Watch & Listen
"Too Sweet" is a track by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, featured on his highly anticipated album. Known for his soulful voice and poetic lyrics, Hozier explores themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships in this song. The track combines rich instrumentation with Hozier's signature blend of folk, blues, and rock influences, creating a captivating sound that resonates with listeners. Through evocative imagery and heartfelt emotion, "Too Sweet" captures the bittersweet nature of affection, making it a standout piece in Hozier's discography.
Check out lyrics
| Section | English Lyrics | Vietnamese Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Verse 1 | It can’t be said I’m an early bird. It’s ten o’clock before I say a word. Baby, I can never tell. How do you sleep so well? You keep telling me to live right, to go to bed before daylight. But then you wake up for the sunrise. You know you don’t gotta pretend. Baby, now and then. | Chẳng thể nói tôi là người dậy sớm. Mười giờ rồi tôi mới chịu cất lời. Em ơi, tôi chẳng hiểu nổi. Sao em ngủ ngon thế nhỉ? Em cứ bảo tôi sống cho đúng, đi ngủ trước khi trời sáng. Nhưng rồi em lại dậy ngắm bình minh. Em biết đó, em đâu cần giả vờ. Em yêu, đôi lúc thôi. |
| Bridge 1 | Don’t you just wanna wake up, dark as a lake, smelling like a bonfire, lost in a haze? If you’re drunk on life, babe, I think it’s great. But while in this world... | Em chẳng muốn thức dậy, tối đen như hồ nước, ngửi thấy mùi lửa trại, lạc trong màn sương mờ? Nếu em say cuộc đời, em yêu, tôi thấy thật tuyệt vời. Nhưng khi ở thế gian này... |
| Verse 2 | I aim low. I aim true, and the ground is where I go. I work late where I’m free from the phone, and the job gets done. But you worry some, I know. But who wants to live forever, babe? You treat your mouth as if it’s heaven’s gate, the rest of you like you’re the TSA. I wish that I could go along. Babe, don’t get me wrong. | Tôi nhắm mục tiêu thấp, sống là chính mình và thực tế. Tôi làm đêm, nơi không điện thoại, và xong việc. Nhưng em vẫn lo, tôi biết. Nhưng ai muốn sống mãi đâu em? Em coi miệng mình như cổng thiên đường, em lúc nào cũng như nhân viên an ninh. Tôi ước mình theo kịp. Nhưng em đừng hiểu sai. |
| Bridge 2 | You know you’re bright as the morning, as soft as the rain, pretty as a vine, as sweet as a grape. If you can sit in a barrel, maybe I’ll wait until that day. | Em biết đó, em rực rỡ như bình minh, dịu dàng như mưa, đẹp như dây leo, ngọt ngào như trái nho. Nếu em có thể ngồi trong thùng gỗ, có lẽ tôi sẽ đợi đến ngày đó. |
| Chorus (x2) | I’d rather take my whiskey neat, my coffee black, and my bed at three. You’re too sweet for me. You’re too sweet for me. | Tôi thà uống whiskey nguyên chất, cà phê đen và lên giường lúc ba giờ. Em ngọt ngào quá với tôi. Em ngọt ngào quá với tôi. |
Learn Vocab
| Word/Phrase | Example | Vietnamese Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Early bird | “My sister is an early bird; she wakes up at 5 AM.” | Người dậy sớm |
| Bonfire | “We sang songs around the bonfire all night.” | Lửa trại |
| Haze | “The city was covered in a thick haze this morning.” | Màn sương/mơ hồ |
| Whiskey neat | “He drinks his whiskey neat, no ice or water.” | Whiskey nguyên chất |
| TSA | “The TSA agent checked my bags at the airport.” | An ninh sân bay (Mỹ) |
| Barrel | “The wine aged in a wooden barrel for years.” | Thùng gỗ |
| Bright as the morning | “Her smile was bright as the morning sun.” | Rực rỡ như bình minh |
Flashcards
Test yourself
Learn Grammar
- Contractions & Informal Speech:
- “You don’t gotta pretend” → Informal for “You don’t have to pretend.”
- “Aim low, aim true” → Parallel structure for emphasis.
- Similes & Metaphors:
- “Dark as a lake” → Describes a gloomy, mysterious mood.
- “Sweet as a grape” → Highlights natural sweetness.
- Cultural References:
- TSA: Represents strictness/control, contrasting with “heaven’s gate” (freedom/desire).
- Whiskey neat/coffee black: Symbolizes a no-frills, rugged lifestyle.
Test yourself
Break down the lyrics
| Line | Meaning | Vocabulary | Notes for Learners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verse 1 | |||
| It can’t be said I’m an early bird | The speaker is not a morning person. | Early bird: Idiom for someone who wakes up early. | Often used in phrases like "The early bird catches the worm." |
| It’s ten o’clock before I say a word | They don’t speak until late in the morning. | Ten o’clock: Emphasizes waking up late. | Informal phrasing ("say a word") implies a slow start. |
| Baby, I can never tell / How do you sleep so well | The speaker is confused about how their partner sleeps so soundly. | Baby: Term of endearment. | "Never tell" means "can’t understand." |
| You keep telling me to live right / To go to bed before daylight | The partner advises the speaker to adopt healthier habits. | Live right: Behave responsibly. | "Daylight" here means nighttime (before dawn). |
| But then you wake up for the sunrise | The partner wakes up early to see the sunrise. | Sunrise: Symbolizes early rising. | Contrasts the speaker’s late-night habits. |
| You know you don’t gotta pretend | The speaker tells their partner to stop faking perfection. | Don’t gotta: Informal for "don’t have to." | Encourages authenticity. |
| Baby, now and then | Acknowledges occasional differences. | Now and then: Sometimes. | Softens the criticism. |
| Chorus | |||
| Don’t you just wanna wake up / Dark as a lake | Asks if the partner ever wants to sleep in a dark, quiet environment. | Dark as a lake: Simile for deep darkness. | Lakes are calm, contrasting sunrise. |
| Smelling like a bonfire / Lost in a haze | Imagery of staying up late around a fire, feeling carefree. | Bonfire: Large outdoor fire. | Suggests a relaxed, rebellious vibe. |
| If you’re drunk on life, babe / I think it’s great | Praises the partner’s enthusiasm for life. | Drunk on life: Idiom for living joyfully. | Metaphor (not literal alcohol). |
| But while in this world | Implies life is short; embrace imperfections. | — | Connects to the next verse’s themes. |
| Verse 2 | |||
| I aim low / I aim true and the ground is where I go | The speaker has modest, practical goals. | Aim low: Opposite of "aim high." | Sarcastic or self-deprecating humor. |
| I work late where I’m free from the phone | They work at night without distractions. | — | "Free from the phone" = avoiding interruptions. |
| And the job gets done / But you worry some, I know | The partner worries about their habits. | Worry some: Casual phrasing for "worry a little." | Acknowledges the partner’s concern. |
| But who wants to live forever babe | Questions the need for perfection. | Who wants to live forever: Reference to a Queen song (or common phrase). | Suggests embracing impermanence. |
| You treat your mouth as if it’s heaven’s gate / The rest of you like you’re the TSA | Criticizes the partner for being strict (e.g., dieting) while neglecting other areas. | Heaven’s gate: Metaphor for purity. TSA: U.S. airport security (strict rules). | Humorous comparison of the partner’s behavior. |
| I wish that I could go along / Babe, don’t get me wrong | The speaker wants to join but can’t. | Go along: Agree/participate. | Shows a desire to compromise. |
| Bridge | |||
| You know you’re bright as the morning / As soft as the rain | Compliments the partner’s positive qualities. | Similes comparing to nature. | "Bright" = cheerful; "soft" = gentle. |
| Pretty as a vine / As sweet as a grape | Continues natural imagery. | Vine: Plant; grape: Fruit. | Romanticizes the partner’s traits. |
| If you can sit in a barrel / Maybe I’ll wait | Reference to aging wine (patience). | Barrel: Where wine ages. | Metaphor: "Wait for you to mature." |
| Until that day | The speaker will wait for change. | — | Open-ended conclusion. |
| Outro | |||
| I’d rather take my whiskey neat / My coffee black and my bed at three | Prefers simple, strong choices and staying up late. | Neat: Alcohol without mixers. Black coffee: No cream/sugar. | Reinforces the speaker’s rebellious, no-frills lifestyle. |
| You’re too sweet for me | The partner’s perfection feels incompatible. | Too sweet: Metaphor for being overly ideal. | Repeated for emphasis. |
Summary:
The song contrasts two lifestyles: a night owl (speaker) and an early riser (partner). It explores tension between living freely and adhering to strict routines, using metaphors from nature, alcohol, and cultural references (e.g., TSA). The tone is affectionate but honest, highlighting differences in a relationship.
Reflect
Themes:
- Lifestyle Clash: The speaker prefers a gritty, nocturnal life (whiskey neat, bed at 3 AM) vs. the partner’s “sweet,” disciplined routine.
- Freedom vs. Control: References to TSA and “heaven’s gate” critique rigid rules vs. natural desires.
Cultural References:
- TSA: Reflects frustration with societal restrictions.
- Barrel: Connects to aging whiskey, symbolizing patience or maturity.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you relate to the speaker’s preference for a “nocturnal” lifestyle?
- How does the song use contrasts (e.g., dark as a lake vs. bright as the morning) to describe relationships?