Yaz was a short-lived but quite successful synth-dance duo from the early '… Read Full Bio ↴Yaz was a short-lived but quite successful synth-dance duo from the early '80s. Comprised of synthesizer player Vince Clarke and singer Alison Moyet, the group (known as Yazoo in Europe) formed in 1981, after Clarke left Depeche Mode (Clarke had penned almost all of Depeche Mode's debut album, Speak & Spell, including their early dancefloor hit "Just Can't Get Enough"), and Moyet had recently exited an obscure R&B cover band, the Screamin' Ab dabs.

The newly formed group scored a hit right off the bat with the single "Only You" b/w "Situation," which hit number two on the U.K. charts in April of 1982, and shortly thereafter, scored another big hit with "Don't Go" (which would become their best-known track stateside as its promo video enjoyed airtime on the newly formed MTV). Yaz's commercial winning streak continued with their debut full-length, Upstairs at Eric's, which hit number two on the U.K. album charts (eventually going platinum in England) and opened the door to countless other synth-dance bands that would soon follow in Yaz's wake. But despite a promising career ahead of them, Yaz opted to call it a day after one more full-length recording, 1983's You and Me Both. Moyet would go on to launch a solo career immediately after Yaz's split (scoring a major hit with her solo debut, 1984's Alf, which topped the charts and spawned several hit singles), while Clarke would go on to form another synth-based outfit, Erasure, with singer Andy Bell. Although Yaz issued only a pair of albums during a brief career together, a 15-track "hits" collection was assembled in 1999, The Best of Yaz.

Sweet Thing
Yaz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, hey, hey, sweet thing
I give in
Sweet thing
I give in (submission)
(don't you want to right it, fight it)
Oh, no, if you don't think it's right
Can't change your mind if I talk all night
(don't you want to right it, fight it)

Oh, no, 'cause nothing now can keep this a good thing.

Hey, hey, hey, sweet thing
I give in
Sweet thing
I give in (submission)
(don't you want to right it, fight it)
Just go.
I don't want to fight
Just take your things
And say goodnight
(don't you want to right it, fight it)
Just go.
'cause nothing now can keep this a good thing.

Hey, hey, hey how could you be so unkind
When you were lying to me all the time
You don't need me now your life is fine
It's your day now, but it's gonna be mine
Oh and what a sweet day.
Hey, hey, hey,
(submission)
(don't you want to right it, fight it)
Oh, no, if you don't think it's right
Can't change your mind if I talk all night
(don't you want to right it, fight it)
Oh, no, 'cause nothing now can keep this a good thing.

Hey, hey, hey how could you be so unkind
When you were lying to me all the time
You don't need me now your life is fine
It's your day now, but it's gonna be mine
Oh and what a sweet day.

Sweet thing, I give in
Sweet thing, I give in
Sweet thing, submission (i give in)

Sweet thing, submission (i give in)
Sweet thing, submission (i give in)

Overall Meaning

The song "Sweet Thing" by Yaz, also known as Yazoo, follows the story of a person who has reached a breaking point in a relationship where they feel they have given too much and no longer want to fight for it. The repeated line "sweet thing, I give in" conveys a sense of surrender and submission. Despite the desire to make things right, the singer recognizes that fighting would only lead to more pain and adds, "can't change your mind if I talk all night." It is clear that the relationship has reached a point of no return, with the lines "nothing now can keep this a good thing" and "it's your day now, but it's gonna be mine."

The song also touches upon themes of betrayal and feeling deceived. The lines "how could you be so unkind when you were lying to me all the time" reveal a sense of hurt and anger towards the partner. The end of the song paints a picture of the singer moving on and claiming their own happiness through the lines "it's your day now, but it's gonna be mine. Oh, and what a sweet day."

Overall, "Sweet Thing" explores the complicated emotions surrounding the end of a relationship, with a focus on accepting the reality of the situation and moving forward towards personal growth and happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, hey, hey, sweet thing
Addressing the person they're singing to

I give in
Admitting defeat or submitting to the other person's wishes

Sweet thing
Endearing term for the person they're addressing

(submission)
Theme of the song, the artist is submitting to the other person

(don't you want to right it, fight it)
Asking the other person to reconsider or try to fix the relationship

Oh, no, if you don't think it's right
Acknowledging that the other person might not want to fix things

Can't change your mind if I talk all night
Realizing that words can only do so much to change someone's mind

Just go.
Giving up on trying to fix things and asking the person to leave

I don't want to fight
Not wanting to argue or have conflict with the other person

Just take your things
Asking the other person to gather their belongings

And say goodnight
Ending the relationship or conversation for the night