Like a Tattoo

Sade, known for her smooth and soulful voice, often delves into themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human emotion in her music. 'Like a Tattoo' is no exception, as it explores the indelible marks that past experiences, particularly those of love and pain, leave on a person's life.

The lyrics of 'Like a Tattoo' tell a story of a love that was intense and profound, yet ultimately marked by a heavy truth. The reference to 'sweet lies of sweet loves' suggests a relationship that was perhaps idealized or not entirely honest, but deeply felt nonetheless. The 'burden of the truth' and the 'burden of his youth' imply that there were underlying issues or immaturities that made the relationship unsustainable. The imagery of being unable to 'look into the Sun' and seeing someone 'laying at the end of my gun' evokes a sense of danger and finality, hinting at a love that was as destructive as it was passionate.

The chorus of the song uses the metaphor of a tattoo to describe the lasting impact of this relationship on the narrator's life. Just as a tattoo is a permanent mark on the skin, the experiences and emotions of this past love are etched into the narrator's being. The 'scar of age' and the 'war still raging inside of me' suggest a continued internal struggle and the difficulty of moving past the pain. The act of revealing one's shame is deeply personal and vulnerable, and the comparison to wearing it 'like a tattoo' underscores the permanence and visibility of these emotional scars. Sade's evocative lyrics and haunting delivery create a poignant reflection on how our past loves shape who we are, long after they have ended.