Patch Work: “Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer

“Undone – The Sweater Song” is Weezer’s lead single off their self-titled debut album, later dubbed the “Blue Album,” released in 1994. Originally named “Undone,” Weezer fans referred to the track as “The Sweater Song,” and eventually, it was officially renamed as such. The song and hits “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So” catapulted the band into mainstream stardom. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked the album on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

About the Song

The song’s simple, catchy lyrics, sung by Rivers Cuomo, detail the metaphorical unraveling of a sweater until the speaker’s mental state has “come undone.” Cuomo explained his perspective in the album’s press kit: “‘Undone’ is the feeling you get when the train stops and the little guy comes knockin’ on your door. It was supposed to be a sad song, but everyone thinks it’s hilarious … none of these songs are perfect, but I think you can hear that we’re trying hard to be honest and real.”

The Weezer press kit also lists specific terms not to be used when describing the band, including quirky, college, retro, fun/funny, goofy, wacky, and pop/punk, which “may be used separately but never together.” One genre descriptor not on that list: metal. During a Rolling Stone interview for the 15^th anniversary of the song, Cuomo admits, “It wasn’t until years after I wrote it that I realized it’s almost a complete rip-off of Metallica’s 1986 classic ‘Welcome Home (Sanitarium)’ … metal roots just pump through unconsciously.”

"Clean and distorted guitars, a simple bassline, steady rock drums, and subtle keyboard parts build the tune’s instrumentation."

Breaking it Down

Clean and distorted guitars, a simple bassline, steady rock drums, and subtle keyboard parts build the tune’s instrumentation. The song begins with clean guitar riffs that transition into dark, fuzzy, distorted power chords, mirroring the shift from introspective, conversational lyrics to more gritty despair. The intro and verses have a marked dynamic contrast to the powerful chorus, aiding the emotional ebb and flow.

"Guitar aficionado Marty Schwartz demonstrates how to replicate the intro’s cleanly picked arpeggiated riff."

Learn the Licks

To get started, tune your guitar down a half-step. In a YouTube tutorial, guitar aficionado Marty Schwartz demonstrates how to replicate the intro’s cleanly picked arpeggiated riff. The repeating pattern is grounded by different bass notes, creating dissonance that provides the part’s distinctively funky feel. Then, move into the guitar part within the verse. Kick up the energy for the chorus and let the heavily distorted power chords ring out. According to Schwartz, “The bridge sounds fancier than it really is. It’s just the same thing moved up.” Solo over that with the Eb Major Pentatonic.

BOSS Katana amplifiers allow you to tweak tones and add effects to achieve your perfect sound. However, Schwartz has done the heavy lifting with a custom patch for “Undone – The Sweater Song.” Visit BOSS Tone Exchange to download the free “Sweaty Weezer” patch for BOSS Katana MkII and nail the song’s distortion-drenched guitar.