Swallow (song)
| "Swallow" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sleeper | ||||
| from the album Smart | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 31 January 1994 | |||
| Length | 2:41 | |||
| Label | Indolent | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Paul Corkett | |||
| Sleeper singles chronology | ||||
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"Swallow" is a song by English Britpop Sleeper, written by the band's vocalist and guitarist, Louise Wener, along with guitarist Jon Stewart. Produced by Paul Corkett, "Swallow" was released as the band's debut single and as the follow-up to their debut extended play release, Alice in Vain. At the end of 1994, "Swallow" was ranked at number 48 on John Peel's Festive Fifty.[1] The following year, both "Swallow" and "Twisted" were re-recorded for inclusion on Smart, the band's debut album.[2]
Background
"It's actually a misunderstood song", Wener told the band's official fanzine, denying that the song was about oral sex, adding: "it's about a relationship breaking down. It's actually a really sad song. It's also about when people steal all your secrets and know all there is to know about you and the image is a metaphor for that."[2] Indolent released "Swallow" as a 7-inch and CD single on 31 January 1994,[3] backed with studio versions of "Twisted" and "One Girl Dreaming", two tracks which the band were then playing as part of their live set. To promote the single, Sleeper performed a four-song set of "Twisted", "Pyrotechnician", "Bedside Manners" and "Hunch" at their first Peel Session.[1]
Track listings
All tracks were written by Louise Wener and Jon Stewart.
- UK 7-inch and CD single
- "Swallow" – 2:42
- "Twisted" – 3:22
- "One Girl Dreaming" – 4:19
Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[4] | 76 |
References
- 1 2 "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping it Peel - Festive 50s". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- 1 2 Wener, Louise (1 December 1994). the album. GORGEOUS AND FULLY EQUIPPED fanzine. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. 29 January 1994. p. 25.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 6/2/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 May 2026.