Undone - The Sweater Song

"Undone – The Sweater Song" is a song by the American alternative rock band Weezer, released on the band's self-titled 1994 debut album. It was released as their debut single in 1994.

## Overview

Originally, the band intended to insert various sound clips into the song, but were wary of the cost of licensing them. Instead, the studio version of the song features a spoken introduction by then bassist Matt Sharp and longtime friend of the band Karl Koch, as well as an "intermission" set of dialogue between Karl and one of the founding members of Weezer's official fan club and early supporter of the band, Mykel Allan. This dialogue is frequently ad-libbed during concerts and other live recordings.

During live performances in 2005, the band would often invite a fan up to play the acoustic guitar part of "Undone" with the band. On the last night of the Foozer tour, Dave Grohl came up and played it with the band.

The Fray, who toured with Weezer in 2005, played a cover version of this song live during 2007 touring. The Offspring covered it in 1994 and 1995. NewFangled Contraption covered it at every show in 2002 and 2003. The Bloodhound Gang covered it with a mix of Wu-Tang Clan's "Ain't Nuttin To F Wit". Punk rock band Titus Andronicus have covered the song multiple times on various tours; the band included one of these live covers on their mixtape, Titus Andronicus LLC Mixtape Vol 1. Mac DeMarco performed a version of the song in April 2013 for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series. In May 2013, UK Based Label Tiny Lights Recordings released a cover of the song recorded by a number of its artists to commemorate its second birthday. The song was also covered by dream pop band Beach House live in 2015.

On the 2008 Troublemaker Tour, Tom DeLonge – lead singer of the tour's opening act Angels & Airwaves – sang it as a duet with Cuomo.

On their tour in 2011, the song was performed with the members of the Flaming Lips.

In 2014 Mac DeMarco performed a cover of the song for Onion's A.V. Undercover.

## Composition

"Undone – The Sweater Song" is a mid-tempo alternative rock song that runs for a duration of four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. Its musical arrangement utilizes dynamics and thick distortion during the chorus in order to drive home the song's melody. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Music, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately slow rock tempo of 80 beats per minute. "Undone – The Sweater Song" is composed in the key of G♭ major. It has a basic sequence of G♭6–C♭7–D♭7–C♭7 during the intro and interludes, changes to G♭–C♭–D♭–C♭ in the verses and follows G♭5–C♭5–D♭5–C♭5 at the chorus as its chord progression. The song opens with a circular riff built from picked guitar strings. The spoken dialogue features adolescent characters engaged in frivolous conversation as the band's music gradually rises in the background.

## Reception

Tom Maginis for Allmusic wrote, "The song is not only meticulously crafted, it's smart, quirky, poignant, and insanely catchy -- all characteristics that would go on to define Weezer as a band and their debut as one of the most successful alternative rock records of the '90s."

## Lyrics

[Spoken Word: Matt Sharp & *Karl Koch*]

Oh, hey brah, how we doin' man?

*Alright*

It's been a while man, life's so rad

This band's my favorite man, don't ya love 'em?

*Yeah*

Aw man, you want a beer?

*Alright*

Aw man, hell brah, this is the best man

I'm so glad we're all back together and stuff

This is great, man

*Yeah*

Hey, did you know about the party after the show?

*Yeah*

Aw man, it's gonna be the best, I'm so stoked

Take it easy, brah

[Verse 1]

I'm me, me be, goddamn, I am

I can sing and hear me, know me

[Chorus]

If you want to destroy my sweater

Hold this thread as I walk away

[Spoken Word: Mykel Allen & *Karl Koch*]

Hey, what's up?

*Not much*, Um, did you hear about the party?

*Yeah*

I think I'm gonna go but, um, my friends don't really wanna go

Could I get a ride?

[Verse 2]

Oh no, it go, it gone, bye-bye (Bye)

Who I? I think, I sink, and I die

[Chorus]

If you want to destroy my sweater (Woah, woah, woah, woah)

Hold this thread as I walk away (As I walk away)

Watch me unravel, I'll soon be naked

Lying on the floor, lying on the floor, I've come undone

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]

If you want to destroy my sweater (Woah, woah, woah, woah)

Hold this thread as I walk away (As I walk away)

Watch me unravel, I'll soon be naked

Lying on the floor, lying on the floor, I've come undone

[Outro]

(I don't want to destroy your tank top)

If you want to destroy my sweater

(Let's be friends and just walk away)

Hold this thread as I walk away

(Good to see you lying there in your Superman skivvies)

Watch me unravel, I'll soon be naked

Lying on the floor, lying on the floor, I've come undone

[Instrumental Outro]

## See Also

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