Sweetness and Tenderness
| "Sweetness and Tenderness" | |||||
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| Album track by The Rentals | |||||
| Albums | Return of the Rentals The Last Little Life EP |
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| Released | ROTR - October 24, 1995 LLL - August 14, 2007 |
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| Recorded | ROTR - Poop Alley Studios LLL - Dan Joeright's private recording studio |
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| Length | ROTR - 5:55 LLL - 6:27 |
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| Label | ROTR - Maverick Records / Reprise Records 9 46093-2 LLL - Boompa |
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| Writer(s) | Matt Sharp | ||||
| Producer(s) | ROTR - Matt Sharp, Tom Grimley LLL - The Rentals |
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| Status | Officially Released | ||||
| Return of the Rentals track listing | |||||
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| The Last Little Life EP track listing | |||||
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The Last Little Life EP
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 second release |
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"Sweetness and Tenderness" is the tenth and final track on the Rentals' debut album, Return of the Rentals. A rearranged version appears on the band's 2007 EP The Last Little Life.
Overview
"Sweetness and Tenderness" is a slow ballad that concludes "Return of the Rentals." The song ends with an unlisted "hidden" track: a short, violin-based instrumental, backed by the same 'space' noise that is featured on the album's opening track, "The Love I'm Searching For". The song was later re-recorded for 2007's The Last Little Life EP. It is significantly longer at 6:27.
The song's lyrics ("You're just a viewer, cold and distant") reference the Gary Numan song "Conversation" from the 1979 album The Pleasure Principle.
Personnel
- Matt Sharp - vocals, bass, synth, extra guitars
- Cherielynn Westrich - vocals
- Rod Cervera - guitar
- Tom Grimley - synth
- Petra Haden - violin, harmony vocals
- Patrick Wilson - drums
Audio
Lyrics
I need to figure this out
And find where my place is
I don't mean to threaten anyone
No need to get so defensive
You say you're with me, I know you don't care
You say you're with me, I know you don't care
I guess it's real simple
It's just like when Gary Numan say
You're just a viewer, cold and distant
You are just business, you're worthless
Sweetness, I need some tenderness
Sweetness, I need some tenderness
You know it's just like Judas say
I've been your right hand man all along
My admiration for you hasn't died
I haven't forgotten how put down we are
Come away with me, come away with me
Sweetness
Come away with me, we can hide in peace
And we can finally rest
This melody's wrong and I do care
This melody's wrong, yes, I care