Too Sweet – English Lyrics

• By: Hozier

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rhythmic soul of 'Too Sweet' to master English through evocative metaphors and descriptive lifestyle vocabulary. This song is special for its blend of bluesy grit and poetic storytelling, making it an excellent tool for learning how to express complex personality contrasts in English.

[English]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> It can't be said I'm an early bird.

>> [music]

>> It's 10:00 [singing] before I say a

word.

Baby, I can never tell how do you sleep

so well. [music] You keep telling me to

live a lie.

To go to bed before the daylight.

>> [music]

>> But then you wake up for the sunrise.

You know you don't [music] got to

pretend.

Baby, now and then don't you just want

to wake up

dark as a lake, smelling like a bonfire,

lost in a haze.

If your [music] cup don't laugh, babe,

I think it's weak.

But while in this world,

>> [music]

>> I think I'll take my whiskey neat,

my coffee black, and my bed [singing]

at three.

You're too sweet [music] for me.

You're too sweet for me.

I'll take my [music] whiskey neat,

my coffee black, and my bed

>> [music]

>> at three.

You're too sweet for

You're too sweet for me.

>> [music]

[music]

>> I aim low.

I aim true, and the grounds where I go.

I work late where I'm free from the

phone. [music]

And the job gets done, but you worry

some. [singing] I know, but who wants to

[music] live forever, babe?

You treat your life as if it's heaven's

gate.

The rest of you act like you're the TSA.

[music]

I wish I could go along.

And don't get me wrong, you know you're

bright as the morning,

soft as the rain,

pretty as a

flower,

sweet as a grape. But you can sit in a

barrel.

Baby, [music] I'll wait

until that day.

I'd rather take my whiskey neat,

>> [music]

>> my coffee black, and my bed

at three.

You're too sweet for me.

>> [music]

>> You're too sweet for me.

I'll take my whiskey neat,

my coffee black, and my bed

>> [music]

>> at three.

You're too sweet for me.

You're too sweet for me.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> I'll take my whiskey neat,

my coffee black, and my bed

at three.

You're [music] too sweet for me.

You're too sweet [music] for me.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - having the pleasant taste of sugar; pleasant, gentle
whiskey /ˈwɪs.ki/ B2	noun - a distilled alcoholic drink made from fermented grain mash
coffee /ˈkɒf.i/ A1	noun - a hot drink made from roasted coffee beans
bed /bɛd/ A1	noun - a piece of furniture for sleeping or resting
early /ˈɜːr.li/ A1	adjective - happening or done before the usual time
sunrise /ˈsʌn.raɪz/ B1	noun - the time when the sun appears above the horizon
wake /weɪk/ A2	verb - to cease sleeping; become awake
pretend /prɪˈtɛnd/ B1	verb - to act as if something is true when it is not
haze /heɪz/ B2	noun - a slight obscuring of the atmosphere; a vague state
bonfire /ˈbɒn.faɪər/ B2	noun - a large, controlled outdoor fire, especially for celebration
aim /eɪm/ B1	verb - to direct a purpose or intention toward something
grounds /ɡraʊndz/ B2	noun - the sediment left after brewing coffee; also a place or area of land
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the existence of an individual human being or animal; the condition that distinguishes living things from non‑living things
bright /braɪt/ A1	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; intelligent or lively
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water that falls from clouds in droplets
flower /ˈflaʊ.ər/ A1	noun - the reproductive structure of a plant that is often colorful and fragrant
barrel /ˈbær.əl/ B2	noun - a cylindrical container, traditionally made of wood, used for storing liquids
forever /fɔːˈrɛv.ər/ B1	adverb - for all future time; eternally

Key Grammar Structures

• It can't be said I'm an early bird.

  ➔ Modal + passive construction

  ➔ The modal verb "can't" is combined with the passive verb "be said" to express impossibility in a passive voice.

• It's 10:00 before I say a word.

  ➔ Simple present with time expression

  ➔ The clause "before I say a word" uses the simple present "say" to talk about a habitual or scheduled action at a specific time ("10:00").

• Baby, I can never tell how do you sleep so well.

  ➔ Indirect question – word order error

  ➔ In an indirect question the clause should be "how you sleep" (no auxiliary "do"). The extra "do" is a common mistake for learners.

• You keep telling me to live a lie.

  ➔ Verb + gerund vs. infinitive (telling + object + to + infinitive)

  ➔ After "keep telling", the pattern is "object + to + infinitive"; here "me" is the object and "to live" is the infinitive.

• But then you wake up for the sunrise.

  ➔ Phrasal verb "wake up" (verb + particle) + prepositional phrase

  ➔ The verb "wake" combines with the particle "up" to form the phrasal verb "wake up" meaning "to become awake"; "for the sunrise" is a prepositional phrase showing purpose.

• If your cup don't laugh, babe, I think it's weak.

  ➔ First‑conditional clause with subject‑verb agreement error

  ➔ The if‑clause should use the singular verb "doesn't" because "cup" is singular; "If your cup doesn't laugh..." is the correct form.

• You treat your life as if it's heaven's gate.

  ➔ Comparative clause "as if" + subjunctive mood (though here indicative is used)

  ➔ "as if" introduces a hypothetical comparison. In formal English the verb after "as if" would be in the subjunctive ("were"), but in colloquial speech the indicative "is" is common: "as if it's heaven's gate".

• I'd rather take my whiskey neat, my coffee black, and my bed at three.

  ➔ "Would rather" + bare infinitive

  ➔ "Would rather" is used to express preference. It is followed directly by the bare infinitive "take" (no "to"). The series "my whiskey neat, my coffee black, and my bed at three" are parallel objects of "take".

• You're too sweet for me.

  ➔ Degree adverb "too" + adjective + prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Too" intensifies the adjective "sweet" and is followed by the prepositional phrase "for me" which indicates the person affected.