Sugar
Sweet Serenade: Unveiling the Deeper Meaning Behind Ethel Waters' 'Sugar'
Lyrics
Have you heard
Introduction to the theme of the song
What I've done,
Reference to a personal accomplishment or action
Found a word,
Discovery of a significant word
Just the one,
Emphasis on a single word
That takes the place of one I used to call
Replacement of a term of endearment, "Baby doll"
Baby doll!
Endearment used for a significant other
It ain't new,
Assertion that the term is not a new or old concept
It ain't old,
Emphasis on the agelessness of the term
But if you'll do
Conditional statement about following instructions
What you're told,
Implication that compliance will lead to understanding
You'll find the answer if you take a look
Encouragement to consult a dictionary for confirmation
In Mr. Webster's dictionary book.
Specifically recommending Webster's dictionary
The name is sugar!
Revelation of the discovered term, "sugar"
I call my baby my sugar,
Declaration of endearment towards a significant other
That is the reason why, maybe,
Suggesting a reason for the endearment
That sugar baby is mine!
Assertion of ownership and affection
I'm shoutin' 'bout him,
Expressing enthusiasm about the significant other
Funny, he doesn't spend any money,
Noting a unique trait, not spending money
All he can lend me is honey,
Highlighting the only thing the significant other can provide, honey
That he can send anytime!
Availability of honey at any time
I'd make a million trips
Expressing willingness to go to great lengths for the significant other
To his lips,
Metaphorical reference to making repeated trips to the significant other's lips
If I were a bee,
Imagining being a bee for the sweetness of the lips
'Cause they are sweeter
Comparison of the sweetness of lips to candy
Than any candy to me!
Personal preference for the sweetness of the significant other's lips
That's why I'm sighin';
Expressing contentment with a sigh
Sugar!
Reiteration of the term "sugar"
I get my taffy from sugar!
Source of a confectionery, taffy, from the significant other
What's more, I'm daffy 'bout sugar,
Expressing fondness and eccentricity about the significant other
That sugar baby of mine!
Reiteration of ownership and affection
My sugar's so refined,
Description of the refinement of the significant other
You can't find
Emphasizing the uniqueness of the significant other
None like him in town;
Highlighting sweetness and skin color of the significant other
To make it more complete
Stating completeness with sweetness and skin color
He's so sweet and so brown,
Describing the significant other as a special ration
He's special ration,
Reiteration of the term "sugar"
Sugar,
Acknowledgment of affection towards the significant other
Knows I'm just sweet on my sugar,
Assertion of loyalty and commitment to the significant other
No, I won't cheat on my sugar,
Reaffirmation of fidelity to the significant other
That sugar baby of mine
Concluding statement about the significance of the baby
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