Sweet Leaf – English Lyrics

• By: Black Sabbath
• Album: Master of Reality

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heavy roots of rock history with 'Sweet Leaf'! This song is a perfect gateway to learning gritty, colloquial English and understanding the rhythmic, blues-based vocabulary used in early heavy metal. Its iconic atmosphere and distinct pronunciation make it a unique study in rock expression.

[English]

Alright Now!

Won't you listen?

When I first met you, didn't realize,

I can't forget you or your surprise

You introduced me to my mind

And left me (watching/wanting) you and your kind. Oh yeah

I love you. Oh, you know it.

My life was empty, forever on a down,

Until you took me, showed me around

My life is free now, my life is (clear / hemp)

I love you sweet leaf though you can't hear

Oh yeah

Come on now - try it out!

Straight people don't know what you're about,

They put you down and shut you out

You gave to me a new belief,

And soon the world will love you, sweet leaf

Oh yeah baby

Come on now! Oh yeah!

Try me out baby!

Alright! Oh yeah-ah!

I want you part of this sweet leaf!

Oh yeah!

Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh try me out

I love ya sweet leaf, oh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
realize /ˈriːəlaɪz/ B1	verb - to become aware of something
surprise /səˈpraɪz/ A2	noun - an unexpected event or thing
introduce /ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs/ B1	verb - to present someone or something to another
empty /ˈempti/ A2	adjective - containing nothing; not filled
forever /fəˈrevə(r)/ A2	adverb - for all time; eternally
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under control or restriction
clear /klɪə(r)/ A2	adjective - easy to perceive, understand, or see
hemp /hemp/ B2	noun - a plant used for making rope and also for drugs
leaf /liːf/ A2	noun - the green part of a plant
straight /streɪt/ A2	adjective - conventional or traditional in behavior/orientation
belief /bɪˈliːf/ B1	noun - an acceptance that something is true or exists
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth and all people and things on it

Key Grammar Structures

• When I first met you, didn't realize,

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time / Ellipsis (omission of subject)

  ➔ The speaker uses 'When' to set the time, and omits the subject 'I' before 'didn't realize' for casual, rhythmic flow.

• You introduced me to my mind

  ➔ Transitive verb with indirect and direct objects

  ➔ In 'introduced me to my mind', 'me' is the indirect object (receiver) and 'my mind' follows the preposition to complete the target of the introduction.

• My life was empty, forever on a down,

  ➔ Linking verb 'was' with predicative adjective

  ➔ The verb 'was' functions as a state-of-being verb, linking the subject 'My life' to the descriptive adjective 'empty'.

• I love you sweet leaf though you can't hear

  ➔ Concessive clause (Conjunction 'though')

  ➔ 'Though' is used to introduce a clause that expresses a contrast or a concession to the main clause.

• Straight people don't know what you're about,

  ➔ Noun clause (What you're about)

  ➔ The clause 'what you're about' acts as the object of the verb 'know'.

• You gave to me a new belief,

  ➔ Prepositional phrase in a ditransitive structure

  ➔ Instead of saying 'You gave me a new belief', the speaker uses 'to me' to emphasize the recipient.

• And soon the world will love you, sweet leaf

  ➔ Future simple (will + verb)

  ➔ 'Will love' expresses a prediction or future intention.

• I want you part of this sweet leaf!

  ➔ Object complement structure

  ➔ The speaker uses the structure 'want [someone] [something]' to express a desire for the subject's role or state.