About The Song
“Sweet Sixteen” is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, released in 1987 as the third single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). The song written by Idol and produced by Keith Forsey. “Sweet Sixteen” peaked at No. 20 in the US and No. 17 in the UK. It was also a hit across Europe and beyond.
“Sweet Sixteen” was inspired by the true story of Edward Leedskalnin, a Latvian emigrant who single-handedly built the Coral Castle in Florida. In Latvia, Leedskalnin was set to marry Agnes Skuvst, but she broke the engagement and Leedskalnin decided to immigrate to America. He built the Coral Castle there in dedication to Skuvst, who he often referred to as his “Sweet Sixteen”. Idol wrote the song after watching “The Castle of Secrets”, an episode of Leonard Nimoy’s program In Search of… which was based on Coral Castle. The song was written during the making of Idol’s 1983 album Rebel Yell.
In his 2014 autobiography, Idol described the song as a “heartfelt lament”. He added that while the castle was Leedskalnin’s “coral memorial” to his former love, “Sweet Sixteen” was Idol’s to his then-girlfriend Perri Lister.
Two music videos were filmed to promote the single. The black-and-white version, directed by Peter Sinclair, featured Idol performing the song in an empty room. An alternative video, filmed in colour, featured scenes shot at Coral Castle.
Video
Lyrics
Gave my heart an engagement ring
She left everything
Everything I gave her
Oh, sweet sixteen
I said, I built a rocking chair
I never guessed it could
Rock her far from here
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Someone’s built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone took that candy girl
And drew her in
Someone’s built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone took that candy girl
And drew her in
I’d do anything
For my sweet sixteen
I’d do anything
For that runaway child
See, a memory can burn you
A memory gets colder as people can
They just get older
Said sweet sixteen
Oh, I see it’s clear
My baby, that you are
All through here
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Someone’s built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone took that candy girl
And drew her in
Someone’s built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone took that candy girl
And drew her in
Well, I’d do anything
For my sweet sixteen
Yes, I’d screw anything
For that runaway child
And I say
I get up in the morning, sweat over you
I get up in my morning, sweat over you
Get up in my morning, sweat over
Get my leg over, leg over
Sweet sixteen
That runaway child
Oh, sweet sixteen
Runaway girl
Gave my heart an engagement ring
She took everything
Everything I gave her
Sweet sixteen
Said a moon
For a rocking chair
I never guessed it could
Rock her far from here
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Someone’s built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone built a candy brain
And took it in
Someone’s built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone took that candy girl
And drew her in
And I’d do anything
For my sweet sixteen
Oh, I’d do anything
For that runaway child
Oh, sweet sixteen
Oh, sweet sixteen
I’d do anything
Mm-mm-mm