Sweet Creature is About Louis
I originally stated that I thought it was about Gemma before changing my mind completely and doing my song analysis. So, I can understand why someone would think it is about Gemma. I actually thought it was about Gemma before I knew much about Louis and the kind of person he is, among many other things. It was, a hasty and ill informed opinion. I could not imagine this song fitting with him and I was trusting Harry’s word in this terrible denial way too much. I don’t know why I did not think this song was romantic in nature because now I simply cannot see how it could possibly be platonic. I will say this, though: there are, in fact, arguments for both, and no one can claim to know for certain which interpretation is correct, however, I now believe there is overwhelming evidence that points to Louis, rather than Gemma. So, let’s discuss, shall we?
Reasons to believe it is about Gemma:
- They lived together when they were young, as they are siblings
- They had a garden at their old house, as many do
- Harry’s mom said it is her favorite song
- He kinda denied it was about Louis if you want to actually take that horrible video where he blows raspberries for 30 seconds as a denial and then not-so-firmly states “I would lean towards no”
Reasons to believe it is about Louis: Buckle up!
1. Had another talk about where it’s going wrong / But we’re still young
Firstly, these are incredibly strange lyrics to use for a sibling. This was the first thing that made me start to question whether or not the song was about Gemma. It never really sat right with me. “Where it’s going wrong” does not seem to be words you’d use in a brother-sister relationship. Even when my brother and I fight, I would never feel like our relationship had “gone wrong.” Also, Harry and Gemma have always seemed to get along quite nicely. Then, “but we’re still young” also seems very odd. Why would age have any relation to how you think about your relationship with your sister? Without these lines, I would be much more willing to consider it being about Gemma. "Where it’s going wrong” seems to imply a romantic or formerly romantic relationship that is struggling, and “but we’re still young” is showing hope, that they could fix this. There is still time since neither of them are old or settled down yet. It simply doesn’t fit in terms of a sibling relationship. It would be incredibly weird if Harry did choose to use these words to discuss his relationship with Gemma.
2. Home
Since Harry stated he lived with the person this song is about and the only people Harry lived with when he was younger were his family (Anne + Gemma) and Louis, that greatly narrows down the list of possibilities of who this could be about. Harry states that he and this person “started” as “two hearts in one home.” Once again, the use of the word “started” seems strange for a sibling. Started… life? Started… being siblings? I’d never in my life use “started” in this way. If Harry did, that seems like poor songwriting, to be honest. “Started a romantic relationship?” Yes. That seems to fit. Additionally, Harry sings over and over again, “you bring me home.” While this sentiment could be shared with a sibling cause a sibling could ground you and tether you to your past life or sense of home, there are many reasons to believe this could be tied to Louis instead.
Firstly, the matching tattoos Louis and Harry got of a ship and a compass. Where does Louis’ compass point? Home. What was the purpose of Louis’ compass? To guide the ship (Harry).
Louis also wrote a song called Home, that very much appears to be about Harry. This song says, “you’ll never feel like you’re alone / I’ll make this feel like home.” It was a promise that he would be a safe place for Harry. The same year, Harry wrote If I Could Fly which appears to be about Louis. The song says, “If I could fly, I’d be coming right back home to you.” The idea of being able to fly suggests that there were some obstacles Harry felt he needed to overcome before he could return to this person. This sentiment matches perfectly with the previously discussed line “had another talk about where it’s going wrong” - suggesting there were obstacles in the relationship. But stating that he would be coming “home” to the person (Louis), were the obstacles removed, shows that this person provides a sense of security for him.
It was also pointed out Harry previously used the phrasing “we started” to talk about Louis and their living situation.
3. Sweetness
Here is the thing… if you don’t think Harry thinks Louis is sweet… you’re wrong.
Oh, look… “sweet” and “home” in one tweet.
Not to mention, this line in Two Ghosts, which is also largely believed to be about Louis:
4. Anne’s Favorite Song
I know I previously stated that I thought Sweet Creature was about Gemma due to the fact that Anne would like a song about her daughter. While that is true, I wrote these words before I knew how much Anne loved and still loves Louis.
I previously had no clue how much Jay loved Harry and Anne loved Louis. I also did not know that Anne and Jay were extremely close friends. With this new knowledge, I think it is absolutely possible that Anne’s favorite song could be about Louis. Anne even promoted Louis’ career earlier this year on her personal, private Facebook page by making this her photo:
5. The Garden
Earlier, I also stated that I thought Sweet Creature was about Gemma due to the line about the garden and the fact that they had a garden growing up. Well, a garden growing up is pretty common, and I admit that I was taking this line very literally. It was not until later that I came to believe it had deeper meaning. I realized that Harry is low-key super religious/spiritual even though he does not talk about it. My mother, an English professor with her PhD from U.C. Berkeley and 40 years of teaching and literary analysis behind her, analyzed Sweet Creature, and believes the reference to “the garden” is the Garden of Eden. This would not be the first or only religious reference in HS1. Sign of the Timeshas biblical references and Ever Since New York talks about a time in his life when he began praying. The Garden of Eden was a place free from sin. It was a beautiful, idyllic place. Adam and Eve were banished from the garden once they ate from the tree of knowledge and therefore sinned. When you look at Louis and Harry in early days, it is clear they were young and innocent boys and the best of friends. Before they became a couple/started a physical relationship, they had freedom and happiness. They could cuddle and be sweet and run a field at Leeds Festival (being chased by a girl), as pictured below:
There was a point in time when they were truly happy and free, and in the open. Starting a physical relationship, thus “sinning,” stripped them of that beautiful freedom. When Harry sings about them running through “the garden,” he very well could be reminiscing about a simpler, beautiful time before everything declined quickly.
6. The “Denial”
The recording of the “denial” that Sweet Creature is about Louis is above. I honestly don’t know how this could be used as proof at all. What was Harry supposed to say, “Oh, yes, my secret relationship with Louis inspired this song!” There was only one possible answer he could give, and that was “no.” That being said, he did’t simply say, “no” or even “I don’t want to take away from fans’ interpretations by explaining the son.” No, he blew raspberries and stumbled over his words. This was not a question he was expecting and his complete lack of calm and strange phrasing seems to point more in the direction of the song actually being about Louis than not.
7. Not Speaking Enough
Communication issues and not speaking are shockingly common themes among Louis’ and Harry’s songwriting. So, let me take a moment to list all the other times this theme was a theme:
- Strong: I’d do anything to save it / Why is it so hard to say it? + So many words we’re not saying
- Something Great: One day you’ll come into my world and say it all / You’ll say we’ll be together even when you’re lost / One day you’ll say these words I’ve thought but never said
- JALBOYH: I don’t ever tell you how I really feel / ‘Cause I can’t find the words to say what I mean
- Two Ghosts: Tongue-tied like we’ve never known / Telling those stories we already told / ‘Cause we don’t say what we really mean
- Spaces: Spaces between us / Hold all our secrets / Leaving us speechless
- From the Dining Table: We haven’t spoke since you went away / Comfortable silence is so overrated / Why won’t you ever be the first one to break? + Why won’t you ever say what you want to say?
- Miss You: And we can’t even be on the phone now / And I can’t even be with you alone now
- Back to You: I call you but you never even answer
- Meet Me in the Hallway: We don’t talk about it / It’s something we don’t do
Since most of these songs are believed to be written by Louis about Harry or Harry about Louis, it is not a stretch at all that “we don’t speak enough” could be referring to their relationship and one of the underlying issues.
8. Gender Neutral Louis Songs
Historically, if it is gender neutral and Harry wrote it, it is often about Louis. Some other gender neutral songs Harry wrote are: Don’t Let Me Go, If I could Fly and Two Ghosts, all of which are strongly believed to be about Louis. Harry specifically searched for a term that was both endearing and gender neutral to express his feelings. He fell upon “creature” instead of “sweet girl” or “sweet woman,” or any number of other things that could have even slightly hinted that it was about Gemma. When Harry wants to write about women, he does, as shown in Perfect, Woman, Only Angel, Carolina, and Kiwi.
9. Final Thoughts
Lastly, the song would be very strange if it was about Gemma because it would simultaneously be stating that he is not close enough to his sister to talk to her, their relationship is strained (”where it’s going wrong”), and they argue, yet it would be a grand gesture to show his love for his sister by writing an epic song? He also stated that he is not sure the person he wrote it for knows it is about them, suggesting he did not tell them and they did not discuss it. If it was about Gemma, she would know. Why would he lie and say the person doesn’t know if it is about Gemma and she knows? Saying the person knows doesn’t give away anything about who the song is about, so there would be no reason to lie. Now, if the song is about Louis, and their relationship struggles, but how much Harry still loves him and feels he will be pulled back to him, then that makes a lot more sense. Additionally, Harry said he writes songs to say things he can’t necessarily say to people in person. If he and Louis were not on speaking terms at the time that this song was written, and they historically have communication issues, then the act of writing it would be a therapeutic form of communication - a message for Louis that said the words he struggled to communicate in person.
