Discography:
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs (EP) (2002)
• Fever to Tell (2003)
• Show Your Bones (2006)
• It's Blitz! (2009)
• Mosquito (2013)
• Cool It Down (2022)
The Sweets
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The end will shelter me away
Can we meet again, meet and meet and meet again
Can ya fill the can if ya can't fill me?
Who ya following?
Who ya starting to move like?
Who ya falling for, who ya falling for?
Who ya following, who ya falling for?
This sound's on your side
Secret blue purple pink and green right over it
Hold on 'cuz the coldest hasn't fought yet
Well if we meet again, meet and meet and meet again
Can ya catch the can if you can't will it?
How will you want something to hit with
Spinning again and again and again and again
What's your crime
What's your crime
Well how will you want
How will she fall
How will she spin
She's spinning again and again and again and again
What's your crime
What's your, what's your, what's your, what's your
What's your crime, crime, crime
What's your, what's your, what's your, what's your
What's your crime
The lyrics to Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "The Sweets" are complex and open to interpretation. The song seems to be questioning identity, following others, and crime.
The opening lines talk about feeling overwhelmed by something, perhaps a person or a situation. The use of "green shadow" and "water weight" adds to the sense of being submerged and trapped. The second line, "The end will shelter me away," suggests a desire for escape or change.
The next lines seem to be asking about others, perhaps questioning their motives or actions. The repetition of "Who ya following?" creates a sense of suspicion and paranoia. The line "This sound's on your side" suggests that the person being addressed is either in agreement with or complicit in some kind of wrongdoing.
The chorus is full of abstract imagery, with colors (blue, purple, pink, green) and repetition creating a sense of confusion and disorientation. The line "Hold on 'cuz the coldest hasn't fought yet" adds a sense of impending danger or violence.
The final section of the song seems to be circling back to the questions of identity and crime. The repeated line "What's your crime?" could be interpreted as self-reflection or directed at someone else. The lines "How will she fall / How will she spin / She's spinning again and again and again and again" add to the sense of repetition and confusion.
Overall, "The Sweets" is a song that asks more questions than it answers. Its imagery and repetition create a sense of unease and disorientation, with themes of identity, following, and crime woven throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
Green shadow, water weight all over-all over me
I feel heavy and suffocated, weighed down by my own emotions and thoughts, as if a shadow is cast upon me and the burden is too much to bear.
The end will shelter me away
The end or inevitable closure of a situation will provide me with a way out or a means of escaping the overwhelming feelings and emotions that are consuming me.
Can we meet again, meet and meet and meet again
Can we continue to have the same experiences and interactions, even if they ultimately lead to the same outcome, because the act of meeting and connecting is more important than the end result.
Can ya fill the can if ya can't fill me?
Can you satisfy yourself with something or someone else if you cannot satisfy me, or if I am unable to be fulfilled by anything else?
Who ya following?
Who or what are you pursuing or chasing after in your life?
Who ya starting to move like?
Whose mannerisms or behaviors are you beginning to emulate or adopt as your own?
Who ya falling for, who ya falling for?
Who are you falling in love with, or who are you becoming infatuated with?
Whose lies?
Who is lying to you, or who are you lying to?
Who ya falling for, who ya falling for?
Who are you falling in love with, or who are you becoming infatuated with?
This sound's on your side
This style or genre of music is something that you identify with or resonate with, and it is supportive of your own experiences and emotions.
Secret blue purple pink and green right over it
Various emotions and thoughts are swirling around and intermingling within me, creating a complex and layered experience that is difficult to explain or articulate.
Hold on 'cuz the coldest hasn't fought yet
Keep your guard up and be prepared, because the worst or most difficult part of a situation is still to come and has not yet been faced.
Well if we meet again, meet and meet and meet again
Even if we continue to encounter one another in similar situations, there is always the possibility for new and different experiences and outcomes each time we meet.
Can ya catch the can if you can't will it?
Can you obtain something that you desire or covet if you are not actively working towards achieving it or making it a reality?
How will you want something to hit with
What method or approach will you use to solve a problem or overcome a challenge?
Spinning again and again and again and again
Continuing to repeat the same patterns or behaviors, even if they are not productive or successful in achieving one's goals.
What's your crime
What is the wrongdoing or mistake that you have made, or what is the negative impact that you have had on others or yourself?
Well how will you want
What is the desired outcome or result that you are looking for, and how will you go about achieving it?
How will she fall
How will you respond or react if the person you are interested in or emotionally invested in rejects you or does not reciprocate your feelings?
She's spinning again and again and again and again
Continuing to repeat the cycle of falling for someone, facing rejection or heartbreak, and then starting the process all over again with someone else.
What's your crime
What is the wrongdoing or mistake that you have made, or what is the negative impact that you have had on others or yourself?
What's your, what's your, what's your, what's your
What is the underlying issue or unresolved problem that is causing these repetitive cycles and negative outcomes?
What's your crime, crime, crime
What is the harmful or negative behavior or thought pattern that is causing harm to yourself or others?
What's your, what's your, what's your, what's your
What is the deeper or root cause of the destructive patterns and behaviors being exhibited?
What's your crime
What wrongs must you address or make amends for in order to heal and move forward?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN CHASE, KAREN LEE ORZOLEK, NICHOLAS JOSEPH ZINNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sweetbabygangster
Words cannot describe how much I ADORE this song, and the YYY's!! 2:55 til the end of the song is my favorite part. I hope I can have the blessing of seeing them live in a concert one day.
@inufurubafreak
i think this is one of my favorite song sin the whole cd. Karen o is great!
@mistererd
one of my favourites, from a very hit and hit album.
@analogasmr
Right! I like how it sounds like it was recorded in 1 take. Especially the drums, they sound raw.
@luisdramon
i love karen O this band is the best i never get tired of this music. real music!!!!!!!!
@Kerocola
Karen O = best ever
@analogasmr
I love this song, it can mean so much more than just a relationship song. Actually, this song reminds me of one single person.
@horselaverda
that just about sums it up. beautiful music
@24gab0
las rolas estan de lo mas chingon, aprendan fresillas
@elicialovess
I can't wait to buy this album. C: