they open the jar.
You're my can-dy
Can-dy
'You' is the sweetest thing and is being compared to candy.
Well the devil, she made sweet candy,
Took six days and nights to dream
On the seventh day she rested,
Woke up early and made ice cream
The singer is comparing the devil to a confectioner who worked hard for six days to produce sweet candy and rested on the seventh day before going ahead and making ice cream.
Now the devil, she must be a dentist
With deep jawbreaker eyes
Red rope hair, gumdrop lips,
Cotton candy thighs
The devil is imagined to be a dentist with deep-set eyes like jawbreakers, hair like red licorice ropes, lips like gumdrops, and thighs like cotton candy.
(Chaga lava) Stole my body
And aftertaste stole my mind
Left me dangling down defenseless
Then sweet candy she said goodbye
The artist got addicted to the candy that had an aftertaste. It caused the person to feel helpless after the separation, both physically and emotionally.
Now my teeth are worn and useless
My eyes too sunk to see
My tongue swelled up to twice its size
And all I want to do is eat
The artist has become addicted to the candy, leading to damage to their body. Even though the damage has been done, the craving for the candy still persists.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRIS BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER, JASON S. FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pennyvanderheyden4031
This whole album rulz!!! Like how is no one still talking about this album!!!!
I’ll be the old broad on my back porch with my wonder “boob” Still rocking this!!’
@user-nn4vs2yt4j
Unbelievable bass riffs
@Whitetrashhero79
Such a killer jam 🥃🤘
@stormypinkness4030
Love this song.
@Gangstercat1234
We played this because candy is all my sister wants to eat at dinner.😂
@Spacething7474
oh the entire album is being uploaded
alright, but odd
@chrisblanc663
Don’t know why, but no complaints from me!! This was probably my favorite song in the whole album.
@DanielJNeu
🖤🖤🖤
@nicoleleboeuf-little1048
Ah, my Halloween anthem!
@user-nn4vs2yt4j
You get the feeling that some double entandres are going on like I can't get your body out of my mind pretty I'm pretty sure they aren't talking about the the salamansalamander salamander